The Ireland Sevens squad, sponsored by Independent News and Media, has succeeded in qualifying for the 2009 IRB Sevens World Cup. The Irish beat Poland 17-7 in their final pool game at the Hannover Sevens this morning, securing second place in their pool and a Cup semi-final berth.
The five top teams at the Hannover Sevens – the four Cup semi-finalists and the Plate final winner – qualify for next year’s Sevens World Cup in Dubai.
Portugal and Georgia have qualified as the top two sides in Pool A, while Wales, who went through the pool stages unbeaten, and second-placed Ireland have gone through from Pool B.
Wales handed Ireland their only defeat of the pool stages (26-14), but Jon Skurr’s men did well to finish the first day at the AWD-Arena with three victories over the Ukraine (26-7), Italy (17-12) and Belgium (31-0).
For a full round-up of Ireland’s day one games, please click here.
Today’s success over Poland was set up by first half tries from Ian Keatley and Seamus Mallon.
Although the Poles struck back, after the break, with a touchdown from Maciej Maciejewski, Ireland’s top try scorer at the tournament, Andrew Maxwell, grabbed his side’s match-clinching try.
Former Ulster winger Maxwell has touched down in all but one of Ireland’s games in Hannover. He has scored five tries so far.
Keatley (2), Mallon (2), Richard Briggs (2), Darren Cave (2), Kieran Campbell, James Coughlan, Brian Tuohy and Chris Henry have also got in on the try-scoring act.
For a pre-tournament interview with Jon Skurr, please click here.
Click here for player profiles of the Ireland Sevens squad.
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