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Ireland national rugby sevens team

Ireland national rugby sevens team

FieldValue
countryIreland
imageIrish rugby union textlogo.svg
imagesize180
unionIrish Rugby Football Union
captainHarry McNulty
coachJames Topping
capsHarry McNulty (181)Caps include only those earned on the World Rugby Sevens Series main event
top scorerJordan Conroy (615)Points include only those scored on the Sevens Series main event
most triesJordan Conroy (123)Tries include only those scored on the Sevens Series main event
pattern_la1_thinwhiteborder
pattern_b1_whitecollar
pattern_ra1_thinwhiteborder
pattern_so1_whitetop
leftarm100845C
body100845C
rightarm100845C
shorts1ffffff
socks100845C
pattern_la2_thinblackborder
pattern_b2_claretcollar
pattern_ra2_thinblackborder
pattern_so2_blacktop
leftarm286205B
body24C223A
rightarm286205B
shorts2000000
socks286205B
first18–22
(7 April 1973)
bigwin0–80
(1 June 1996)
bigloss56–0
(23 November 2000)
World cup apps7
sevensyes
year1993
best3rd place (1993, 2022)
Note

the men's team

(7 April 1973) (1 June 1996) (23 November 2000) The Ireland national rugby sevens team competed in several international rugby sevens competitions. The team was governed by the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU). In May 2025 the IRFU dismantled the programme at the end of the 2024/25 season, insisting the move was part of "a broader strategic effort to ensure the IRFU's long-term financial sustainability." This decision was met with widespread criticism.

Ireland competed as a 'core team' on the World Rugby Sevens Series, a competition held every year from winter to spring around the globe. The 2019–20 season was Ireland's first season as a core team. At the 2019 Hong Kong Sevens Ireland won the World Series Qualifier tournament for the 2019–20 World Rugby Sevens Series, earning "core team" status for the first time. Prior to this Ireland had competed in individual tournaments within World Rugby Sevens Series, though not as a core team. Ireland became the first non-core side to medal at a World Series tournament at the 2018 London Sevens, where they finished in third place. Following their inclusion as a core side, they earned 2nd-place finishes twice, at the 2022 France Sevens and the 2022 Dubai Sevens.

Ireland also competed in major quadrennial rugby sevens tournaments and their qualifying tournaments. Ireland has competed in most Rugby World Cup Sevens since the 1993 inaugural event, with their best results including finishing third in 1993 and 2022. The team also competed during qualifying for the Summer Olympics, but failed to qualify for the inaugural rugby sevens competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics. On 20 June 2021 Ireland qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Following the announcement in 2009 that rugby sevens would be an Olympic sport beginning in 2016, the Irish Rugby Football Union created a men's rugby sevens programme in 2014. In 2015, the IRFU announced its goal to field a national sevens team that would qualify for the Summer Olympics and the World Rugby Sevens Series. Thereafter Ireland began offering professional contracts to its squad of sevens players. In 2022 Ireland equalled their best ever World Cup Sevens performance, winning the bronze medal.

Ireland also participated in the Rugby Europe Sevens Series.

History

Ireland competed at the 1973 International Seven-A-Side Tournament, the first rugby sevens tournament for national teams. They defeated New Zealand, Australia and Scotland in the groups phase, before losing to England in the finals.

Olympic era (2009–present)

Ireland increased its emphasis in rugby sevens when the International Olympic Committee voted in 2009 to restore rugby to the events program in 2016. In March 2011, the IRFU announced its support for Shamrock Warriors RFC. The club's aim was to establish a pool of experienced Sevens players for the IRFU to develop into a future international Sevens squad. The pool would experience playing in the top-level competition, should the IRFU become involved in professional international sevens or in the Olympic Sevens.

Despite the 2009 announcement of rugby sevens as an Olympic sport, the IRFU was initially slow to recognize the opportunity. In September 2013, the IRFU said it was unlikely to send a sevens team to the 2016 Summer Olympics. The IRFU did not introduce a men's rugby sevens national team program until October 2014. The IRFU announced in December 2014 the hiring of Anthony Eddy as the Director of Irish rugby sevens, both the men's and women's teams. In December 2014 the IRFU issued a notice to all Irish athletes to see what if could become an Elite Sevens rugby player. The IRFU hoped to see the best rugby club talent available as well as attracting athletes with transferable skills from other team sports such as athletics, basketball, and Gaelic Games. The IRFU held four talent identification days across Ireland in January 2015.

