Irish Rugby and Sevens

ormond lad

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Anyone got a result for the Leinster Schools 7s competition today?

Dont know, pity they didnt include more schools including some non traditional schools in the competition. 7s is a great way to introduce them to the game. even if theyd plsyed them in the same venue but different competition

East Munster(Tipperary and Waterford for those that didnt know) had their annual u15s 7 a side competition today. 14 teams and competition was going very well when i left.
More clubs and schools should be playing 7s cups especially towards the end of the season and lads begin to drift off to other things

CIARAN_BOYLE

ormond lad wrote: »

Dont know, pity they didnt include more schools including some non traditional schools in the competition. 7s is a great way to introduce them to the game. even if theyd plsyed them in the same venue but different competition

East Munster(Tipperary and Waterford for those that didnt know) had their annual u15s 7 a side competition today. 14 teams and competition was going very well when i left.
More clubs and schools should be playing 7s cups especially towards the end of the season and lads begin to drift off to other things

Agreed, also it would be a great way to expose people from small schools or traditional GAA schools that wouldn't have the numbers interested in rugby to field a XVs team. It would give schools something to build on to field a XVs side in the future or would give students with interest in rugby a taster which might lead to them looking at clubs for the next season.

Foxtrol

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Anyone got a result for the Leinster Schools 7s competition today?

According to twitter Newbridge College won it. Hopefully a good omen for tomorrow.

Naomi00

Theta wrote: »

What do you know we dont?

There's a Sevens championship on for Connacht clubs in a few weeks, and I think the other provinces will have them too but I'm not sure.

ormond lad

Naomi00 wrote: »

There's a Sevens championship on for Connacht clubs in a few weeks, and I think the other provinces will have them too but I'm not sure.

There is,provincial championships are on april 28th with all irelands a couple of weeks afterwards

Saturday April 28th
Connacht Championship Galway Sportsgrounds
Leinster Championship DLSP RFC
Munster Championship Bruff RFC
Ulster Championship Belfast Harlequins RFC

Saturday May 12th
All-Ireland Club Sevens Championship Buccaneers RFC

CatFromHue

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Agreed, also it would be a great way to expose people from small schools or traditional GAA schools that wouldn't have the numbers interested in rugby to field a XVs team. It would give schools something to build on to field a XVs side in the future or would give students with interest in rugby a taster which might lead to them looking at clubs for the next season.

I dunno, would it? It's a pretty big pitch and you have to fit as hell to play the game. It never appealed to me when I played and was at my fittest. When I played and was not at my fittest the thought of having to run the length of the pitch repeatedly had me contemplating faking an injury!

If you're not fit I can't imagine it being too pleasant a game to play.

irishbucsfan

CatFromHue wrote: »

I dunno, would it? It's a pretty big pitch and you have to fit as hell to play the game. It never appealed to me when I played and was at my fittest. When I played and was not at my fittest the thought of having to run the length of the pitch repeatedly had me contemplating faking an injury!

If you're not fit I can't imagine it being too pleasant a game to play.

I agree. There is no hiding on the 7s pitch. That scares the bejaysus out of me, I need somewhere to hide my weaknesses!

I think 7s is built for a very specific type of player.

CIARAN_BOYLE

CatFromHue wrote: »

I dunno, would it? It's a pretty big pitch and you have to fit as hell to play the game. It never appealed to me when I played and was at my fittest. When I played and was not at my fittest the thought of having to run the length of the pitch repeatedly had me contemplating faking an injury!

If you're not fit I can't imagine it being too pleasant a game to play.

True but there is a base of fit people in most schools, a lot of whom will try any sport if the school makes i available.

I think that putting out a 7s team would attract these people into trying rugby. After that they might be lured by the club scene.

steve9859

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0404/1224314345199.html

I agree 100% with everything in this. I've been to most of the world's sevens competitions at some stage, including Hong Kong. It would be a shame if after 2016 there was no competitive Irish representation at a sevens world cup, which would be a truly international competition (and it looks like there's going to be money in it too).

