Ireland Squad Named For Amsterdam Sevens

The Ireland Women’s Sevens Squad to play in the Amsterdam 7’s Rugby Tournament has been named.

The side will be captained by Lucy Mulhall who recently won the IRUPA Women's Sevens Player of the Year Award for 2015.

Four Munster-based players have been selected with UL Bohemians duo Claire Keohane and Louise Galvin both in the 12-woman squad. Clanwilliam's Amee–Leigh Murphy Crowe has also been selected alongside Clare's Eimear Considine, who came through the talent identification programme.

Ireland share a pool with Ushizi Warriors, Finland 7's and Norwegian Vikingette's. Speaking ahead of the Tournament, Anthony Eddy, IRFU Director of Rugby Sevens, said: "It's important for the squad to get competition time ahead of the European Championships in June. This is the beginning of the journey to qualification for the Olympics in Rio 2016.

"As a squad we are very clear and focused on what we need to do over the next few months. Everyone has worked really hard and knows it's time to put in the performances and deliver.”

(Ireland Women's Sevens Squad) Amsterdam Sevens, 23-24 May, National Rugby Centre Amsterdam
Eimear Considine (Talent ID Programme)
Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock/Leinster)
Stacey Flood (Railway Union/Leinster)
Louise Galvin (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Shannon Houston (Blackrock/Leinster)
Claire Keohane (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht)
Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht)
Lucy Mulhall (Captain) (Talent ID Programme)
Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (Clanwilliam/Munster)
Emma Murphy (Railway Union/Leinster)
Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

Ireland Women's Sevens Fixtures: (all times are local)

Saturday, 23rd May
10.20 Ushizi Warriors
12.40 Finland 7's
15.20 Norwegian Vikingette's

Sunday, 24th May
Play-offs

Women's Sevens Olympic Qualification Process for Rio 2016:
1. The top four teams in the World Series will automatically gain Olympic qualification. This will be decided at the final leg of the World Series being held on the 22 – 23 May in Amsterdam. The current top four standings are New Zealand, Canada, Australia and USA.

2. There will be six regional qualifiers held during June and July 2015. The winner from each of these will qualify for the Olympics.

3. The last qualification place will be awarded to the winner of the World Repechage tournament which will be held in 2016.

4. Brazil automatically qualifies as the host nation and gets the 12th spot.

Ireland's Olympic Qualification Process for Rio 2016:
1. As the Irish women's seven are not in the World Series the route to the Olympics is through the regional qualifies for Europe. This European Championship (2015) will be held over two consecutive weekends (Russia 13-14 June and France 20-21 June). The winner qualifies for the Olympics.

2. If Ireland does not win the European Championship (2015) qualification is possible in 2016 through the 2016 World Repechage. To qualify for the World Repechage the Irish must:

a. Finish as the runner up of the 2015 European Championship or
b. Finish in the top three of the European Repechage (Lisbon July 2015).

The winner of the 2016 World Repechage will qualify for the Olympics.