The IRFU announced in May 2015 its brand new 27-man squad for the 2015 season, selected out of a pool of more than 300 applicants, a squad that later became known as "The Originals". The new team started at the bottom, beginning the 2015 season in Europe's Division C, with an eye towards gaining promotion to higher levels of competition. The highlight of Ireland's 2015 and 2016 seasons was the attempt to qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics. At the 2015 Europe Olympic Repechage Tournament, Ireland finished with 4–1–1 record, and despite a 10–24 semifinal loss to Russia, their third-place finish gained the last European slot for the 2016 Final Olympic Qualification Tournament. At the 2016 Final Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Ireland finished pool play with a 3–0 record including a 27–21 win over Samoa. However, a quarterfinal loss to Spain (7–12) eliminated them from the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Entering the 2017 season, with the Irish men's rugby sevens program in place for just over two years, the IRFU still had not handed out any full-time professional contracts to any sevens players. For the 2017 summer season, Ireland played in the European Grand Prix Sevens, which included four tournaments during summer 2017. Ireland began the Grand Prix by winning the first tournament, the 2017 Moscow Sevens, defeating Spain 12–0 in the final.

For the 2017–18 season, Ireland selected a core squad of 14 players that would prioritize Sevens play for the autumn 2017 tournaments, although they are not full-time Sevens players, and they retain their club status. Ireland finished ninth at the 2017 Silicon Valley Sevens with a 3–2 record; their record against World Series core teams was a respectable 2–2, with two wins over Canada.

As of December 2018, the IRFU was due to announce shortly their first-ever professional contracts for sevens players.

World Series core team

Ireland qualified as a core team for the 2019–2020 World Rugby Sevens Series by winning the 2019 Hong Kong qualifier. In May 2019, despite the squad qualifying for the World Rugby Sevens Series, the IRFU announced that players would remain on an €18,000 basic annual salary with bonuses of €500 for participating in each of the 10 World Series tournaments – the equivalent of a development contract.

In March 2022, Anthony Eddy stepped down both as IRFU director of women's rugby and 7's rugby. Ireland secured their best ever overall finish in the World Rugby Sevens Series with a 5th-place finish in the 2021–22 series. Later that year, Ireland equalled its best World Cup Sevens performance, winning the bronze medal for the second time (the first in 1993). Terry Kennedy capped off the program's successful season, by winning the World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year, mirroring the achievement of his XV's countrymen and counterpart, Josh van der Flier.

Ireland finished sixth at the 2024 Summer Olympics, losing in the quarterfinals to eventual finalist Fiji. In the months following the Olympics, a number of team veterans retired, including caps leader Harry McNulty.

Players

Current squad

All players who represented Ireland during the 2024/25 SVNS series beginning in November 2024.

Note: Caps reflect the total number of SVNS events competed in as of the 2025 Singapore Sevens.

NoPlayerAgeMatchesPoints scoredClub
1Zac McConnell212240SVNS
3Rory Woods2280NZL Northland Taniwha
8Inigo Cruise O'Brien20610Blackrock College RFC
4Mark Roche32201442Lansdowne
7Jordan Conroy30194635Buccaneers RFC / IND Delhi Redz
9Hugo Lennox25153256Skerries RFC
11Conor Phillips253660Terenure College RFC
12Niall Comerford2415177UCD RFC
13Bryan Mollen29142114UCD RFC
14Ed Kelly237482Dublin University RFC
15Aaron O'Sullivan21SVNS
21Josh Costello222940Shannon RFC
22James Dillion23115Old Belvedere RFC
30Dylan O'Grady224590UCD RFC
33Joshua Kenny212240SVNS
50Tadgh Brophy201610Lansdowne RFC
51Nicky Greene23220Garryowen RFC
88Daniel Hawkshaw2290Connacht
93Harry McNulty*32185155IND Kalinga Black Tigers
1Zac McConnell212240SVNS

|} *McNulty came out of retirement to play with Ireland in Cape Town due to illness of multiple players in camp.

World Rugby Sevens Series

Main article: World Rugby Sevens Series

Ireland had a sparse participation in the World Rugby Sevens Series until 2019. Between 1999 and 2019 Ireland appeared only sporadically, and not as one of the core teams that participated in every tournament. Ireland played in very few tournaments on the World Series, such as the occasional trip to the Hong Kong Sevens. Ireland has had some limited success in the World Series tournaments in which it has played.

Ireland competed in two of the ten tournaments of the inaugural 1999–2000 World Sevens Series: at the 2000 Hong Kong Sevens, Ireland finished 17th to win the Bowl with a 4–2 record; at the 2000 Paris Sevens, Ireland finished tied for 11th with a 3–2 record. The following season, in the 2000–01 World Sevens Series, Ireland played in the 2000 Dubai Sevens where they finished 9th, winning the Bowl with a 4–2 record, including a 19–17 semifinal win over Wales.