A properly structured Irish set up might even attract gaelic footballers who have the fitness and the skills to excel at it

JustinDee

Yesterday's announcement regarding the expanded Club Sevens competition was ignored by every pundit bar one.

If the media isn't interested in using Sevens as anything but a stick to beat with, then who's to say anyone else is even remotely clicked to it.

Next bit of news, to be out this week, will probably yield some commentary but yet again, the grassroots level of the sport in Ireland will go largely ignored by those who think that club rugby consists of Division 1A and nothing else.

CIARAN_BOYLE

http://www.irishrugby.ie/sevens/
http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/26149.php

CIARAN_BOYLE

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

http://www.irishrugby.ie/sevens/
http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/26149.php

always good to see some family photos in an irishrugby.ie link!

:shamelessbrag:

muscleshirt

JustinDee wrote: »

Yesterday's announcement regarding the expanded Club Sevens competition was ignored by every pundit bar one.

If the media isn't interested in using Sevens as anything but a stick to beat with, then who's to say anyone else is even remotely clicked to it.

Next bit of news, to be out this week, will probably yield some commentary but yet again, the grassroots level of the sport in Ireland will go largely ignored by those who think that club rugby consists of Division 1A and nothing else.

the irfu are just tinkering
with 7s,you need some specialst 7s coaches trained in the game first.form some kind of intl squad and enter in the european league at some level,this is going to be a pro game and we need to take it serious or forget it

JustinDee

muscleshirt wrote: »

the irfu are just tinkering
with 7s,you need some specialst 7s coaches trained in the game first.form some kind of intl squad and enter in the european league at some level,this is going to be a pro game and we need to take it serious or forget it

The Club Sevens programme is hardly "tinkering" and as I mentioned earlier, more news to come. You don't just come up with a concept and plonk it in without building something behind it to sustain it.
Seriously.

muscleshirt

JustinDee wrote: »

The Club Sevens programme is hardly "tinkering" and as I mentioned earlier, more news to come. You don't just come up with a concept and plonk it in without building something behind it to sustain it.
Seriously.

what is the more news? what is the big secret? are they going to pick a national squad from the club 7s or is it going to be an end of season fun event,you can't plonk or play sevens the same way as 15s,you need the concept of coaching first ,good olde ireland knows better

Leinster7

7's.... another fine example of the complete amateurism at the top of the IRFU.

Scotland have had a professional 7's team for 5 years now... :mad:

CatFromHue

Leinster7 wrote: »

7's.... another fine example of the complete amateurism at the top of the IRFU.

Scotland have had a professional 7's team for 5 years now... :mad:

Has there been much of a benefit to them for having one?

muscleshirt

Leinster7 wrote: »

7's.... another fine example of the complete amateurism at the top of the IRFU.

Scotland have had a professional 7's team for 5 years now... :mad:

browns pronouncement today from the irfu does't give much hope for a proper 7s structure,the usual..limited resourses/cost 1m/stripping players from the provinces/any excuse no positives..
we are left with the pig and porter

ormond lad

Leinster senior 7s is on in DLSP rfc tomorrow night.
Dont know what way the comp is structured but Old Wesley, Barnhall, Suttonians and St Marys are in one group.

ormond lad

muscleshirt wrote: »

browns pronouncement today from the irfu does't give much hope for a proper 7s structure,the usual..limited resourses/cost 1m/stripping players from the provinces/any excuse no positives..
we are left with the pig and porter

There was a 7s comp held in the Comp last saturday that had 64 teams competing at u15 and u18 level. Anymore news about it?

JustinDee

ormond lad wrote: »

Leinster senior 7s is on in DLSP rfc tomorrow night.
Dont know what way the comp is structured but Old Wesley, Barnhall, Suttonians and St Marys are in one group.

