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6 Nations

Kennedy Claims World Sevens Series Awards Double

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The Men’s Series came to an exciting conclusion in Los Angeles, with Australia clinching the title for the first time and Ireland making history with their best ever overall finish of fifth place.

Kennedy played a crucial role in Ireland’s stellar nine-tournament campaign, becoming only the eighth player in World Series history to score 50 or more tries in a single season.

The Dubliner’s awards double adds to Ireland’s already impressive list of World Sevens Series accolades this year, as Women’s star Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe won three awards – including the leading try scorer and Dream Team honours – back in May.

Kennedy’s team-mate Jordan Conroy was a previous winner of the same two awards in 2020, at the end of a Covid-19-impacted first year on the World Series for the Ireland Men as a core team.

The awards, presented on Sunday at a ceremony held at the Torrance Marriot Redondo Beach Hotel, recognise and celebrate the players and teams who have performed at the highest level across this season’s series and produced the most memorable moments that thrilled and inspired fans around the globe.

Aside from the Men’s Try of the Series, which was voted for by fans on social media from a list of three nominees, winners have been selected by the World Rugby Sevens Series Awards panel, comprising former international Sevens players and series commentators, across the eight categories.

HSBC WORLD RUGBY MEN’S SEVENS SERIES – 2021/22 AWARD WINNERS:

Rookie of the Year: Corey Toole (Australia)

Nominees: Henry Paterson (Australia) and Dietrich Roache (Australia)

This award goes to a player who has made their HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series debut in the current season and delivered an outstanding performance.

All three nominees came from Australia with the winner Corey Toole the only one of the trio not to have previously featured at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

Toole made his series debut for Australia sevens at the first round of the 2022 Series in Dubai, alongside his fellow nominees Henry Paterson and Dietrich Roache.

Toole finished the series as the second leading try scorer with 43 tries, breaking the record for an Australian player and also the most by a rookie player in 2022.

Gilbert Top Try Scorer: Terry Kennedy (Ireland)

After scoring an incredible 50 tries in 52 games across this season’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, Ireland’s Terry Kennedy won the Gilbert Top Try Scorer award, matching the achievement of compatriot Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe who topped the Women’s Series scoring charts this year.

Try of the Series: Jamie Farndale (Scotland), v New Zealand in Toulouse

Nominees: Henry Paterson (Australia) v New Zealand in London, Felipe del Mestre (Argentina) v Fiji in Vancouver

Jamie Farndale’s try against New Zealand in Toulouse was voted by fans worldwide as the Try of the Series. The other nominees were Henry Paterson for his overtime try against New Zealand in London that gave Australia their first tournament win since Sydney 2018, and Argentina’s Felipe del Mestre against Fiji in Vancouver on the way to winning their first leg since San Diego 2009.

Don’t Crack Under Pressure Award: Henry Paterson (Australia)

This award is given to the player or team that has shown the ability to perform under the unique and intense pressure of top level Sevens. This award was voted for by the panel and went to Henry Paterson for his match-winning try in overtime against New Zealand in the London Cup final.

The other nominees were Argentina for their incredible Cup final win over Fiji in Vancouver, and France for their extra-time victory against Samoa on home soil in Toulouse.

DHL Impact Player: Corey Toole (Australia) 

This award is for the player who demonstrated the most consistency and delivered the greatest impact against four key criteria – carries, offloads, line-breaks and tackles.

This year’s winner was Corey Toole of Australia, who made 161 runs, 75 tackles and 45 breaks throughout the season.

Capgemini Leadership Award: Argentina

This award celebrates the team that has upped their performance and climbed the rankings throughout the season. Results have been tracked throughout all the rounds, and Argentina have ranked first in this year’s series, which included only their third ever title, and first since 2009, as they overcame Fiji in an epic decider in Vancouver.

HSBC Dream Team: Corey Toole (Australia), Terry Kennedy (Ireland), Marcos Moneta (Argentina), Nick Malouf (Australia), Waisea Nacuqu (Fiji), Luciano Gonzalez (Argentina), Zain Davids (South Africa)

Corey Toole – Toole made his series debut for Australia sevens in the first round in Dubai, and finished the Series as the second leading try scorer with 43 tries, the most by a rookie player.

