The Ireland Men's and Women's Sevens squads have been named to take park in the II Toreno Internacional Rugby 7s Tournament in Alicante in Spain this weekend.
Aaron Cairns (Ballynahinch) and Nick Simony (Queen’s University) have been included in the men’s panel, while Ashleigh Baxter, who has also featured heavily for the Ulster and Ireland 15-a-side teams, will line out for the women.
The men's side will play Spain, Portugal and France, while the women's side play England, Spain, Portugal, France and Spain Development.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Anthony Eddy, IRFU Director of Rugby Sevens, "Last season we achieved two key objectives, the women qualified for the World Series and the men moved up to Division A in Europe.
“Both squads are in contention for Olympic qualification this season and we're taking another step along that road in Spain at the weekend. They have been working hard in the off season so this tournament is a good chance to get back on the field and measure our progress.”
Ireland Men's Sevens Squad, Il Toreno Internacional Rugby 7s Tournament, Alicante, Spain, 13th-14th November:
Cian Aherne (UL Bohemians/ Munster)
Alan Bennie (UL Bohemians/ Munster)
Adam Byrne (UCD/ Leinster)
Aaron Cairns (Ballynahinch/ Ulster)
Tom Daly (Lansdowne/ Leinster) Capt
Barry Daly (UCD/ Leinster)
Matthew D'Arcy (Lansdowne/ Leinster)
Foster Horan (Lansdowne/ Leinster)
Terry Kennedy (St. Marys/ Leinster)
Gearoid Lyons (Young Munster/ Munster)
Matthew O'Regan (Macclesfield/ Exiles)
Mark Roche (Lansdowne/ Leinster)
Nick Timoney (Queen’s University/ Ulster)
Ireland Men's Sevens Fixtures (All Times are local)
Friday, 13th November
17.20 Spain v Ireland
18.40 Ireland v Portugal
Saturday, 14th November
11.20 France v Ireland
12.40 Playoffs
Ireland Women's Sevens Squad, Il Toreno Internacional Rugby 7s Tournament, Alicante, Spain, 13th-14th November:
Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins / Ulster)
Megan Williams (St. Mary's)
Audrey O'Flynn (Sevens)
Emma Murphy (Railway Union / Leinster)
Kim Flood (Railway Union / Leinster)
Shannon Houston (Blackrock / Leinster)
Claire Keohane (UL Bohemian / Munster)
Stacey Flood (Railway Union / Leinster)
Lucy Mulhall (Rathdrum / Leinster) Capt
Eimear Considine (Sevens)
Louise Galvin (UL Bohemian / Munster)
Aoife Doyle (Shannon / Munster)
Amee Leigh Murphy Crowe (St. Mary's / Munster)
Alison Miller (Portlaoise / Connacht)
Ireland Women's Sevens Fixtures (All times are local):
Friday 13th November
16.20 Portugal v Ireland
18.00 Ireland v England
19.20 Spain v Ireland
Saturday 14th November
10.00 Spain Development v Ireland
11.40 Ireland v France
13.20 Play-offs
Aaron Cairns (Ballynahinch) and Nick Simony (Queen’s University) have been included in the men’s panel, while Ashleigh Baxter, who has also featured heavily for the Ulster and Ireland 15-a-side teams, will line out for the women.
The men's side will play Spain, Portugal and France, while the women's side play England, Spain, Portugal, France and Spain Development.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Anthony Eddy, IRFU Director of Rugby Sevens, "Last season we achieved two key objectives, the women qualified for the World Series and the men moved up to Division A in Europe.
“Both squads are in contention for Olympic qualification this season and we're taking another step along that road in Spain at the weekend. They have been working hard in the off season so this tournament is a good chance to get back on the field and measure our progress.”
Ireland Men's Sevens Squad, Il Toreno Internacional Rugby 7s Tournament, Alicante, Spain, 13th-14th November:
Cian Aherne (UL Bohemians/ Munster)
Alan Bennie (UL Bohemians/ Munster)
Adam Byrne (UCD/ Leinster)
Aaron Cairns (Ballynahinch/ Ulster)
Tom Daly (Lansdowne/ Leinster) Capt
Barry Daly (UCD/ Leinster)
Matthew D'Arcy (Lansdowne/ Leinster)
Foster Horan (Lansdowne/ Leinster)
Terry Kennedy (St. Marys/ Leinster)
Gearoid Lyons (Young Munster/ Munster)
Matthew O'Regan (Macclesfield/ Exiles)
Mark Roche (Lansdowne/ Leinster)
Nick Timoney (Queen’s University/ Ulster)
Ireland Men's Sevens Fixtures (All Times are local)
Friday, 13th November
17.20 Spain v Ireland
18.40 Ireland v Portugal
Saturday, 14th November
11.20 France v Ireland
12.40 Playoffs
Ireland Women's Sevens Squad, Il Toreno Internacional Rugby 7s Tournament, Alicante, Spain, 13th-14th November:
Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins / Ulster)
Megan Williams (St. Mary's)
Audrey O'Flynn (Sevens)
Emma Murphy (Railway Union / Leinster)
Kim Flood (Railway Union / Leinster)
Shannon Houston (Blackrock / Leinster)
Claire Keohane (UL Bohemian / Munster)
Stacey Flood (Railway Union / Leinster)
Lucy Mulhall (Rathdrum / Leinster) Capt
Eimear Considine (Sevens)
Louise Galvin (UL Bohemian / Munster)
Aoife Doyle (Shannon / Munster)
Amee Leigh Murphy Crowe (St. Mary's / Munster)
Alison Miller (Portlaoise / Connacht)
Ireland Women's Sevens Fixtures (All times are local):
Friday 13th November
16.20 Portugal v Ireland
18.00 Ireland v England
19.20 Spain v Ireland
Saturday 14th November
10.00 Spain Development v Ireland
11.40 Ireland v France
13.20 Play-offs