Eight teams qualify for national sevens finals

THE Leinster Rugby section in the IRFU girls’ sevens competition has come to a close and Gorey Community School, the current national champions, have qualified again this year with their senior team and junior team competing.

The first area qualification event was held on the September 26, kindly hosted by MU Barnhall, and saw six senior teams compete for three places.

St Oliver’s school from Oldcastle, County Meath and Scoil Mhuire in Clane did well to take the top two spots.

The third school to qualify for the National Finals was St Kevin’s, Dunlavin, which is made up primarily of Naas RFC players and boasts several Leinster Rugby U-18 squad players.

A day later, Gorey CS, Tullow CS and East Glendalough College came out victorious and also earned their places in the national finals at Energia Park next month.

This prestigious event, which is undoubtedly the competitive highlight of the girls’ schools calendar, attracts schools playing in the top tier of girls rugby in Leinster.

The addition of a junior section in the competition for two teams per province has added a new level of depth and excitement for schools.

The juniors had to qualify from two blitz events to make the finals.

In Naas RFC, on October 11, The King’s Hospital and Gorey played great rugby to take the two available places ahead of St Kevin’s and Tullow CS.

Naas RFC kindly hosted the third day of the competition as Leinster Rugby included a ‘player development’ section for the six qualified senior teams and the final four junior teams for the first time.

Eight teams will represent Leinster at the IRFU national finals at Energia Park on Wednesday, November 7. Best of luck to all the girls playing.

East Glendalough; Gorey Community School; Scoil Mhuire, Clane; St Kevin’s, Dunlavin; St Oliver’s Oldcastle, Co Meath; Tullow Community School.

Gorey Community; School The King’s Hospital.