Ireland's Jordan Conroy in action on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. ©Mike Lee/KLC Fotos/World Rugby
The Ireland Men’s and Women’s Sevens squads have touched down in Cape Town ahead of the second leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series December double-header this weekend.
Following last week’s Dubai Sevens, the two panels arrived in South Africa on Sunday evening and Anthony Eddy, the IRFU Director of Women’s and Sevens Rugby, has confirmed his 13-player selections for the Cape Town Sevens.
The Ireland Men’s squad shows one change from their debut appearance as World Series core team, with Ireland Under-20 Grand Slam winner Liam Turner in line to win his first Sevens cap at the Cape Town Stadium in the coming days.
Turner impressed for the Ireland Men’s Development team in Dubai last week and has been called up for this weekend, as Eddy’s side, who finished 12th in the season opener, prepare to face Australia, Samoa and Kenya in Pool B.
Ireland Women’s head coach Stan McDowell has also made one change to his squad for Cape Town and the third leg on the Women’s World Series circuit. Gorey teenager Kate Farrell McCabe makes the step up.
Farrell McCabe, who has come through the IRFU Women’s Development pathway and starred for the Ireland Under-18s during the summer, was one of the standout performers for the Ireland Women’s Development side as they reached the quarter-finals of the Invitational Tournament in Dubai last week.
“Both teams are excited to be in Cape Town and looking forward to the tournament starting,” admitted Eddy. “The Men and Women will be looking to improve on the performances from Dubai and demonstrate greater consistency around the performances.
“Both teams have challenging pool matches and our execution and accuracy will be vital for them to get the outcome we are looking for.”
The Ireland Women, who finished 10th in Dubai, have been drawn in Pool C alongside the USA, Australia and England, with McDowell’s charges opening their tournament against the USA on Friday at 2.22pm local time/12.22pm Irish time.
The Cape Town Sevens will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Action, and you can keep up to date with the progress of both Ireland teams using the hashtag #Ireland7s and on the Irish Rugby social media channels throughout the week.
Meanwhile, the 2020 Ireland Sevens jersey is now available to buy online from Elverys Intersport, official sports retailer of the IRFU.
Aaron O’Sullivan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Adam Leavy (Lansdowne)
Billy Dardis (Terenure College) (capt)
Greg O’Shea (Shannon)
Harry McNulty (UCD)
Hugo Lennox (Skerries)
Jack Kelly (Dublin University)
John O’Donnell (Lansdowne)
Jordan Conroy (Buccaneers)
Mark Roche (Lansdowne)
Terry Kennedy (St. Mary’s College)
Liam Turner (Dublin University/Leinster) *
Peter Maher (Old Belvedere)
* Denotes Ireland Sevens new cap
Pool D:
Friday, December 13:
Australia v Ireland, Cape Town Stadium, 4.37pm local time/2.37pm Irish time
Saturday, December 14:
Samoa v Ireland, Cape Town Stadium, 11.19am local time/9.19am Irish time
Ireland v Kenya, Cape Town Stadium, 4.47pm local time/2.47pm Irish time
Sunday, December 15:
Play-Offs & Finals, Cape Town Stadium
Kathy Baker (Blackrock/Leinster)
Claire Boles (Railway Union/Ulster)
Megan Burns (Tullamore/Leinster)
Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (Railway Union/Munster) (co-capt)
Anna Doyle (DCU/Leinster)
Kate Farrell McCabe (DCU/Leinster) *
Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock/Leinster) (co-capt)
Louise Galvin (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Eve Higgins (Railway Union/Leinster)
Brittany Hogan (DCU/Ulster)
Emily Lane (Mallow/Munster)
Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird (Old Belvedere/Munster)
Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
* Denotes Ireland Sevens new cap
Pool C:
Friday, December 13:
USA v Ireland, Cape Town Stadium, 2.22pm local time/12.22pm Irish time
Saturday, December 14:
Australia v Ireland, Cape Town Stadium, 8.45am local time/6.45am Irish time
England v Ireland, Cape Town Stadium, 2.35pm local time/12.35pm Irish time
Sunday, December 15:
Play-Offs & Finals, Cape Town Stadium
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