Cost-cutting IRFU axes men's Sevens programme

RTÉ News​

14-05-2025

Former Ireland sevens captain Billy Dardis has described as "short-sighted" the decision to end the men's programme just 10 months after sending a team to the Olympics with medal aspirations.
With question marks still floating around the financial viability of the programme, speculation had grown that a drastic measure could be taken.
The Los Angeles tournament earlier this month proved to be the final swansong for the men on the World SVNS Series, with both teams finishing 11th and suffering consequential relegation.
Today the IRFU confirmed the decision to end the programme at the end of the 2024/25 season, insisting the move is part of "a broader strategic effort to ensure long-term financial sustainability and focus on key initiatives outlined in the union's strategic plan".
The women's programme is remaining in place, which runs alongside the XVs and enjoys more of a crossover.
The IRFU announced a €18million deficit for the 2023/24 season and IRFU high performance director David Humphreys insisted the decision to axe the men's programme was a difficult one.
"The financial situation we face is challenging, and it's crucial that we take decisive action to secure the long-term success of Irish rugby," he said.
Former Ireland captain Dardis, who was left out of the Irish squad for Paris last year after a strong Sevens career before retiring shortly after, has lamented the call to end the programme.
"It's disappointing because Irish rugby is such a stronghold in world rugby," he said, speaking in his new role as vice-chair of the Athletes Commission within Olympic Federation Ireland.
"It's such a medal opportunity for the Olympics. We went over second in the world at the time and we were hoping to get a medal. Within Team Ireland, we were the big ones, like rowing, boxing and athletics."
A four-point defeat to Fiji ended Irish interest at the quarter-final stage, with a raft of players retiring post-Paris.
Dardis believes there were warning signs in the lead-up.
There was no progress with an academy to blood new players, while the 10 players that retired post-Paris, stalwarts such as Harry McNulty, Terry Kennedy, Gavin Mullin, Jack Kelly and Dardis himself, were not replaced, with a barebones squad of 13 or 14 competing on the World Series, most of whom were taken from provincial academies and the club game.
Funding slowed, staff departed and by time players pushed for answers earlier in the year, there was a sense that the horse had already bolted.
"It's unbelievably deflating. It's devastating," Dardis says.
"Rugby is at breaking point at the moment.
"Sevens is probably the younger brother that they want to push away and quieten down.
"What happened in the last month [structural change], it would be like if the Six Nations announced the week before the last game that there is a Division 2 and if you're not in the top three you're down, so it is a bit of a mess.
"You could be in World Sevens, be professional one year, then drop the next year and be professional the next year. It's an absolute mess. Lads are going looking for jobs right now.
"It's short-sighted by both World Rugby and Irish Rugby."
Dardis believes that David Nucifora's energy to push the programme – "he was the one driving it, it was his baby" - was behind the improving structures put in place, but his departure immediately threatened the future of the programme.
His successor as IRFU high performance director, David Humphries, attended Sevens tournaments and spoke to players involved, but the discipline is going in a different direction.
"I thought he was going to be a big supporter of it," Dardis added.
"With question marks around how financially viable sevens is, the question marks from World Rugby, I think he has just questioned it."
A review conducted by the IRFU concluded, that in contrast to the women's game, the men's Sevens programme does not contribute as a development pathway for the 15s game, with current academy structures in place within the provinces offering greater development opportunities in the men's game.
"It's important to note that the Women's Sevens programme remains a critical part of our development strategy for Women's 15s rugby," added Humphreys.