Ireland has, however, since assembling a permanent sevens program in 2014, publicly stated in 2014 and again in 2015 that its goal is to qualify as one of the 15 core teams in the World Series. At the 2018 Hong Kong Sevens qualifying tournament for the 2018–19 World Series, Ireland posted a 3–0 record in pool play, winning all three matches by comfortable 20+ point margins, to advance to the knockout rounds. Ireland defeated Zimbabwe 38–5 in the quarterfinals, but lost to Japan 7–12 in the semifinal and failed to qualify for the 2018-19 World Series.

Ireland competed as an invitational team at the 2018 London Sevens and the 2018 Paris Sevens. At the 2018 London Sevens Ireland defeated the favoured United States and England teams en route to finishing third overall. At the penultimate World Rugby Sevens Series event in London in 2018, the Irish team "stole the show", finishing in third place in their first World Series tournament since 2004, Ireland thus becoming the first invitational side to reach the semi-finals and then the podium of a World Rugby Sevens Series event. Invited to the following event in Paris, Ireland finished seventh, their second top half finish as an invitational side, and the first invitational side to do so.

The following year, Ireland again played in the 2019 Hong Kong Sevens qualifier. Ireland won the tournament, defeating Hong Kong 28–7 in the final, with Jordan Conroy's 10 tries across six matches earning him Player of the Tournament. Ireland again appeared at the 2019 London Sevens and 2019 Paris Sevens, reaching the quarterfinals of the London Sevens.

Ireland joined the World Rugby Sevens Series as a "core status" team for the first time for the 2019–20 season. In their first tournament, the 2019 Dubai Sevens, Jordan Conroy led all scores with seven tries and was named to the tournament Dream Team. The ten-tournament season was cut to six tournaments due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Ireland reached the quarter-final round in three of the six tournaments during the season, finishing in 10th place. Wing Jordan Conroy led all try scorers in the competition with 30 tries, with centre Terry Kennedy finishing fifth with 17 tries. In May 2022, Ireland achieved their highest ever position at a World Series event, reaching the final of the Toulouse Sevens before falling 17–29 to Fiji. Ireland reached their second World Series final at the 2022 Dubai Sevens losing to South Africa in the final, 5–21.

Season by season

SeasonRankPtsEventsBest eventGPWDLWin %PFPADiffMost triesMost points
1999–0002 / 1011th (Paris)11605%242205+37J. Topping (10)J. Topping (52)
2000–0117th21 / 99th (Dubai)6402%132154–22Matt Mostyn (6)Gavin Duffy (37)
2001–0202 / 1110th (Cardiff)11308%176231–55James Ferris (6)Paddy Wallace (49)
2002/032003/04Did not compete
2004–0502 / 714th (Dubai)11218%192267–75T. O'Leary (7)I. Humphreys (52)
2005/062016/17Did not compete
2017–1815th272 / 103rd (London)11515%186228–42J. Conroy (11)J. Conroy (55)
2018–1916th192 / 106th (London)12606%241278–37M. McGrath (6)B. Dardis (47)
2019–2010th496 / 66th (twice)2811215%558610–52J. Conroy (30)J. Conroy (150)
20216th202 / 24th (Vancouver)12525%200173+27C. Phillips (6)C. Phillips (30)
2021–22*5th929 / 92nd (Toulouse)5225027%951857+94T. Kennedy (50)T. Kennedy (250)
2022–238th11411 / 112nd (Dubai)6231229%1052901+151J. Conroy (32)J. Conroy (160)
2023–24 (League)2nd1047 / 72nd (Singapore)4023017%712581+131Terry Kennedy (31)Terry Kennedy (155)
2023–24 (Grand Final)5th1 / 15th5302%9590+5J. Conroy
Zac Ward (3)Hugo Lennox (23)
2024–25 (League)11th236 / 67th28702125%326603-277Dylan O'GradyDylan O'Grady
*To take account of the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic, a unique ranking points system was applied to the 2022 Series which saw only the best seven out of the nine tournament results count towards the Series ranking for each team.

Updated as of 5 June 2024

Results listed above do not include matches played as part of the Hong Kong World Series qualifier competition.

