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The 42
16-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
This is a sad end to the Ireland sevens' exciting, emotional journey
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE not to feel sad for the group of Irishmen who spent such a big chunk of their 20s striving to put Ireland on the rugby sevens map. They succeeded. The Ireland men's sevens team played at the Olympics in 2021 and 2024. They finished second on the World SVNS Series last year and third at the 2022 World Cup. Terry Kennedy was World Rugby sevens player of the year in 2022 and easily could have been again last year. Having restarted in Division C of the Rugby Europe Championship in Bosnia and Herzegovina back in 2015, Ireland rose steadily through the ranks to become contenders. It was an exciting, emotional journey featuring lots of highs and some big lows. But now, a decade later, the Ireland men's sevens team is no more. The IRFU has shut the programme down and as things stand, there is no plan in place to even try to plot a route to the 2028 Olympics. This really does appear to be the end. Kennedy is among the ex-Ireland sevens players who have shared their anger at the IRFU's decision to discontinue the men's sevens programme. He branded the union's actions as 'utterly disgraceful' and 'absolutely shocking,' words echoed by several of his former Ireland team-mates and their supporters. Kennedy finished up with Ireland after the Olympics to pursue his career outside rugby. That was constantly a dilemma for these Irish players. At the start, they weren't even paid. When contracts eventually came into play, they weren't lucrative. Even in the last couple of years, the highest salary a men's sevens player could earn was €30,000 per season. Only a select few were at that level. Others were earning between €18,000 and €22,000. Some came into squads when they weren't even on that much. So no one was in sevens for the money. Nearly all of Ireland's players over this period have worked or studied outside of rugby in order to get by. Some of them have relied on support from their families. And those family members deserve a mention. The men's sevens community has been a tight-knit one, parents and loved ones travelling around the world together and keeping each other up to date when their lads were on the road. They're feeling anger and sadness right now too. The Ireland men's sevens team had some great success. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO A degree of the frustration stems from the timing. The 2024/25 World SVNS series finished two weekends ago. It's not like the remaining contracted Irish players were given a full year to prepare themselves for life after sevens. The Ireland squad were due to meet IRFU performance director David Humphreys on Monday. There was an awareness that bad news was coming at that meeting. But for a statement to then get released suddenly on Wednesday evening hurt for people who wanted to be told face to face that they would no longer have jobs as pro players. Advertisement Still, this decision is not a major surprise to those involved. There has been a sense of doom around the Irish men's programme for some time now. World Rugby's extensive financial struggles in sevens mean unions like the IRFU have been questioning its sustainability. Indeed, it has been reported that World Rugby has lost up to €25 million since centralising the sevens series in 2023. When Ireland moved on from last year's Olympics without a major chunk of their most experienced, proven players, the writing was on the wall. This 2024/25 campaign was a miserable season for an inexperienced Irish side as they finished 11th out of 12 teams. By the time the final leg in LA rolled around, World Rugby had belatedly clarified its plans for the series next season. Ireland were already in the relegation play-off places and duly got chopped as the series was reduced from 12 to eight teams for next season. That all would have meant Ireland having to go through the Rugby Europe Championship to qualify for the third tier of the restructured SVNS series. And that confirmation proved to be the final straw for the IRFU. They pulled the plug. So the union can argue that they were only able to make a final decision after World Rugby confirmed its plans, although the evidence of the 2024/25 campaign is that the IRFU was already firmly on the path towards wrapping up the men's programme. Otherwise, there would have been a genuine post-Olympics plan in place. The 2024 Games were always likely to be the finishing point for many of the core players. But the union opted against truly refreshing the men's programme. Of course, this decade of the Ireland men's sevens team's rebirth correlates exactly with David Nucifora's tenure as the IRFU's performance director. Terry Kennedy and Jordan Conroy. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO The Australian is a huge advocate of sevens as a development tool for 15s, but also as a standalone game. He hoped the sevens team could unearth and improve players for the Irish provinces and the Ireland 15s team. He also believed sevens could be a popular game in its own right here. It's clear now that few in the IRFU agree. Nucifora moved on last year after the Olympics and he must be exasperated to see 10 years of work on the men's programme going down the drain. The Irish union has other priorities now. Sevens was undoubtedly important in giving current Ulster players Zac Ward, Rob Baloucoune, and Cormac Izuchukwu a pathway into professional 15s rugby. Baloucoune and Izuchukwu have Ireland 15s caps. There have been others who got an opportunity in the Ireland sevens set-up at just the right time. Ireland 15s internationals such as Hugo Keenan, Jimmy O'Brien, and Shane Daly had substantial spells with the sevens team and have spoken highly about how that time improved their core skills. There are further 15s players such as Nick Timoney who are held up