The Ireland Women's Sevens Squad to play in the Amsterdam 7's Rugby Tournament has been named.
The side will be captained by Lucy Mulhall who recently won the IRUPA Women's Sevens Player of the Year Award for 2015.
Ireland share a pool with Ushizi Warriors, Finland 7's and Norwegian Vikingette's.
Speaking ahead of the Tournament, Anthony Eddy, IRFU Director of Rugby Sevens, said,
"It's important for the squad to get competition time ahead of the European Championships in June. This is the beginning of the journey to qualification for the Olympics in Rio 2016.”
"As a squad we are very clear and focused on what we need to do over the next few months. Everyone has worked really hard and knows it's time to put in the performances and deliver.”
(Ireland Women's Sevens Squad)
Eimear Considine
Katie Fitzhenry
Stacey Flood
Louise Galvin
Shannon Houston
Claire Keohane
Alison Miller
Claire Molloy
Lucy Mulhall (Captain)
Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe
Emma Murphy
Jenny Murphy
Ireland Women's Sevens Fixtures:
Saturday, 23rd May
10:20am Ushizi Warriors
12:40am Finland 7's
15:20am Norwegian Vikingette's
(all times are local)
Sunday, 24th May
Play-offs
Women's Sevens Olympic Qualification Process for Rio 2016:
1. The top four teams in the World Series will automatically gain Olympic qualification. This will be decided at the final leg of the World Series being held on the 22 - 23 May in Amsterdam. The current top four standings are New Zealand, Canada, Australia and USA.
2. There will be six regional qualifiers held during June and July 2015. The winner from each of these will qualify for the Olympics.
3. The last qualification place will be awarded to the winner of the World Repechage tournament which will be held in 2016.
4. Brazil automatically qualifies as the host nation and gets the 12th spot.
Ireland's Olympic Qualification Process for Rio 2016:
1. As the Irish women's seven are not in the World Series the route to the Olympics is through the regional qualifies for Europe. This European Championship (2015) will be held over two consecutive weekends (Russia 13-14 June and France 20-21 June). The winner qualifies for the Olympics.
2. If Ireland does not win the European Championship (2015) qualification is possible in 2016 through the 2016 World Repechage. To qualify for the World Repechage the Irish must:
a. Finish as the runner up of the 2015 European Championship or
b. Finish in the top three of the European Repechage (Lisbon July 2015).
The winner of the 2016 World Repechage will qualify for the Olympics.
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