SeasonPositionGPWDLWin %Pts scoredTriesMost triesMost pointsQualified
20183rd5401%14824T. Kennedy (5)Mark Roche (28)No
20191st6510%17927Jordan Conroy (10)Jordan Conroy (50)Yes
Total11911%32751Terry Kennedy (11)Terry Kennedy (55)

Summer Olympics

Olympic Games recordYearRoundPosPldWDLPFPADiffMost triesMost Points
BRA 2016Did not qualify
JPN 20209–12th place playoff10th52037481–7G. Mullin (3)G. Mullin (15)
FRA 20245–8th place playoff6th630310174+27C. Mullins (5)C. Mullins (25)
Total0 Titles2/311506175155+20C. Mullins (5)C. Mullins (25)
OlympicsQualifying
competition(s)PosGPWDLPFPADiffMost triesQualification
2016POR 2015 European3rd641111584+31Wootton / McNulty /
Byrne / Fitzpatrick (3)Qualified for 2016 playoff
Monaco 2016 intercontinental7th530210881+27M. McGrath / T. Daly (3)Did not qualify for 2016 Olympics
2020FRA 2019 European3rd641116962+107J. Conroy (9)Qualified for 2020 playoff
MON 2020 intercontinental1st660018241+141J. Conroy (11)Qualified for 2020 Olympics
2024POL 2023 European Games1st660019938+161J. Conroy (6)Qualified for 2024 Olympics
Total292324773306+467

2016 Olympics qualifying

Ireland began Olympic qualifying by playing in Division C within Europe. In the 6–7 June 2015 Division C tournament, Ireland went 6–0 in the competition to win Division C, winning all six matches by a comfortable margin. This win qualified them to participate in Division B. In the 20–21 June, 2015 Division B tournament, Ireland again went 6–0 to win Division B, again winning all six matches by a comfortable margin. This win qualified them for the European repechage tournament.

In the 18–19 July 2015 Rugby Europe sevens repechage in Lisbon, Ireland topped their group with wins over Italy and Georgia and a draw against Russia. In the knockout competition, Ireland defeated Lithuania 17–0 in the quarterfinals. Ireland then lost in the semifinals to Russia 10–24, but in the third-place match defeated Georgia 15–7 to finish third overall, and secure the third and final European qualifying place for the Final 2016 Men's Olympic Qualification Tournament.

The Irish team drew Samoa, Tonga and Zimbabwe in the final Olympic repechage tournament in Monaco. Ireland finished first in their group with three wins, including a close 27–21 over World Series team Samoa. Ireland lost in the quarterfinals to Spain, 7–12, and did not qualify for the Olympics.

2020 Olympics

Ireland finished third at the 2019 Rugby Europe qualifying tournament. With this result, they did not automatically qualify for the 2020 Olympics, but gained a spot in the final inter-continental playoff tournament. They then won the playoff tournament to secure the last qualifying spot in the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Ireland opened their 2020 Olympic campaign with losses to both South Africa and the United States. Despite a five-point victory over Kenya and a third-place finish in their pool, Ireland failed to achieve a quarterfinal spot due to an unfavourable points difference. They subsequently defeated South Korea 31–0, before losing to Kenya, to finish in 10th place.

2024 Olympics

Ireland defeated Great Britain 26–12 in the final of the 2023 European Games, thereby qualifying for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Previous Olympic Squads

  • 2020 Ireland Olympic squad
  • 2024 Ireland Olympic squad

Rugby World Cup Sevens

Main article: Rugby World Cup Sevens

YearRoundPositionPldWDLPFPADiffMost triesMost pointsTotal0 Titles7/84422121774871–97Richard Wallace (10)Eric Elwood (60)
SCO 1993Semifinalist3rd9603185109+76Richard Wallace (7)Eric Elwood (60)
HKG 1997Bowl Semifinalist19th610594158–64David Humphreys (5)David Humphreys (31)
ARG 2001Bowl Semifinalist19th7214108176–68James Topping (4)Topping / Ferris (20)
HKG 2005Plate Quarterfinalist13th6204100159–59Maxwell / Humphreys (6)Ian Humphreys (44)
UAE 2009Bowl Finalist18th630394110–16Tonetti / Carney (3)Tom Gleeson (19)
RUS 2013Did not enter
USA 2018Challenge Winner9th54019997+2Dardis / Conroy (4)Billy Dardis (32)
RSA 2022Semifinalist3rd54019462+32McNulty / Conroy (3)Mark Roche (18)
RWCCompetitionPositionPldWDLPFPADiffQualificationTotal181512658144+514
1997POR 1996 QualifiersCup Semifinalist641127353+220Qualified
2001GER 2000 Qualifiers3rd870124574+171Qualified
2022ROM 2022 Qualifiers440014017+123Qualified

Ireland has played in six out of the seven Rugby World Cup Sevens tournaments. Ireland's best finish was the inaugural 1993 tournament. In that tournament, they went 4–1 in pool play, including an upset win over France, to qualify to the quarterfinal round. In the quarterfinal round of pool play they went 2–1 with wins over Samoa and Tonga to reach the semifinals. Ireland faced Australia in the semifinal and was leading but an Australia try and conversion at the end resulted in a 19–21 loss.