4 x groups of 4. Cup, Plate, bowl competition.
Both Cup finalists will qualify for the All-Ireland which takes place on May 12th at Buccs.
Winner of that goes to Amsterdam Sevens in May along with winner of Women's competition.
Ulster event also tonight at Bel Quins.
Munster at Bruff tomorrow. Connacht postponed. Trying to hold on May 5th depending on availability of teams.

ormond lad

ormond lad wrote: »

There was a 7s comp held in the Comp last saturday that had 64 teams competing at u15 and u18 level. Anymore news about it?

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/domestic/news/10428.php

ormond lad

Clontarf won the Leinster Senior 7s and Marys won the Bowl which were held in kilternan tonight

JustinDee

ormond lad wrote: »

Clontarf won the Leinster Senior 7s and Marys won the Bowl which were held in kilternan tonight

Belvo won the plate.
Malone won the Cup in Ulster.
Will have more results etc out later on today or early tomorrow.

muscleshirt

shannon won the munster senior 7s

andrewdcs

For 7s in Rio Ireland would have to place in top 8 (!!) of world 7s tourney ?

Against massive oppositon from all the current "decent at 15s but 7s is tertiary" countries like England, France, Oz. Not to mention serious teams like NZ, SA, Fiji, everyone else.

I think its worth a tilt, but not a good bet for the IRFU... sadly.

sergeblanco

Hi lads,

Have any of ye seen this article on the plight of Irish 7s? Would be interested to see what people think about it?

http://murraykinsella.wordpress.com/2012/05/09/the-plight-of-irish-7s/

its_phil

sergeblanco wrote: »

Hi lads,

Have any of ye seen this article on the plight of Irish 7s? Would be interested to see what people think about it?

http://murraykinsella.wordpress.com/2012/05/09/the-plight-of-irish-7s/

Great first post, that was an excellent read.

If it's true that Ireland haven't entered for the 2013 World Cup, the IRFU should be embarrassed and ashamed. It really is a joke we don't enter in any leg of the circuit

sergeblanco

Ya it's definitely an interesting and informative read...

...the lack of a team for the 2013 WC is the most shocking bit, what a backwards step?! Whatever about the circuit, a team in the world cup should surely be a must!!!

JustinDee

its_phil wrote: »

Great first post, that was an excellent read.

If it's true that Ireland haven't entered for the 2013 World Cup, the IRFU should be embarrassed and ashamed. It really is a joke we don't enter in any leg of the circuit

Its not a joke nor is it "shameful". It is a carefully researched and prepared position, taking all factors into account.

People here talk about the cost of accommodation and flights being covered by IRB. These are a fraction of what it costs to contract players to actually play during the series. There is more to it than just funding a "coaching team to travel".

As I said before here, and as per IRFU CEO, one of the reasons on the current stance no decision on Men's international Sevens (nobody seems to be mentioning the Women's international side...) will be made final until the qualification criteria for the Olympic Games are finalised and made known.

sergeblanco

I would argue against it being a researched and prepared position. The provincial tournaments that have been the IRFU's back up to not having a national team have been a major flop 2 years in a row - where was the research and preparation put to remedy last year's poor turnouts and standards? All past 7s WCs have been given maybe 2/3 weeks of research and preparation for squads to be ready. Surely research shows that you need to practice playing 7s at the highest standard in order to be prepared for playing at that standard. If there has been genuine research and preparation put into an Irish 7s platform, why is it not openly visible or shown to the public and playing population?

Flights and accommodation are huge costs and the fact that they are being paid for is like staring a gift horse in the mouth - why not avail of such supports? 7s could be made part of any academy, development or provincial contracts incurring no further costs for bringing such players on circuit. Furthermore, amateurs would surely eat their hats to have a chance at playing on the IRB circuit or in the Olympics - they would not necessarily need to be paid and if so I'm sure a small bursary would suffice. They're already training 4 days a week with their club and playing matches on Saturdays for pittance.

Let's gladly and openly mention women's rugby so! The IRFU's treatment of the women's game has been a shambles this year - this petition is prime evidence of the lack of preparation and research put into Irish rugby outside of its big professional teams: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/televising-womans-rugby/ The decision to make a women's 7s team for 2012 was made at the 11th hour and was conveniently only made after such a petition was widely disseminated. The women's full 15 and 7s teams are prime examples of the potential for Irish rugby "minority teams" that is not being exploited.