as products of the sevens programme, yet didn't spend long with the squad in reality. And on the flip side of those positive examples, there have been some players directed into sevens from provincial academies who didn't feel it furthered their game and may even have denied them chances in the 15s game at crucial points in their development. Whether the Ireland men's sevens programme developed players for professional 15s at a steady enough rate over the last 10 years is open to debate. Unfortunately for all involved in the programme, the IRFU's assessment was that it didn't. The union evidently doesn't believe that sevens has captured the imagination of the wider sporting public in Ireland. The series is difficult to follow due to the vastly different time zones involved and the lack of TV coverage these days. World Rugby has struggled to sell the rights in recent years because broadcasters haven't been drawing in big audiences. So the IRFU no longer feel that the investment is worth it. To men like Kennedy, Harry McNulty, Mark Roche, Billy Dardis, Jordan Conroy, and Jack Kelly – Ireland's most capped sevens players – this decision must hurt greatly. They were the heartbeat of Irish men's sevens. They had amazing experiences on the circuit and formed a remarkable brotherhood. None of the sevens stalwarts had a chance to go back into the 15s game after missing out on senior contracts first time around, but they did get the chance to represent Ireland on a global stage. Sadly, no one will follow in their footsteps now. IRFU performance director David Humphreys. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO The IRFU has been spending millions of euros on sevens. €2.97 million in 2021/22 became €3.84 million in 2022/23 and then €4.24 million in the 2023/24 campaign, which was the Olympics year. Those numbers cover both the men's and women's programme, with the latter staying alive for now because the union feels it genuinely is a development pathway for women's 15s internationals. So the IRFU will save itself money through this decision, even if there is funding from World Rugby for teams who participate in the SVNS series, understood to be to the tune of around €350,000. Further funding came from Sport Ireland due to the Olympics element of sevens, while the Ireland sides have been sponsored by TritonLake since 2021. The IRFU has cited the need to safeguard its 'long-term financial sustainability.' The union has reported three deficits in the last four financial years. And it has been well flagged that professional rugby is on shaky financial ground around the world. The axing of the men's sevens programme is part of an increasing trend of the IRFU tightening its belt. That kind of cold, financially-driven decision doesn't take into account the human element of this. And that's another reason Wednesday evening's announcement hurt and caused anger. CEO Kevin Potts did thank 'everyone who has contributed to the success of the Men's Sevens programme,' but the 500-word statement lacked warmth. There were no celebrations of the amazing moments Ireland have had in the past decade, no direct mention of the families who have given so much, the staff who have worked so hard behind the scenes, and no real sense of gratitude towards players who have toiled and sacrificed plenty in order to proudly represent Ireland. This is the end, but they deserve to be saluted.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ireland men's sevens cut 'nothing short of a disgrace'
Former World Rugby sevens player of the year Terry Kennedy says the decision to cut the Ireland men's sevens team at the end of the 2024-25 season is "nothing short of a disgrace". On Wednesday, the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) confirmed the cessation of the men's sevens programme as "part of a broader strategic effort to ensure long-term financial sustainability". In November, the IRFU's financial results showed an 18m euro (£15.1m) deficit for the 2023-24 season. Kennedy, who competed in the Tokyo and Paris Olympics men's sevens, was critical of the IRFU's decision. "Absolutely shocking from the IRFU. The way they've handled the whole situation is nothing sort of a disgrace," he said in a statement on social media. "So disappointed the current group of players as well as the younger players coming through won't be afforded the same opportunities that myself and the lads have because of the short-sightedness of a couple of old guys running the game here." Players' union 'immensely disappointed' as Ireland men's sevens cut Kennedy opted to take a break from sevens after Ireland's quarter-final exit against Fiji at Paris 2024. He missed what proved to be the men's sevens' last tournament in Los Angeles earlier this month, when they finished 11th and suffered relegation in the World SVNS Series. "The financial/cost-cutting excuse is complete smoke and mirrors, masquerading the fact that every Rugby World Cup year unions run at a major loss due to a lack of November match revenue," continued the statement from the wing, who won the World Rugby award in 2022. "Between funding from World Rugby for being on the World Series, Sport Ireland funding from Olympic success and sponsorship funding, no other programme outside the men's 15s brings in anywhere near the revenue." Kennedy was also critical of the money being spent by the likes of Leinster on short-term contracts in the men's 15-a-side game. Leinster brought in New Zealand international Jordie Barrett this season and are set to add international team-mate Rieko Ioane after the November internationals. "No mention of the millions paid to bring foreign players over on short-term contracts and the budget to pay for committee members travelling to Six Nations games and tours with lunches and dinners – far more than the whole 7s budget," Kennedy added. "The disrespect that the IRFU have shown to Sport Ireland and the Irish Olympic Committee after all their years of funding, utterly disgraceful."