Since the inaugural tournament, however, Ireland's performances have been comparatively unremarkable, as they have yet to secure another quarterfinal place. At the 1997 tournament, Ireland finished 19th, posting a 1–5 record which included losses to minnows Hong Kong and Japan, with its only win a 33–5 victory over Portugal in the Bowl quarterfinal. In 2001, Ireland finished fifth in its group of six, unable to notch wins against Russia or Korea, relegating it to the Bowl competition; they defeated Chinese Taipei in the Bowl quarterfinal but lost 12–33 to Portugal in the Bowl semifinal.

In 2005, Ireland fared slightly better, with its 2–3 record in group play qualifying it for the Plate competition, where they lost to Samoa 14–19 in the Plate quarterfinal. In 2009, Ireland was up-and-down in pool play, notching a surprise win against Australia, but a disappointing loss against Portugal. Ireland was one of three teams in a four-team group to finish with a 1–2 record in pool play, but Ireland was ranked last in the group on points difference and was relegated to the Bowl competition. There they posted a 2–1 record in knockout play, eventually losing to Zimbabwe in the Bowl final 17–14. Ireland did not qualify for the 2013 World Cup, failing to send a team to the 2012 Sevens Grand Prix qualifying tournaments.

Ireland had a better tournament in 2018, defeating core teams Kenya, Wales, and Australia en route to a ninth-place finish, their best finish since the inaugural 1993 tournament.

Ireland qualified for 2022 tournament, by going undefeated in their four matches at the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens European Qualifier in July 2022. At the tournament Ireland won four of their five matches including a 24–14 quarterfinal victory over hosts South Africa, on their way to a bronze medal finish.

Previous World Cup squads

Rugby Europe Sevens

Main article: Rugby Europe Sevens

SeasonCompetitionPositionGPWDLWin %PFPADiffPromotion / Qualification
2002–03Did not compete
2004POL Qualifying1st8602%18434+150
CRO Qualifying2nd6501%16752+115title=IRELAND SEVENS SQUADurl=https://www.ulsterrugby.com/2004/11/ireland-sevens-squad/website=Ulster Rugbyaccess-date=3 March 2021 }}
ESP Championship3rd6402%12981+47Qualified for 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens
2005–07Did not compete
2008DEN Qualifying2nd6501%24239+203
POL Qualifying1st6600%2000+200title=IRELAND SEVENS WIN IN POLANDurl=https://www.ulsterrugby.com/2008/05/ireland-sevens-win-in-poland/website=Ulster Rugbyaccess-date=3 March 2021}}
GER Championship4th7403%12492+32Qualified for 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens
2009–14Did not compete
2015BIH Division C1st6600%29120+271Promoted to the 2015 Division B competition
CRO Division B1st6600%3840+384Qualified for 2015 Rugby Europe repechage;
Promoted to 2016 Division A (Trophy) competition
2016SWE CZE Trophy1st121200%49746+451Promoted to 2017 Grand Prix series
2017EUR Grand Prix2nd242103%572225+347Advanced to 2018 Hong Kong Sevens qualifier for World Series;
Qualified for 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens
2018EUR Grand Prix1st242301%780138+642Advanced to 2019 Hong Kong Sevens qualifier for World Series
2019RUS POL Grand Prix3rd12804%276186+90
2020Cancelled due to Covid-19
2021Did not compete
2022Croatia Hungary Trophy1st121200%53335+366Promoted to 2023 Championship Series
2023Portugal Germany Championship1st121002%254132+122
2024CROGermanyChampionship2nd121011%312102+210
Total159138120%4,9451,182+3,763

Updated 30 June 2024

2002–2014

2008 European Championship

Although Rugby Europe has held a rugby sevens championship every year since 2002, Ireland rarely participated from 2002 to 2014. Ireland participated only twice during those 13 years − in 2004 and 2008, both of which served as European regional qualifying tournaments for the following year's Rugby World Cup Sevens. Ireland finished third in the 2004 competition to qualify for the 2005 World Cup. Ireland finished fourth in the 2008 competition to qualify for the 2009 World Cup.

