Ireland made history this morning on the World Series.
The Singapore 7s kicked off today with the pool stages. This is the fourth stage of the series this season after two legs in Dubai last November and December, and then two new stages in Spain in Malaga and Seville respectively.
The HSBC World 7s Series always brings with it a myriad of unique and different storylines and within the early hours of the Singapore leg, proved no different. Singapore for the mens stage, has seen the return of the New Zealand 7s and Samoa 7s squads who haven’t featured on the series in over two years. They will face each other in the first of the Quarter Finals tomorrow.
The one massive upset from the start of the Singapore leg, saw Ireland take on Fiji in the first pool game of the tournament for both sides. For Fiji, Singapore saw the return of player/coach and legend of 7s, Jerry Tuwai to the fold. Courtesy of two first half tries from Jordan Conroy, both converted by Ireland captain Billy Dardis, Ireland led 14-0 at the break. However Fiji fought back scoring two tries of their own in the second half to narrow the gap. With 20 seconds left on the clock, Ireland led by 2 points, 14-12 when speedster Terry Kennedy took on the Fiji defence on the outside. He left 3 defenders for dead, scoring under the posts to secure Ireland’s first ever victory against Fiji on the World Series, or in any competitive game. An unreal achievement for the Ireland side which was only reformed in 2015, to beat the 2 time, olympic 7s champions!
Ireland’s squad is littered with characters and talent. Singapore saw the return of Olympians Harry McNulty who had a brief stint with the LA Giltinis, in Major League Rugby last year, and Jordan Conroy who recently finished second in Ireland’s Dancing with the Stars competition.
Ireland’s squad features experience from players such as Kennedy, Dardis, Mark Roche, Conroy and McNulty, and exciting youth in players such as Chay Mullins, Hugo Lennox, Tamilore Awonusi. Ireland backed with their win against Fiji beating Japan 38-7. However they narrowly lost to France in their final pool game 12-5. Ireland advance onto the quarter final stage of the Singapore 7s tomorrow. Exciting Times for the Ireland 7s squad.
0 Comments