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Latest News
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

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.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 3 May, 2022
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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
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HSBC Spain Sevens Seville 2022 - Women's
4 min read

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
4 min read
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
5 min read

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.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Fri 8 April, 2022
5 min read
Dubai Emirates Airline Rugby Sevens 2021 - Men's
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HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Perfection, not silverware, the focus for South Africa and Selvyn Davids

We caught up with the Blitzboks star, who has helped guide his side to the top of the men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series standings as the countdown continues to their home Rugby World Cup Sevens.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 5 April, 2022
3 min read
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
08:29 mins
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
Sun 22 July, 2018
07:03 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
06:30 mins

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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Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day One
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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
06:26 mins
Feature
Friday 22 April, 2022
3 min read

Seapoint Dragons look forward to another decade of success

A sense of pride and togetherness has been forged at one of Ireland’s oldest additional needs teams.
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Seapoint Dragons took to the hallowed turf of the Aviva Stadium on the night of Friday 15 April as part of their 10-year anniversary celebrations.

One of Ireland’s oldest additional needs rugby teams were guests of honour for the second leg of the Heineken Champions Cup encounter between Leinster and Connacht and showed off their skills during the half-time interval.

It marked another special moment in the journey of the team, who along with Greystones RFC and De La Salle Palmerston FC were among the forerunners in Ireland in this form of non-contact, tag rugby for people with autism, Down’s syndrome and other non-specified conditions.

“People within the club or with connections to the club wanted their sons and daughters with intellectual disabilities to play rugby like everybody else and that’s how it started off,” explained Peter O’Brien, one of the founders and a current senior team coach.

With Seapoint Rugby Club already having strong links to the community, the chance to embrace even more people made perfect sense.

Enquiries were made with local special schools where interest in tag rugby was expressed and with the full support of the club, the Seapoint Dragons were initiated.

“We got great support from the IRFU and Leinster Rugby as well. They helped draw up draft laws for this particular form of the game. They wanted to see this all-inclusive form of rugby take off,” said O’Brien.

Seapoint Dragons take to the pitch here at the @AVIVAStadium pic.twitter.com/cFTJZG1jTs

— Seapoint Rugby Club (@seapointrfc) December 13, 2014

Support in high places

Former Ireland international Joanne Dwyer had previous experience volunteering in additional needs roles and became the team’s head coach in 2011 and has remained on board ever since.

“Dragons has brought a lot more to the club than anyone ever anticipated. From the outset it was about inclusion and players being able to come with their families and enjoy sport the same as their brothers or sisters,” Dwyer said.

“It is about community, it is about friendships, lots of fun and an awful lot of laughter. We have friendships now that span the length and breadth of the country.”

The support of Felix Jones, the Munster and Ireland sevens player, has also remained a constant throughout the team’s evolution.

Jones, who has carved out a successful coaching career with the Springboks, started his career at Seapoint and was back at the club a few weeks ago and brought his Rugby World Cup 2019-winning medal with him.

Anne Marie Hughes, the IRFU's Spirit of Rugby Manager, said: "We all know that rugby is a game for all shapes, sizes and abilities and additional needs rugby is no different, offering another avenue into the sport for players, their family and friends, along with the physical and mental health benefits it brings through a sense of inclusion, team spirit and involvement with their community through the local club”.

Meanwhile, Peter O’Brien’s namesake, former Ireland and British and Irish Lions international Seán O’Brien, has long had an interest in the fortunes of the team.

“The players, the coaches and the team behind-the-scenes at the Seapoint Dragons are all a credit to the sport of rugby,” the flanker said.

“They all embody the most important characteristic of our game – inclusiveness.

“It’s fantastic to hear that they have reached their 10-year anniversary and I’m sure the next 10 years will be just as productive.

“Congratulations to everyone involved; hopefully, I will get the chance to see you soon!”

Peter O’Brien and Dwyer and the other volunteer coaches, who include local transition-year school students, take immense satisfaction from the joy that rugby brings to the club’s members with additional needs.

“Parents come along and they don’t think their children will be able to play the game and within six months we have them passing and running and tagging, that’s the joy that the coaches get out of it,” said O’Brien.

“We’ve had so many parents over the years that don’t realise that with a little bit of training and a little bit of understanding a lot can be achieved and they can participate.”

Growing the game

Seeing the value that additional needs rugby has brought to Seapoint soon persuaded other clubs throughout Leinster to introduce their own sections.

From three clubs at the beginning, there are now around 20 actively involved in the province in this form of the game.

Having such decent numbers has enabled regular rugby festivals, or ‘blitzes’ as they are known, to take place between the clubs.

And the growth of additional needs rugby has also led to the first full-time appointment at the IRFU, with David McKay the person tasked with heading up the development of this type of rugby.

In the next 10 years, with the support of the IRFU and Leinster Rugby, O’Brien would like to see the game open up to even more people.

“We are constantly looking for new members, particularly juniors and more female players.

“We currently have five girls playing with the Dragons and we’d like to encourage more.”

To view the Seapoint Dragons ten year anniversary video, click here.

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Thu 5 May, 2022
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Mon 2 May, 2022
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Australia clinch overall 2022 series title while late Lily Dick try gives them Cup win in Langford

Hosts Canada took fifth place while Ireland flyer Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe bagged 12 tries as they won bronze in the HSBC Canada Sevens in Langford.

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Australia edge towards HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series glory in Langford as New Zealand provide thrills on return

Australia are closing in on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series title after a perfect start to the penultimate event of the season in Canada, while the Black Ferns came back with a bang at the Starlight Stadium.

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Fri 29 April, 2022
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Santiago Gómez Cora: “You have to be patient, trust a lot and do the hard work”

World Rugby caught up with Los Pumas Sevens coach about Argentina’s recent win in the HSBC Canada Sevens and what it means to him going forward.

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Thu 28 April, 2022
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Series title within Australia’s reach as the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series returns to Langford

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HSBC Sevens Series

Wed 27 April, 2022
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