2015−present

The 2015 European competitions also doubled as qualifying for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Ireland played in the Division C tournament on 6–7 June and won the tournament with a 6–0 record, its closest match being the 38–10 quarterfinal win over Austria, qualifying for Division B. Ireland then played the Division B tournament on 20–21 June, and won Division B with a 6–0 record, its closest match being a 54–0 pool-play win over Slovenia, qualifying for the final repechage tournament.

Ireland played in the 2015 repechage on 18–19 July where they faced a tougher level of competition. Ireland went 2-1-0 in the repechage pool play to win its group and reach the knockout rounds. Ireland lost to Russia in the semifinals, 10–24, but defeated Georgia 15–7 to take third place and secure the last qualifying spot for the final cross-continental Olympic qualifying tournament. They lost in these quarterfinals to Spain and did not make the 2016 Summer Olympics medal round.

The 2016 Trophy competition consisted of two tournaments – Malmo and Prague. Ireland went 6–0 to win the 2016 Malmo tournament, with the closest match being the 26–12 semifinal win over Ukraine. Ireland next won the 2016 Prague tournament, again with a perfect 6–0 record, with the closest match being the 24–0 semifinal win over Romania. Ireland finished first in the 2016 Trophy competition and won promotion to the 2017 Grand Prix series.

The 2017 Grand Prix series consisted of four tournaments. Ireland began the Grand Prix by winning the 2017 Moscow Sevens with a 5–1 record, defeating Russia 28–21 in the semifinals and Spain 12–0 in the finals. Next, Ireland finished third in the 2017 Lodz Sevens with a 5–1 record, losing to Russia 19–26 in the semifinals. Ireland next won the 2017 Clermont-Ferrand Sevens with a 6–0 record, defeating Russia 17–14 in the final. In the fourth and final tournament, the 2017 Exeter Sevens, Ireland finished with a 5–1 record, losing to Wales 12–15 in the semifinals. Ireland finished the 2017 Sevens Grand Prix Series in second place two points behind Russia, thereby qualifying for the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens, and advancing to the 2018 Hong Kong Sevens qualifying tournament for the 2018-19 World Series.

In the 2018 Europe Grand Prix Series, Ireland started strong, winning the 2018 Moscow Sevens with a 6–0 record, winning all six matches by a margin of more than 20 points.

Having not participated in Rugby Europe Sevens since 2019, Ireland returned to the Trophy Series by winning the opening leg of the Series in Zagreb, defeating England in the final.{{cite web |url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/2022/06/12/ireland-men-win-opening-leg-of-rugby-europe-trophy-series/ |title=Ireland Men Win Opening Leg of Rugby Europe Trophy Series

Other international tournaments

Ireland defeated Chile at the 2017 Oktoberfest 7s tournament.
TournamentPositionGPWDLWin %PFPADiff
SCO 1973 International Seven-a-side Tournament2nd5401%8056+24
Hong Kong 1993 Hong Kong SevensCup Quarterfinals3201%4322+21
Hong Kong 1994 Hong Kong SevensPlate Quarterfinals3102%5936+23
Hong Kong 1995 Hong Kong SevensPlate Quarterfinals3012%4557–12
1995 Melun Sevens4103%85117–32
Hong Kong 1996 Hong Kong SevensCup Quarterfinals4211%7883–5
Hong Kong 1999 Hong Kong SevensPlate Quarterfinals4202%5987–28
FRA 1999 Paris SevensBowl Quarterfinals4004%43117–74
ESP 2015 Elche Invitational3rd5203%101107–6
GER 2017 Oktoberfest Sevens7th6204%5295–43
ESP 2017 Elche Invitational2nd6402%14550+95
USA 2017 Silicon Valley Sevens9th5302%8153+28
URU Chile 2018 Sudamérica Rugby Sevens5th12813%249126+123
ESP 2019 Elche Invitational2nd6501%14770+77
ENG 2019 Rugby X TournamentRunner-up4301%9565+30
ENG 2021 International Rugby 7s1st6402%10762+45
Total8043334%14691203+266

The results listed above are inclusive of tournaments played outside of the World Rugby Sevens Series, Olympics, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Rugby Europe Sevens tournaments.

Ireland Wolfhounds

An Irish Wolfhounds side, often composed of both Irish and English rugby internationals, competed at many of the Hong Kong Sevens events between 1984 and 1992. This team was not an official representative side. Nonetheless, they achieved moderate success reaching several Cup quarterfinals. The Wolfhounds also won the 1991 Melrose Sevens, an annual sevens competition contested by club sides. In 2015 the Wolfhounds returned as an 'A' side to help strengthen the national sevens player pool. The side competed in the GB7s tour against club competition.

