IRELAND HAVE QUALIFIED for next summer’s Sevens World Cup after their Rugby Europe Grand Prix series victory over England at Sandy Park this morning.
Anthony Eddy’s side powered through the group stages at the Exeter 7s tournament — the final one of the campaign — yesterday and continued that form into today as they booked their place in the semi-finals with a 24-7 win over the hosts.
Shortly after that result, Ireland’s place in the 2018 World Cup was confirmed after Spain’s loss to Portugal.
To qualify for the 2018 World Cup in San Fransisco, Ireland needed to finish in the top two of the overall Grand Prix standings and heading into this weekend they sat top of the pile with Russia and Spain just behind.
Victories over Portugal, Belgium and France on Saturday paved Ireland’s passage through to the quarter-finals, where tries from Jordan Conroy, Hugo Keenan and John O’Donnell helped see off England.
In the semi-final, however, Ireland came up short as they lost 15-12 to Wales.
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