McNulty against ‘smash and grab’ switches

IRELAND Sevens captain Harry McNulty thinks it would be ‘selfish’ for a 15s player to switch codes for the Olympics on a ‘smash and grab’ basis.

Outgoing IRFU boss David Nucifora revealed in December that one player from each of the four provinces could be selected for Ireland’s men’s Sevens team at the Paris Olympics.

French scrum-half Antoine Dupont has already made the switch at the expense of the Six Nations, competing with France as they beat Ireland at the recent SVNS Series event in LA.

When asked by Mail Sport about the possibility of Sevens players being leapfrogged, McNulty said: ‘It is a really tough one because all the lads have been fighting so hard (to get to the Olympics).

‘In terms of contracts within the Sevens programme, there is not a great deal of money when compared to 15s. So lads are doing literally everything they can to be able to represent Ireland: training every day; getting side jobs; they are studying in college.

‘But I think then on the other side of it when they speak about France and Dupont coming in and all that kind of stuff, the best team is always going to go to represent Ireland in the Olympics which is the greatest sporting event in the world,’ he added.

‘There is this fine balance between the two. If anyone is going to come they need to essentially show their dedication to the programme; that they want to be there as much as or more than anyone else.

‘If they are willing to do that and put aside their 15s then I think they are going to gain the respect of the players in the programme as well.

‘Then when it comes down to it that is the selection basis and not a case of someone coming in to smash and grab or just try to get an accolade they are trying to personally achieve which would seem very selfish.’

Mack Hansen is one 15s player who has publicly expressed interest, however McNulty has not heard about any potential additions from the 15s game.

‘If someone wants to come…. the earlier they arrive the better. ‘At the end of the day, we all want to do it together.

‘We are a team and we love playing for each other, so if anyone wants to come in they have to have that same love and drive for the programme itself… time is ticking.’ Harry’s game: Ireland Sevens captain Harry McNulty promoting the Olympic Federation of Ireland Dare to Believe programme’s ‘Road to Paris’ schools’ challenge