Sevens

[mikerob]

Rugby is dancing with the devil when it deals with the Olympic movement. If 7s takes off in the Olympics then it could easily become the only rugby played in these so called developing nations. 15 man rugby would be stillborn and rugby as we know it would struggle to break any new ground.

I think it is inevitable that 7s will become the de facto preferred game in certain countries. Comparing the 2 codes as "products", 7s is cheaper, less complex, provides annual global competition and the lure of the Olympics (both in terms of aspiration for players and funding from national Olympic associations).

15s has bigger squads, is technically more complex so more specialist coaching is required, and if you are a minnow, the big countries basically operate a closed shop and aren't interested in playing you unless you happen to get drawn against them in the RWC.

If a product is already well established in a market, then it won't be displaced, but if it isn't, it doesn't matter if you think 15s is a better product than 7s - the cheaper, simpler product with global distribution and association with the Olympics will win out.

[rooster]

Starting to look like the ladies game is heading for 7's with the 15's getting pushed to the side, Scots and Welsh making big noise about pulling out of 6 nations and even a thought the next RWC next year could possibly be the last as not enough teams for it as a lot of countries heading down the 7's route. Don't see the mens game going the same way but perhaps the number of countries participating in RWC will fall ?

[ronk]

Starting to look like the ladies game is heading for 7's with the 15's getting pushed to the side, Scots and Welsh making big noise about pulling out of 6 nations and even a thought the next RWC next year could possibly be the last as not enough teams for it as a lot of countries heading down the 7's route. Don't see the mens game going the same way but perhaps the number of countries participating in RWC will fall ?

An Olympic medal is an Olympic medal. It makes sense to focus on it for the women.

[RavenhillRaider]

So sevens is finally getting the go ahead.
With japan 2020 as a goal.
Better late than never.

http://www.thescore.ie/irfu-sevens-2020 ... 7-Oct2014/

[leinster4life13]

Complete waste of money, 7's is awful, good for the piss up, but its unwatchable dross, IRFU should fund an AIL sevens made up of semi pro's, no sense in running a fully parallel pro set up that has no crossover to the 15 man game, will the IRFU start investing in league next?

[Dave Cahill]

So sevens is finally getting the go ahead.
With japan 2020 as a goal.
Better late than never.

http://www.thescore.ie/irfu-sevens-2020 ... 7-Oct2014/

No, what that says is that the IRFU are under pressure from the IRB to do something about sevens and so have decided to do the least amount possible to get them off their backs

"IRFU plan to enter a team into level 2 of the FIRA European Sevens circuit in the summer of 2015" FIRA Level 2 is roughly on a par with Mixed Social C in the OBRFC summer Tag competition and the summer of 2015 is the months before the RWC. I have a genuine chance of making this squad.

[fungalboy]

So sevens is finally getting the go ahead.
With japan 2020 as a goal.
Better late than never.

http://www.thescore.ie/irfu-sevens-2020 ... 7-Oct2014/

No, what that says is that the IRFU are under pressure from the IRB to do something about sevens and so have decided to do the least amount possible to get them off their backs

"IRFU plan to enter a team into level 2 of the FIRA European Sevens circuit in the summer of 2015" FIRA Level 2 is roughly on a par with Mixed Social C in the OBRFC summer Tag competition and the summer of 2015 is the months before the RWC. I have a genuine chance of making this squad.

I mean this in the nicest possible way Dave, but you don't.

You are a sight to behold in shorts though, i'll give you that much...

[simonokeeffe]

So sevens is finally getting the go ahead.
With japan 2020 as a goal.
Better late than never.

http://www.thescore.ie/irfu-sevens-2020 ... 7-Oct2014/

No, what that says is that the IRFU are under pressure from the IRB to do something about sevens and so have decided to do the least amount possible to get them off their backs

"IRFU plan to enter a team into level 2 of the FIRA European Sevens circuit in the summer of 2015" FIRA Level 2 is roughly on a par with Mixed Social C in the OBRFC summer Tag competition and the summer of 2015 is the months before the RWC. I have a genuine chance of making this squad.

Dave Cahill out

[johng]

Dave. You have a genuine chance of making it to the far side of the pitch while carrying water bottles.

[blues_fan]

So sevens is finally getting the go ahead.
With japan 2020 as a goal.
Better late than never.

http://www.thescore.ie/irfu-sevens-2020 ... 7-Oct2014/

No, what that says is that the IRFU are under pressure from the IRB to do something about sevens and so have decided to do the least amount possible to get them off their backs

"IRFU plan to enter a team into level 2 of the FIRA European Sevens circuit in the summer of 2015" FIRA Level 2 is roughly on a par with Mixed Social C in the OBRFC summer Tag competition and the summer of 2015 is the months before the RWC. I have a genuine chance of making this squad.

They are starting at level 2 by necessity of the rules. Sevens is run on a promotion/relegation pyramid type system. For Europe its Level 2 -> FIRA Grand Prix Series -> Core team qualification tournament -> World Series core team (top tier). Ireland have no special right to jump the queue and take the place of a team who have worked hard to qualify.

Good luck to Ireland. They will do well to get to core status by 2020 let alone an Olympic berth.

