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IRFU President’s Select Team Among The Winners At Carrick Sevens

IRFU President’s Select Team Among The Winners At Carrick Sevens

The Guinness Carrick Sevens took place as usual over the May Bank Holiday weekend, with CIYMS, the Ulster Exiles, Ballynahinch, Queen’s and the IRFU President’s Select team all winning their respective cup competitions

Although the weather was not always as kind as it might have been, attendances were good over the weekend.

The weekend’s events started with the Samurai Sportswear Under-19s competition on Friday. The Bowl was won by Belfast Met who overwhelmed Carrick in the final, while the Plate went to Queen’s who scored seven tries to Bangor’s three in winning their final 45-19.

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The main U-19 Cup competition was won by the IRFU President’s Select side who beat Edinburgh College 26-10 in the final.

The Player of the Tournament was recent Ireland Under-19 cap Greg O’Shea from the President’s Select squad.

IRFU High Performance Manager Colin McEntee, who coached the President’s side, explained how they used the tournament as preparation for next weekend’s Under-19 European Sevens Championship in Lisbon, Portugal.

“We got an invitation from FIRA-AER a few months ago for a slot in the Under-19 competition which takes place next weekend,” he told In Touch Rugby.

“So we thought it would be good opportunity to develop some of our players and scope out…because it does challenge a lot of skill sets, today presented that. It was our prep for next weekend.

“Fair play to the lads, they came together after two sessions and I think they grew every game tonight. It’s better than any training camp and it puts them in good stead for next week.”

Bruff and Munster scrum half Jack Cullen, who has played fifteens for both the Ireland U-19s and U-20s this season, enjoyed the experience of playing Sevens in Carrick.

“Obviously we’re delighted with the win. It was a very good standard here today,” Cullen told ‘In Touch’.

“Edinburgh put up a very good fight at the end. The ten-minute halves brought it out of us definitely! We’re delighted to get the win and to come through very sharpish together. It’s good and we’ll push on into the Europeans next weekend.”

The FIRA-AER tournament is taking place in Lisbon next Saturday and Sunday. There are four pools of four teams each, and Ireland, coached by Kieran Campbell, have been drawn in Pool A with France, Germany and Denmark.

Meanwhile, Saturday at the Carrick Sevens was devoted to the Quigg Golden Open competition which produced one of the closest finishes in recent years. The Bowl was won by Edinburgh College who defeated Wigtonshire 52-14 in the final.

The Plate went to Queen’s-based Blue Flag Heroes who overcame Malone outfit Bromigos by 52-15.

In the closely-contested final of the main competition, Ulster Exiles edged out Newcastle Exiles 24-21 to take the prize money and the Holmes Salver. The Player of the Tournament was adjudged to be Epi Rapu of Newcastle Exiles.

On Sunday, there were three competitions, with a special category for Women’s development teams this year as well as the usual Men’s and Women’s tournaments.

The competition for Women’s development sides was won by Ballynahinch. The main Women’s competition, sponsored by Abbey Insurance, was run as a Sevens tournament this year instead of the 10-a-side format adopted in previous years.

The Bowl competition in this tournament was won by Belfast Harlequins who defeated Carrick 17-5 in the final. The Plate went to by English visitors Novos Panthers who beat City of Derry 17-12 in the final.

The main competition for the Forever Living Products Cup was won by Queen’s who inflicted a rare Carrick Sevens defeat on Cooke, winning a hard-fought decider 24-21. Eliza Downey from Cooke was aawarded the Player of the Tournament prize.

In the Men’s Manvik Qualifying competion, the Bowl was won by Academy who beat Lisburn 41-12 in the final while the Plate, and the Simms Salver, went to Larne who, in a major upset, beat Carrick 24-10.

The overall competition for the Price Cup was won by CIYMS who outscored Bangor by 40-22 in the final. Player of the Tournament was James Henley of Bangor.

Despite the cool and showery weather, and competing attractions, this was another successful Guinness Carrick Sevens which again attracted many visitors to the Borough, including many regulars from England and Scotland.

Related Links –

Carrick Sevens

2014 Tournament Photo Gallery