The Ireland Women's Sevens Development team have advanced through to the quarter-finals of the Dubai Invitational Tournament after rounding off the Pool stages with a win and a draw on Friday. Matt Wilkie's young side have grown in confidence and stature as the tournament has progressed and a hard-fought 7-0 win over Russia, coupled with a 19-19 draw against Phoenix Rugby 7s, ensured their passage through to the last eight. Ireland, who have received large support from a travelling contingent of family and friends, will face the Kenya Lionesses in Saturday's quarter-final at 1pm local time/9am Irish time. After an opening game win over Thursday Night Lights, Ireland struggled during a 38-0 defeat to Japan Development in their second outing, but Wilkie's charges rebounded strongly on Friday afternoon. In a tight game, Ireland displayed huge work-rate in defence to earn a narrow 7-0 win over Russia thanks to a first-half try from Railway Union winger Stephanie Carroll, before they rounded off the pool stages with a 19-19 draw against Phoenix Rugby 7s. The Ireland Men's Development side, meanwhile, were held to a 7-7 draw in their third and final Pool outing in the Invitational Tournament, with Ireland Under-20 Grand Slam winner Iwan Hughes crossing. Ireland will hope to record their first win of the week in the 13th place play-off againstASC Dhukla on Saturday (2pm local time, 10am Irish time).

IRELAND MEN’S DEVELOPMENT SQUAD (Dubai Invitational 7s – Thursday, December 5 – Saturday, December 7):

Aaron Sexton (Malone/Ulster) Iwan Hughes (Ballynahinch/Ulster) Max O’Reilly (DUFC/Leinster) Cormac Izuchukwu (Old Wesley) Graham Curtis (Malone/Ulster) Liam Turner (DUFC/Leinster) Paddy Patterson (UCD/Leinster) Duran Krummeck (Irish Sevens) Eanna Madden (Seapoint) Ronan Kapi (IQ Rugby) Rob Russell (Dublin University/Leinster) Hugh Lane (Galwegians/Connacht).

IRELAND WOMEN’S DEVELOPMENT SQUAD (Dubai Invitational 7s – Thursday, December 5 – Saturday, December 7):

Enya Breen (UL Bohemians/Munster) Stephanie Carroll (Railway Union/Leinster) Lucinda Kinghan (DCU/Ulster) Maeve Liston (Blackrock/Ulster) Kate Farrell McCabe (DCU/Leinster) Grace Moore (IQ Rugby) Anna McGann (Old Belvedere/Leinster) Lucy Turkington (Dungannon/Ulster) Leah Reilly (DCU/Leinster) Soneva Scott (IQ Rugby) Laura Sheehan (UL/Munster) Dorothy Wall (Railway Union/Munster). DUBAI INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT MATCH SCHEDULE: Thursday, December 5: Ireland Men’s Development 7-33 France Development Ireland Men’s Development 7-33 Samurai Zastava Ireland Women’s Development 31-5 Thursday Night Lights Ireland Women’s Development 0-38 Japan Development Friday, December 6: Ireland Men’s Development 7-7 Olorun Ponty Butchers Ireland Women’s Development 7-0 Russia Ireland Women’s Development 19-19 Phoenix Rugby 7s Saturday, December 7: Ireland Women's Development v Kenya Lionesses Cup Quarter-Final, 1pm local time/9am Irish time. Ireland Men's Development v ASC Dukla, 13th place play-off, 2pm local time, 10am Irish time.