Terry Kennedy – Led the series in the number of tries, assists and carries, and was second in line-breaks behind Corey Toole.

Marcos Moneta – The 2021 World Sevens Player of the Year scored 10 tries to help Argentina to victory in Vancouver where he was awarded the HSBC Player of the Final. He scored 38 tries in total during the series, despite missing the final round in LA.

Nick Malouf – The Australia captain led his team to a long-awaited Men’s Series title and contributed eight tries, 11 clean breaks, 82 tackles and 74 carries throughout the campaign.

Waisea Nacuqu – In his eighth season on series, Fiji’s talisman was awarded the HSBC Player of the Final in Toulouse. During the series he scored 230 points, 24 tries, 19 clean breaks, 85 carries and 62 tackles.

Luciano Gonzalez – A key member of Argentina’s impressive campaign which involved a first Cup final win since 2009. He recorded 30 tries, 32 clean breaks, 39 tackles and 173 carries – the second highest in the series.

Zain Davids – Helped South Africa to claim consecutive victories in the first four rounds of the series and ended with 13 tries, 68 carries, 18 line breaks, 3 offloads, 1 try assist and 91 tackles.

Fair Play Award: Japan

The Fair Play Award is selected by the match officials and recognises the team that showcased rugby’s values of integrity, passion, solidarity, discipline and respect. This year’s recipient was Japan.

World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin was in attendance at the awards and said: “On behalf of World Rugby, I would like to congratulate all of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series award winners.

“There was some truly sensational Sevens played across the series and audiences were entertained by the speed, skill and all-action drama of Sevens, capturing the attention of new players and fans worldwide and inspiring young boys and girls around the globe to get involved in rugby.

“It was a fantastic marker of the highly competitive nature of international Sevens to see four teams still in with a chance of winning the series title heading into the crucial final round in Los Angeles.

“With the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town kicking off on September 9-11, and the Olympic Games in Paris less than two years away, the future of Sevens is very bright.”

Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography


6 Nations

IRFU Announces Return Of ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship

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The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) is delighted to announce the return of the ‘A’ Interprovincial Men’s Championship which will kick off next month.

The times and dates of the opening three rounds of the Championship before Christmas have been confirmed, with a similar points-scoring system as used in the URC. A Championship winner will be declared after the final round of matches in May and the IRFU will be commissioning a legacy trophy to mark the 150th anniversary celebrations.

Welcoming the news, IRFU Performance Director David Humphreys commented:

“We’re delighted to kick-start the Men’s ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship which will provide a host of players with a further means of developing in a meaningful competition. With the success of the Emerging Ireland Tours, coupled with the return of an ‘A’ international against England next year, it is vital that we continue to provide players at provincial and Club levels with opportunities to impress outside of the traditional URC and EPCR fixture windows.

“Discussions have been ongoing for some time to provide players with meaningful games and all four provinces are unanimously supportive of this competition. It is also great to see provinces taking matches around their local Clubs.

“It is anticipated that as the competition progresses over the coming seasons these fixtures won’t clash with Energia All-Ireland League fixtures for the most part, thus potentially also offering players from the Club game with an opportunity to impress.

“This competition will form another important part of the representative pathway from Energia AIL to URC levels for Academy players upwards over the coming seasons.”

The dates for the post-Christmas fixtures will be confirmed in due course. Ticket details will be confirmed via the respective provinces.

IRFU 150 Interprovincial ‘A’ Championship Fixtures:

Saturday, 16th November:

Connacht Eagles v Leinster ‘A’ (Creggs RFC, 1pm)

Friday, 22nd November:

Ulster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ballymacaran Park, 3pm), Leinster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (Lakelands, 5pm)

Friday, 29th November:

Munster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (New Ormond Park, 3pm)

Friday, 20th December:

Ulster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (tbc, 3pm)

Saturday, 21st December:

Leinster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ollie Campbell Park, 2pm)

Weekend of 28/29 December:

Connacht Eagles v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc), Munster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)

Weekend of 9/10 May:

Connacht Eagles v Munster ‘A’ (tbc), Leinster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc)

Weekend of 16/17 May:

Munster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (tbc), Ulster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)

Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography


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6 Nations

Emerging Ireland Team For Final Tour Clash Against The Cheetahs Named

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The Emerging Ireland team to face the Cheetahs in the final game of the three-match series in Bloemfontein on Wednesday evening (kick off 6pm Irish time, 7pm local time) has been named.

