Ireland finish strong to take fifth at Madrid Sevens

Despite being out of the reckoning for a podium finish at the Madrid Sevens, Ireland produced a strong final day performance to claim fifth place.

James Topping's side put together two well-earned play-off wins over Great Britain (19-14) and South Africa (12-7), despite being down to 10 players as Terry Kennedy, Billy Dardis, and Aaron O’Sullivan were all sidelined through injury.

The absence of Kennedy, the Sevens Series top try scorer with 32 tries, was keenly felt yesterday when Ireland suffered an extra-time defeat to New Zealand which knocked them out of the running for the championship crown.

All five of Ireland’s matches under the baking Madrid sun were decided by a five-point margin.

Ireland have now finished in the top-five at every tournament this season, with silver in Singapore, and bronze in Perth, Los Angeles and Hong Kong helping Toppings side to a best-ever second-place behind winners Argentina.

With the Sevens Series now concluded, there will be more playing opportunities for the wider Irish squad with the Rugby Europe Men’s Sevens Championship in Croatia next weekend before focus switches to the Olympics in July.