TournamentPositionGPWDLWin %PFPADiff
Hong Kong 1984 Hong Kong SevensCup Semifinals2101%3016+14
Hong Kong 1985 Hong Kong SevensCup Quarterfinals3201%6044+16
Hong Kong 1988 Hong Kong SevensCup Quarterfinals3201%4252–10
Hong Kong 1989 Hong Kong SevensCup Quarterfinals3201%6228+34
ITA1991 Sicily Sevens1100%224+18
Hong Kong 1992 Hong Kong SevensPlate Semifinals4202%6244+18
POR 1993 Lisbon Sevens1001%1019–9
FRA 1994 Besagne Sevens1010%12120
Total181017%300219+81

Updated as of 4 March 2021.

Overall Record

TournamentGPWDLWin %PFPADiff
World Rugby Sevens Series2611248129%47374575+162
World Series Qualifier11911%32772+255
Olympics11506%175155+20
Olympic Qualifiers292324%773306+467
Rugby World Cup Sevens4422121%774871–97
World Cup Qualifiers181512%658144+514
Rugby Europe Sevens159138120%4,9451,182+3763
Other International Tournaments8043334%14691203+266
Total61337917217%13,8588,508+5,350

The above records are up to date as of 27 July 2024.

These records do not include matches played as the Ireland Wolfhounds.

Head to Head

OpponentPlayedWonDrawnLostWin %ForAgaDiff
Arabian Gulf2200%6522+43
309021%428616–188
Argentina Argentina VII3201%3360–27
2511014%402516–114
5500%24722+225
1100%600+60
9900%31750+267
2200%1070+107
2011%2631–5
2200%1020+102
16808%296254+42
Canada Canada Maple Leafs1100%335+28
2200%6719+48
1100%317+24
1100%337+26
1100%415+36
5500%2300+230
3300%12912+117
3300%13219+113
5500%20112+189
161204%366229+137
203017%261602–341
3013017%523474+49
France Emerging France1001%1215–3
11803%170153+17
211713%527206+321
251429%391333+58
7502%12695+31
3300%1720+172
4400%14326+117
12903%311142+169
5500%1627+155
131003%402117+285
151014%290243+47
3300%11210+102
2200%450+45
1100%3112+19
1100%760+76
1100%310+31
2200%995+94
1100%595+54
2200%5138+13
2200%770+77
202018%255512–257
1100%730+73
1100%430+43
101000%40127+374
Poland Poland B1100%330+33
242013%574266+308
5500%18126+155
13814%331194+137
15906%249243+6
9603%205160+45
1100%740+74
Serbia and Montenegro Serbia and Montenegro1100%2810+18
2200%1130+113
2710116%339528–189
South Africa South Africa Academy2101%2436–12
4310%9548+47
241626%509283+226
6600%25815+243
2200%7314+59
2200%3624+12
1100%560+56
4400%11231+81
1001%517–12
2200%845+79
1100%3315+18
4400%14324+119
231319%432319+113
7511%14572+73
14914%330207+123
4301%10744+63
Total54835014184%12,7587,489+5,269

Results are inclusive of all international competitions.

Updated as of 27 July 2024

Honours

1973 International Seven-a-side Tournament :* Runner-up: 1973

Rugby World Cup Sevens :* Third-place: 1993, 2022

SVNS :* Runner-up: 2023–24 (League)

Australian Sevens :* Third-place: 2024

Dubai Sevens :* Runner-up: 2022

France Sevens :* Runner-up: 2022

Hong Kong Sevens :* Third-place: 2024

London Sevens :* Third-place: 2018

Singapore Sevens :* Runner-up: 2024

USA Sevens : Third-place: 2024

World Series qualifier :*Winners: 2019

Rugby Europe Sevens :Winners: 2018, 2023 : Runner-up: 2017, 2024 :* Third-place: 2004, 2019

Rugby Europe Sevens Trophy :*Winners: 2016, 2022

Rugby Europe Sevens Division B :*Winners: 2015

Rugby Europe Sevens Division C :*Winners: 2015

European Games :*Winners: 2023

Elche Invitational :* Runner-up: 2017, 2019 :* Third-place: 2015

International Rugby 7s :*Winners: 2021

Player records

World Series (career)

No.PlayerYearsMatches
1Harry McNulty2018–181
2Mark Roche2018–173
3Jordan Conroy2018–171
4Jack Kelly2019–157
5Billy Dardis2018–154
No.PlayerYearsTries
1Jordan Conroy2018–123
2Terry Kennedy2018–110
3Zac Ward2021–41
4Jack Kelly2019–35
5Harry McNulty2018–31
No.PlayerYearsPoints
1Jordan Conroy2018–615
2Terry Kennedy2018–550
3Mark Roche2018–400
4Billy Dardis2018–392
5Hugo Lennox2018–215

The tables above show players career statistics from the World Rugby Sevens Series main tournament up to 5 June 2024.

