World Class Women’s Sevens rugby is coming to Ireland this summer with news that the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series qualifier is to be held at UCD.
12 teams, including Olympic-qualified Brazil and Colombia, will compete for the two remaining places on the coveted 2015/16 World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series.
UCD will host over 200 visiting players and management with games taking place at the UCD Bowl, which has a capacity of up to 3,000 spectators.
This will also be the venue for the group stages of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2017 and the hosting of this tournament will provide a great ‘dry run’ for two years hence.
Tickets for the tournament are already on sale starting at €5, with children free, and are available from www.ticketmaster.ie.
There will be a family-friendly carnival atmosphere providing the backdrop to the tournament. On the field Brazil, China, Colombia, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, the Netherlands, Samoa, South Africa and Wales will battle it out for the two qualification spots to the World Series.
The timing of the event may perhaps be viewed with dismay further south as it overlaps by one day with the Limerick World Club 7’s when Thomond Park in Limerick will host some of the best teams from around the world in a similar two day format.
“With the 2016 Olympic Games looming large on the horizon and the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series now an important and popular fixture on the international rugby calendar, this qualifying tournament in Dublin is extremely important for World Rugby and of course the individual teams involved,” said World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset
“Competition is fierce at this level and it is very encouraging to see that the overall standard of the Women’s game is rising all the time. There have never been so many exciting opportunities for Women’s Sevens players as there are today.”
“The series, the Olympics and of course Rugby World Cup Sevens mean the world’s best female players are in the public eye more than ever before. This, in turn, is attracting more players, spectators and commercial partners into the game, which is having a significant, beneficial effect.”
“I would like to thank the IRFU for hosting this tournament and I’ve no doubt all the teams will be working hard in preparation as they seek to qualify for next season’s series. For two teams that effort will bear fruit and for the rest I’m sure they will benefit from the experience of competing in an elite, high-intensity, two-day Sevens event.”
“We are delighted Ireland is going to host the Women’s Sevens Dublin tournament,” added IRFU Chief Executive Philip Browne.
“UCD is a world class facility and it is a great opportunity to build the Women’s game on an international stage.”
“This gives us a great opportunity to showcase the game and we look forward to welcoming the international teams to Ireland for what is sure to be a great event.”
