Sport

Ireland Rugby Sevens qualify for Olympic Games

Ireland's two-try hero Jordan Conroy is one of the fastest players on the world circuit
Ireland's two-try hero Jordan Conroy is one of the fastest players on the world circuit

The Ireland men's rugby sevens team have joined their female counterparts in qualifying for next year's Paris Olympic Games.

This evening's European Games' final saw them meet Great Britain, with a 26-12 win securing a place on the plane.

Talisman Jordan Conroy scored twice, with other mainstays Billy Dardis and Terry Kennedy joining him on the scoresheet in Krakow.

The sides had traded scores earlier on, before 2022 Sevens' Player of the Year Kennedy established a 14-7 half-time lead that sent James Topping's men on their way to a second consecutive showpiece event, having missed out on rugby seven's inaugural inclusion in the Rio Olympics in 2016.

The Irish topped their group yesterday, before knocking out Belgium in the quarters and Portugal in the semis, in a fixture that had been delayed due to "strong winds" in Poland.

Allan Temple-Jones women's outfit had already secured qualification based on their World Series campaign, defeating Fiji in a crucial play-off in May. 

The Stade de France will host the Olympic Rugby Sevens competition from 24-30 July next year in Paris.