Playing the waiting game for the Olympics is another misconceived tactic. The Olympics is the ultimate goal but why wait around for qualification criteria to be confirmed? No matter what, Ireland will need to have a practised team at high standards to qualify so why not pre-empt it and get a team up and running so we have a running start rather than playing catch up....again.

CIARAN_BOYLE

JustinDee wrote: »

Its not a joke nor is it "shameful". It is a carefully researched and prepared position, taking all factors into account.

People here talk about the cost of accommodation and flights being covered by IRB. These are a fraction of what it costs to contract players to actually play during the series. There is more to it than just funding a "coaching team to travel".

As I said before here, and as per IRFU CEO, one of the reasons on the current stance no decision on Men's international Sevens (nobody seems to be mentioning the Women's international side...) will be made final until the qualification criteria for the Olympic Games are finalised and made known.

I half agree with you about the IRB series since those players would need to be at least semi-professional however I do beleive that it would be a positive and affordable for sevens in Ireland to send a team on a shoe-string budget to the European Championships and the World Cup next year (if we qualified).

I do think it is somewhat shameful that we are not entering the next RWC in sevens.

JustinDee

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

I half agree with you about the IRB series since those players would need to be at least semi-professional however I do beleive that it would be a positive and affordable for sevens in Ireland to send a team on a shoe-string budget to the European Championships and the World Cup next year (if we qualified).

I do think it is somewhat shameful that we are not entering the next RWC in sevens.

How affordable would the relevant player contracts be? Rather than entering just for the sake of it, how about if the Men's side was to happen that it is done properly?

Every element of running Sevens is taken into consideration and in my own personal view, three years is plenty of time to prepare for Olympics, which is the ideal time to launch this form of the game (and rugby union), were Ireland to enter and qualify.

Also I'll add in reply to the blogger's presumption above, that work behind getting the Women's international Sevens side up and running began middle of last year.

Have a good weekend (All-Ireland Club Sevens on in Buccs tomorrow. Everyone welcome to pop by and say hi and watch some of the clubs action)

thomond2006

Would hosting a leg of the IRB Sevens World Series not partly pay for the Sevens team? I've read about many international sevens sides being "self-funding".

CatFromHue

thomond2006 wrote: »

Would hosting a leg of the IRB Sevens World Series not partly pay for the Sevens team? I've read about many international sevens sides being "self-funding".

20,000 (tickets) x 35 (euro per ticket) = 700,000 - 250,000 (Aviva rent) = 450,000.

Of course there's more expenses than just the Aviva rent (foreign teams accommodation and travel may have to be paid for the by the host nation I don't know) and the calculation if pretty simplistic but Sevens is a party and if managed right could be profitable.

its_phil

JustinDee wrote: »

Its not a joke nor is it "shameful".

What that Ireland aren't entering into a premier world rugby tournament? I'd call that a joke and shameful.

Podge_irl

Ireland would have to actually be awarded a leg of the 7s tournament.

I can't say I'm overly perturbed about Ireland not fielding a 7s side. I enjoy watching the odd game, but its not rugby. I also think it has exceptionally limited use in developing players for 15s.

Piliger

We should stay out of 7s and lot leak a penny of the limited budget we have on this side show.

sergeblanco

Justin, if "work behind getting the Women's international Sevens side up and running began middle of last year" why was the coach of the Irish womens 7s team only approached for the position a month ago?

In response to the comments of "exceptionally limited use in developing players for 15s" and a "side show" I'm interested in dealing with facts here. New Zealand are the best rugby team in the world and best rugby playing nation of all time, that is an objective fact. So...let's look at their 2011 world cup winning squad - who of them has played 7s for New Zealand???

Israel Dagg
Corey Jane
Ma'a Nonu
Mils Muliaina
Adam Thomson
Victor Vito
Isaia Toeava

Podge_irl

I would put forth that all those players would have come through regardless of playing 7s.

