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Latest News
Andy Vilk, head coach of Italy men's sevens
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RWC Sevens 2022 qualifying

Italy men’s sevens team seeks return to the big stage

The European men's qualification tournament for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 is on the horizon with the prize of four tickets to Cape Town, South Africa at stake in July.

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Thu 19 May, 2022
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HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
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HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Black Ferns Sevens renew riveting rivalry with Australia on HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia wrapped up the 2022 Series title in Langford, but the Black Ferns Sevens left Canada with plenty to celebrate as they begin a busy period.

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Tue 3 May, 2022
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Madagascar Women's Sevens
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Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: Madagascar latest team to book ticket to Cape Town

Following another intense weekend of qualifying action we now know the identity of 12 women's and 20 men's teams who will compete at RWC Sevens 2022.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Mon 2 May, 2022
3 min read
HSBC Spain Sevens Seville 2022 - Women's
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HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe keen to drive Ireland onto Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

We spoke to the prolific Ireland star about backing up the team’s success in Seville and plotting their path to Cape Town in September.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 26 April, 2022
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Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
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Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Everything you need to know about Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Your guide to RWC Sevens 2022, which will take place in Cape Town between 9-11 September this year.

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Fri 8 April, 2022
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2018 Highlights
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
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Highlights: New Zealand win big in San Francisco

New Zealand retained their Rugby World Cup Sevens title in San Francisco
Mon 23 July, 2018
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Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
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Highlights: New Zealand women's win Rugby World Cup Sevens

Check out all the top action as New Zealand win The Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco
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HIGHLIGHTS: Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two

Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two of action at Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 #RWC7s
Sun 22 July, 2018
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Highlights: Men's quarter-finals decided

Men's quarter-finals of Rugby World Cup Sevens decided after incredible first day at AT&T Park
Sat 21 July, 2018
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Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
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Highlights: Women's semi-finals confirmed at Rugby World Cup Sevens

Championship semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day one of action
Sat 21 July, 2018
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Olympic Games
Monday 21 June, 2021
3 min read

Ireland speed twins Jordan Conroy and Terry Kennedy open up on prolific partnership

Having scored a combined 20 tries to help Ireland win the men’s Olympic Repechage tournament and book their place at Tokyo 2020, Conroy and Kennedy revealed the secrets of their success.
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Two of the brightest stars of Ireland’s recent emergence, Jordan Conroy and Terry Kennedy proved a partnership too prolific for defences to handle at the Olympic Repechage tournament.

Conroy and Kennedy combined for 20 tries in Monaco, including three of the four scored in the final defeat of France in Monaco, which confirmed Ireland’s passage to a first Games.

00:50 mins
Monaco Sevens - Ireland's men qualify for Tokyo 2020

The almost telepathic understanding that the pair share on the rugby pitch was best highlighted in the build-up to Ireland’s second try against Samoa on Sunday.

Kneeling on the floor having been tackled, and looking across the pitch to the left wing, Kennedy launched a no-look pass behind his back which found Conroy in acres of space on the right touchline.

As he cantered over the line and touched down a pivotal try in the 21-7 win, Conroy could not conceal his gratitude, or his awe, at what his team-mate had just done.

“When you spend every day together — like every year, 24/7 — you just build up a chemistry… we might as well be twins!” Conroy said following the final.

“When they're marking me, he'll do the fancy footwork, little side-steps and it's really hard to defend against as well.

“I'll try and be modest, but I'd say we're an absolute nightmare duo.”

Kennedy added: “On the pitch, we both know where each other are constantly going to be, just from playing together so much and it makes such a difference. 

“I know that if I give it to him in space, he'll get away and vice versa.”

Leaving everything on the pitch

However, that understanding and their willingness to think outside of the box did not always yield results at Stade Louis II.

"You cannot do that!"

Talk about an #ImpactMoment... The no-look, out-the-back-door pass from @IrishRugby's Terry Kennedy just has to be seen to be believed 😮@DHLRugby | #Rugby7s pic.twitter.com/P1GJCRixGC

— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) June 20, 2021

At one point on Sunday, Kennedy spotted his team-mate in space on the opposite side of the pitch and launched a cross-field kick in his direction. However, Conroy was only able to volley the ball into touch.

“It was just the soccer skills letting me down. I used to play soccer, but it's just all rugby orientated now,” Conroy admitted.

“It was going to be 50-50 [if] it was going to work or not. It would have been pretty cool if I'd got it for the highlight reel.”

“I was giving out to him that he didn't catch it,” Kennedy interjected. “I thought he could have got it.”

Following an energy-sapping two days of action, Conroy admitted that the closing stages of Ireland’s 28-19 qualifier final defeat of France were tough.

Despite taking a first-minute lead when Kennedy crossed the whitewash, the Irish found themselves 12-7 behind at half-time and needed second-half tries from Conroy (two) and Harry McNulty to pull through and book their place at Tokyo 2020.

“Mental warfare, it was. In the second half, I just was going to leave everything on the pitch,” Conroy said. 

“I just said, ‘Legs, you just keep going and keep going’. And, you know, it just worked and we were hungry for it. 

“Leading up to it, we were so hungry for it. It was a once in a lifetime chance and we just had to leave everything out there.”

Arigato Japan

Conroy and Kennedy can now look forward to becoming Olympians when the men’s tournament kicks off in Tokyo on 26 July.

“It's incredible,” Kennedy said. “It's kind of something we didn't really think about. 

“We were just focusing on this tournament but now, it's kind of starting to sink in now. We can't believe it.”

“I'm speechless at the moment but I can't believe we actually did it, all our work finally paid off and us and the lads couldn't be happier,” Conroy added.

“It's actually unreal. We're actually going to Japan — arigato! I watch a lot of anime so I'm brushing up on that.”

 

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