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ireland men's sevens team to be cut in savings drive
The Ireland men's sevens team is to be cut at the end of the 2024-25 season. The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) says the move is "part of a broader strategic effort to ensure long-term financial sustainability". The women's programme, however, is unaffected and will remain a "key development pathway" for the women's XVs game, the union added. In November, the IRFU's financial results showed an 18m euro (£15.1m) deficit for the 2023-24 season. The IRFU also said its assessment concluded that the men's sevens programme "does not contribute as a development pathway for the XVs game", adding that the provincial academy structures are offering "greater development opportunities". "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," said IRFU high performance director David Humphreys. "While the decision to end the men's sevens programme is a difficult one, it is necessary in order to ensure that our resources are focused on the areas that will have the greatest impact on the future of the game in Ireland. "We are committed to making sure that this transition is handled with the utmost respect for all those who have contributed to the success of the sevens programme." The men's sevens side played their last tournament in Los Angles earlier this month, finishing 11th and suffering relegation in the World SVNS Series. They reached two Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021 and in Paris last summer, finishing 10th in Japan and sixth in France. Ulster trio Nick Timoney, Robert Baloucoune and Zac Ward all played for Ireland's sevens side as did established Ireland 15s international Tadgh Beirne. Ward, alongside Leinster and Ireland 15s international Hugo Keenan, featured in the sevens Olympics squad in Paris. IRFU CEO Kevin Potts said that he was "very proud" of everything the sevens side has achieved. "We would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the success of the men's sevens programme, especially in achieving qualification for the Tokyo and Paris Olympic games. "Their unwavering dedication, hard work and skill played a vital role in elevating the profile of sevens rugby in Ireland."
RTÉ News
14-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Cost-cutting IRFU axes men's Sevens programme
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.
South China Morning Post
30-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong Sevens: New Zealand star has extra special reason to enjoy tournament this year
New Zealand's Jazmin Felix-Hotham was no stranger to playing in the Hong Kong Sevens but this year is a special one for her. Advertisement Playing at the new Kai Tak Stadium was only one of the reasons: the trip to the city also reunited her with her father, Nigel Hotham, who moved to Hong Kong last summer. A renowned rugby coach back home, Hotham Snr accepted a role with local Premiership outfit USRC Tigers and decided to embrace 'a change of my lifestyle' with his wife Dianne, after spending the past three decades coaching in New Zealand. 'We've got five children and they'd all left home, so there was a little opportunity, a little window for me and my wife to travel and do some coaching,' the director of rugby at the Tigers said. 'It's far [from home] but not as far away as Europe, and the bonus of having an experience like this was that we hadn't had the opportunity to travel and watch Jazmin play [because of our jobs], so it's pretty special they're here and we're already here.' Jazmin, who won an Olympic gold medal with the Black Ferns Sevens in Paris last summer, has played twice before at the Hong Kong Sevens, on top of a school trip with her Hamilton Girl's High School team. Advertisement 'Hong Kong Sevens is such a historical event, we call it the home of Sevens,' she said. 'There's so much history in that old stadium and this stadium is spectacular, so to play in something built solely for the Sevens is pretty special.' The 24-year-old added that Hong Kong is 'by far' her favourite stop in the World SVNS Series.