The Irish record holders in the World Series for the era preceding the Olympics and professional era of rugby sevens are:

  • Most matches: Aidan Kearney (13)
  • Most tries: James Topping (13)
  • Most points: James Topping (67)

World Series (season)

No.PlayerSeasonTrieswidth=54Series
Rank
1Terry Kennedy2021–2250
2Jordan Conroy2022–2332
3Terry Kennedy2023–2432
4Jordan Conroy2019–2030
5Zac Ward2023–2425
No.PlayerSeasonTrieswidth=54Series
Rank
1Terry Kennedy2021–22250
2Jordan Conroy2022–23160
3Terry Kennedy2023–24160
4Mark Roche2022–23152
5Jordan Conroy2019–20150

World Cup

No.PlayerYearsMatches
1Denis McBride1993–199715
2Richard Wallace1993–199714
3Terry Kennedy2018–202210
Jordan Conroy2018–202210
Harry McNulty2018–202210
Billy Dardis2018–202210
No.PlayerYearsTries
1Richard Wallace1993–199710
2Jordan Conroy2018–20227
3Andy Maxwell20056
Ian Humphreys20056
5Three players tied with five
No.PlayerYearsPoints
1Eric Elwood199360
2Richard Wallace1993–199754
3Ian Humphreys200544
4Billy Dardis2018–202238
5Jordan Conroy2018–202235
No.PlayerYearsTackles
1Hugo Keenan201821
2Harry McNulty2018–202217
3Billy Dardis2018–202215
4Terry Kennedy2018–202214
5Two players tied with eight

The tables above show players career statistics from the Rugby World Rugby Cup Sevens up to 11 September 2022.

Award winners

The following Ireland Sevens players have been recognised at the World Rugby Awards since 2004:

YearNomineesWinners
2022Terry KennedyTerry Kennedy
2024Terry Kennedy (2)
YearNo.Player
20244.Terry Kennedy

Other notable players

;British and Irish Lions British & Irish Lions

  • Tadhg Beirne
  • Vince Cunningham
  • Mick Galwey
  • Mike Gibson
  • Denis Hickie
  • Eric Miller
  • Tomás O'Leary
  • Fergus Slattery
  • Richard Wallace ; internationals
  • Robert Baloucoune
  • Tadhg Beirne
  • Jonny Bell
  • Vincent Becker
  • Adam Byrne
  • Kieran Campbell
  • Donal Canniffe
  • Brian Carney
  • Darren Cave
  • Ben Cronin
  • Vince Cunningham
  • Shane Daly
  • Kieron Dawson
  • Seamus Dennison
  • Eric Elwood
  • Mick Galwey
  • Mike Gibson
  • Chris Henry
  • David Humphreys
  • Paddy Johns
  • Felix Jones
  • Ian Keatley
  • Hugo Keenan
  • Niall Malone
  • Paul Marshall
  • Kevin Mays
  • Denis McBride
  • Aidan McCullen
  • Wallace McMaster
  • Eric Miller
  • Terry Moore
  • Matt Mostyn
  • Jimmy O'Brien
  • Tomás O'Leary
  • David Quinlan
  • Alain Rolland
  • Fergus Slattery
  • Nick Timoney
  • James Topping
  • Richard Wallace
  • Pa Whelan
  • Niall Woods ;Ireland IRFU referees
  • John Lacey
  • Alain Rolland

Source:

Head coaches

CoachTenureBest SeriesBest Series
TournamentOlympicsWorld Cup
WAL Ray Southam1997Not heldNot heldNot held1997: 19th
IRE Denis McBride1999–200217th (2000–01)9th (2000 London)Not held2001: 19th
AUS Ryan Constable2004–200514th (2004 Dubai)Not held2005: 13th
IRE Jon Skurr2008–2009Did not appearDid not appearNot held2009: 18th
AUS Anthony Eddy2015–20226th (2021)3rd (2018 London)2016: DNQ
2020: 10th2018: 9th
IRE James Topping2022–20252nd (2023–24 League)2nd (2022 France
2022 Dubai
2024 Singapore)2024: 6th2022: 3rd

Notes

References

References

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