Ireland Women’s Sevens Qualify For World Cup

A third placed finish for Ireland at the Rugby Europe Grand Prix, but one which came with a huge prize, as the women claimed a place in next year’s Sevens World Cup.

Seven converted tries, including a brace from predatory Munster winger Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, saw Ireland hammer Portugal 49-7 in the morning’s Cup quarter-finals, before hosts Russia’s clinical finishing ended Ireland’s hopes of silverware with a 27-5 semi-final defeat.

However, Lucy Mulhall and her team-mates regrouped in impressive fashion to post a 40-0 victory over a new-look French side in the 3rd-4th place play-off. Murphy Crowe scored four tries against les Bleues to take her tally for the weekend to nine overall – matching the nine she scored in Malemort last month.

The win secures Ireland’s highest ever position in the Grand Prix series, tied on points with England and France, but a superior points difference meant Anthony Eddy’s side finished only behind Russia.

It completes a tremendous 2016/17 campaign for the Irish squad, which included a best ever finish of ninth on the World Series, first ever wins over Fiji, England and France, a number of new caps blooded, and a prized second-place ranking in Europe to continue their upward trajectory. Just three short years ago, Ireland were eighth at European level and without a World Series place.

2018 will mark the second time that the Ireland Women have competed in a Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament. They reached the quarter-finals in 2013 on the way to finishing seventh overall. UL Bohemians’ Claire Keohane will be looking to make up for lost time, having missed out in the tournament held in Russia through injury.

Rugby Europe Women’s Sevens Grand Prix Series – Kazan 7s Results:

Pool C: Ireland 17 Poland 7, Ireland 48 Sweden 0, Ireland 17 England 21
Cup quarter-final: Portugal 7 Ireland 49
Semi-final: Russia 27 Ireland 5
3rd-4th place playoff: Ireland 40 France 0.