Its a completely different game.

sergeblanco

Well you can put forth all you wish but, as I said, it's facts I'm interested in and the fact is that they've all played 7s for NZ.

Podge_irl

sergeblanco wrote: »

Well you can put forth all you wish but, as I said, it's facts I'm interested in and the fact is that they've all played 7s for NZ.

Correlation does not imply causation.

Its a completely different game and while many young NZ players play 7s I don't think it particularly adds anything to their game. The biggest names in 7s are all specialist 7s players.

sergeblanco

I would hazard a guess that you've never played 7s yourself? If you had then you'd know that the key skills of passing, tackling, rucking and evasion are put under far greater pressure in the game of 7s and directly contribute to players' skills in 15s. I can guarantee that the 7 players with international 7s experience in the NZ WC winning squad would testify to that.

ormond lad

Trinity won 7s all ireland beating Malone 14-12
Buccaneers won plate beating garryowen 12-5 in final

Blackrock won womens div 1 7s
Tralee won womens div 2/3 7s

ormond lad

ormond lad wrote: »

Trinity won 7s all ireland beating Malone 14-12
Buccaneers won plate beating garryowen 12-5 in final

Blackrock won womens div 1 7s
Tralee won womens div 2/3 7s

Trinity won a big 7s tournament last year too didn't they? Travelled to Denmark on the back of it for European tournament unless I'm mistaken.

ormond lad

Deleted User wrote: »

Trinity won a big 7s tournament last year too didn't they? Travelled to Denmark on the back of it for European tournament unless I'm mistaken.

It was this competition they won - all ireland senior mens. was it not you who said their brother was on trinity team last year?
think the winners travel abroad to similar tournament this year as well

ormond lad

ormond lad wrote: »

It was this competition they won - all ireland senior mens. was it not you who said their brother was on trinity team last year?
think the winners travel abroad to similar tournament this year as well

Yup, he missed the euro tournament because he was on holidays.

Was too lazy to go out and play today though!

errlloyd

Lads I got the solution to all our problems hear, cheap 7s team that will dominate world rugby for years.

Get Joe Schmit to coach for one year, give him a squad, of 3 black rock college boys, 2 JCT Flankers from Munchins, A shamrock rovers academy goal keeper, a one legged ex boxer, 2 female 50m hurdlers and some swans from the river dodder. All under 22

Give him a year to inexplicably make them into the best team in the world, then make Declan Kidney the coach, he can pick the same ****ing team for the next 12 years, thus covering us for 3 olympics, when it begins to get **** give Deccie a one year "Holiday" and get JS to do it all again.

I believe I have just won us a gold at every olympics for the remainder of time.

CatFromHue

errlloyd wrote: »

Lads I got the solution to all our problems hear, cheap 7s team that will dominate world rugby for years.

Get Joe Schmit to coach for one year, give him a squad, of 3 black rock college boys, 2 JCT Flankers from Munchins, A shamrock rovers academy goal keeper, a one legged ex boxer, 2 female 50m hurdlers and some swans from the river dodder. All under 22

Give him a year to inexplicably make them into the best team in the world, then make Declan Kidney the coach, he can pick the same ****ing team for the next 12 years, thus covering us for 3 olympics, when it begins to get **** give Deccie a one year "Holiday" and get JS to do it all again.

I believe I have just won us a gold at every olympics for the remainder of time.

Declan Kidney ate my Hamster!

JustinDee

Deleted User wrote: »

Trinity won a big 7s tournament last year too didn't they? Travelled to Denmark on the back of it for European tournament unless I'm mistaken.

Yes, Trinity won it last year too. They then travelled with UL Bohs who won the Women's Comp to the Copenhagen Sevens and both won outright.
This year winners go to Amsterdam Sevens taking place next weekend.

Junior women's winners, Tralee, will attend the Ireland v Argentina test in November as VIP guests going to the IRFU pre-match lunch, match itself then the IRFU players reception afterwards.