Leinster’s James Culhane will lead the team and he forms a new back-row alongside Harry Sheridan and Sean Edogbo, who makes his first start of the tour having come on as a replacement in the 29-24 win over Western Force on Sunday afternoon. Former Ireland Under-20 captain Evan O’Connell locks down with Darragh Murray, who featured in the opening 36-24 victory over the Pumas, with Alex Usanov named in the front row alongside hooker Stephen Smyth and Jack Aungier.

Darragh Murray of Emerging Ireland scores his sides second try – Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/Darren Stewart

In the backline, Sam Prendergast starts his third game of the tour at out-half and he will be partnered by Cormac Foley, who featured as a second half replacements against the Australian Super Rugby side last time out. Connacht’s Hugh Gavin forms a midfield partnership with Hugh Cooney, with Ulster’s Zac Ward named in an exciting back tree alongside the returning Ben O’Connor at full-back and Andrew Osborne who moves to the right wing.

Munster loosehead prop George Hadden, who was called up to the squad last weekend, is set to make his first appearance after being named on the bench alongside Conor O’Tighearnaigh and Alex Soroka who started Sunday’s win. Hadden’s provincial team-mate Danny Sheahan provides cover once more at hooker, while Scott Wilson and Charlie Tector are also named on the bench for the Toyota Stadium clash alongside out-half Jack Murphy.

Looking ahead to the game, Emerging Ireland Head Coach Simon Easterby said: “When we set out at the beginning of our pre-camp in Dublin, we knew about the challenge of facing three sides in a week and we knew that every player in the group would have the opportunity to play his part. To a man each player has given his all so far and we are aiming to finish off the series with another positive performance on Wednesday.

The Cheetahs are a fiercely proud and strong side and it should be a lively game with a vocal home support behind them. It has been a fruitful past few weeks to date and we have learned a lot. While our performances haven’t been perfect, the players have embraced the challenge and played some brilliant rugby at times. The action has come thick and fast and we know that we have to be clinical in our execution. We will need to go up another level on Wednesday to get the performance we want and hopefully finish the tour on a high.”

Wednesday’s game will be broadcast once more on IrishRugby+ – click here.

Emerging Ireland (v The Cheetahs, Wednesday, October 9, 7pm local time, 6pm Irish time)

15: Ben O’Connor (UCC RFC/Munster)
14: Andrew Osborne (Naas RFC/Leinster)
13: Hugh Cooney (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
12: Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
11: Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster/Ireland Sevens)
10: Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
9: Cormac Foley (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)

1: Alex Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
2: Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
3: Jack Aungier (Clontarf FC/Connacht)
4: Evan O’Connell (Young Munster RFC/Munster)
5: Darragh Murray (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht)
6: Harry Sheridan (Dublin University FC/Ulster)
7: Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster)
8: James Culhane (UCD RFC/Leinster) (captain)

Replacements:

16: Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)
17: George Hadden (Garryowen FC/Munster)
18: Scott Wilson (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
19: Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster)
20: Alex Soroka (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
21: Matthew Devine (Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
22: Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Ulster)
23: Charlie Tector (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)

Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography


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6 Nations

Emerging Ireland Squad Update As Three Players Return To Provincial Action

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Following Emerging Ireland’s 29-24 victory over Western Force in Bloemfontein on Sunday three players, Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Sean O’Brien (Munster) and Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster) will return to their provinces.

The trio will leave South Africa on Monday afternoon and will be available for selection for their respective URC fixtures this weekend.

The squad will visit Heidedal Township this afternoon and will conclude the three-match series on Wednesday evening against The Cheetahs (kick off 7pm local, 6pm Irish time). That match will be live on irishrugby+

Watch the full match back here on irishrugby+

Check out the highlights from the win against Western Force below.



Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography


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