[kermischocolate]

Good luck to Ireland. They will do well to get to core status by 2020 let alone an Olympic berth.

Yup.
Especially if the Olympics keep it to a ludicrously small tournament of 11 qualifiers plus the host nation. At least Japan are throwing money at it and have a competitive 7s team (sort of) unlike Brazil.

The gap between the 15 core teams and the invitational side in each tournament seems to get bigger each year.

Blues_fan did you see any of this weekend's action from Gold Coast? Fiji look ominous!!

[blues_fan]

Yup.
Especially if the Olympics keep it to a ludicrously small tournament of 11 qualifiers plus the host nation. At least Japan are throwing money at it and have a competitive 7s team (sort of) unlike Brazil.

The gap between the 15 core teams and the invitational side in each tournament seems to get bigger each year.

Blues_fan did you see any of this weekend's action from Gold Coast? Fiji look ominous!!

Only caught glimpses unfortunately. Bit worried for my team though just looking at that result!

Just saw an interview with David Nucifora the IRFU performance director. He seems to be the one who initiated this adventure. Had no idea he was hired by the IRFU. Although his time at the Blues was a failure, he apparently has a good rugby brain, although looking at the state of the ARU which he just left, it doesn't bode well for the IRFU. However, he may have had nothing to do with the ARU's current problems.

[All Blacks nil]

A bit of fun
Lets keep it non parochial. it is a completely hypothetical exercise anyway.
Anyone want to pick Ireland's Dream 7-a side team

[All Blacks nil]

A bit of fun
Lets keep it non parochial. it is a completely hypothetical exercise anyway.

Anyone want to pick Ireland's Dream 7-a side team

Squad of 10

Jordi, Darcy,Henshaw, TOD, -
Murray, Marmion
JJ / Madigan/Gilroy/Zebo,

Darcy would make a great 7's forward with his quick feet and hands and his ability at the breakdown, He could also double up as scrumhalf.
Murphy and TOD both have the pace and the hands to be effective.
Henshaw while a back would not lack for physicality.
Murray has to be there Marmion's speed puts him in front of Reddan, while JJ and Madigan are both elusive and have plenty of gas.
Sevens rugby needs pure pace and both Gilroy and Zebo provide that

[johng]

SCOTLAND RUGBY UNION CENTENARY SEVENS (MURRAYFIELD) 7 APRIL 1973
Irish Team
V.A. Becker (Lansdowne), S. Dennison (Garryowen), A.W. McMaster (Ballymena), C.M.H. Gibson (NIFC) Capt., T.A. Moore (Highfield), D.M. Canniffe (Cork Con), J.F. Slattery (Blackrock Coll), P.C. Whelan (Garryowen), K. Mays (UCD)

Results: Ireland 22 New Zealand 18; Ireland 16 Australia 4; Ireland 24 Scotland 12.

Final: Ireland 18 England 22

Now that's a 7s team

[All Blacks nil]

SCOTLAND RUGBY UNION CENTENARY SEVENS (MURRAYFIELD) 7 APRIL 1973
Irish Team
V.A. Becker (Lansdowne), S. Dennison (Garryowen), A.W. McMaster (Ballymena), C.M.H. Gibson (NIFC) Capt., T.A. Moore (Highfield), D.M. Canniffe (Cork Con), J.F. Slattery (Blackrock Coll), P.C. Whelan (Garryowen), K. Mays (UCD)

Results: Ireland 22 New Zealand 18; Ireland 16 Australia 4; Ireland 24 Scotland 12.

Final: Ireland 18 England 22

Now that's a 7s team

I remember that
I was a kid just starting out with Garryowen FC at the time.

Interesting breakdown of players with 5 backs and 4 forwards selected

Mike Gibson and 6 others would have done the job.

[kermischocolate]

A bit of fun
Lets keep it non parochial. it is a completely hypothetical exercise anyway.

Anyone want to pick Ireland's Dream 7-a side team

Squad of 10

Jordi, Darcy,Henshaw, TOD, -
Murray, Marmion
JJ / Madigan/Gilroy/Zebo,

Darcy would make a great 7's forward with his quick feet and hands and his ability at the breakdown, He could also double up as scrumhalf.
Murphy and TOD both have the pace and the hands to be effective.
Henshaw while a back would not lack for physicality.
Murray has to be there Marmion's speed puts him in front of Reddan, while JJ and Madigan are both elusive and have plenty of gas.
Sevens rugby needs pure pace and both Gilroy and Zebo provide that

Why a squad of 10?

No Bowe/ Rob Kearney/ Trimble?

Gilroy and Zebo aren't "pure pace" when it comes to 7s imo.

[Peg Leg]

Conway would have to be in the mix

[All Blacks nil]

Guys
This is just a bit of fun
Don't pick holes in my team or even how many should be in a squad. Just put up your own squads and your reasons for picking them.

[bonzo]

We've just beaten Samoa 27-21 [five tries to three] in the Monaco repechage, fantastic result and some lovely rugby too.

Genuine outside chance of getting the last Olympics slot now. Extraordinary stuff given we weren't even involved in the main qualification process [2014/15 sevens world series]