Rugby ‘Superheroes’ set for Limerick festival this weekend

Fri, 08 Aug, 2014 - 10:53

Grainne McGuinness

Limerick is hosting Ireland’s first ever rugby World Club 7’s event, with a feast of rugby taking place in Thomond Park over the weekend.

12 teams from five continents will compete in 14 minute matches, with group games on Saturday and deciders on Sunday. Visiting teams include the legendary Daveta side from Fiji, Saracens, South African Blue Bulls and Auckland.

The New York team include Carlin Isles, the sprinter and American footballer dubbed the “fastest man in rugby”, who was last week named by Men’s Health as one of the 50 Fittest Male Athletes in the World. Isles and the rest of his team have already arrived and joined the Limerick Minors training camp on Wednesday to try out hurling.

Carlin Isles with Limerick Minors Barry Nash and Tom Morrissey

Picture: Liam Burke/Press 22

Munster, coached by former player Colm McMahon, are the only Irish team competing and have been placed in the same group as San Francisco, Moscow Saracens and Daveta. McMahon has announced his 12 man panel and the side will be captained by Ronan O’Mahony.

Brilliant shot Fiji 7's on top half & Munster full squad training on bottom half ULSport Bowl super @WorldClubSevens pic.twitter.com/1H35d03Qjx
— David Mahedy (@DavidMahedy) August 7, 2014

An interesting feature of the weekend is the “Combine”’ team. Rugby players were invited to attend an open day last Monday in Limerick. They were put through a gruelling series of trials and 11 have been chosen for this team. They will be in Thomond all weekend and if one of the participating teams find themselves short of players through injury a “combine” player will be asked to step in.

There was a similar selection at the World Club 7 finals in Twickenham last year and Englishman Huw Bevan ended up playing with the winning team ACT Brumbies in the final.

Club 7s events are designed to be fun and family-friendly. The theme of the competition in Limerick this weekend is ‘Superheroes’ and dressing-up is encouraged! There will also be a family zone.

It's almost here... @WorldClubSevens. #Limerick. This Weekend. http://t.co/rqGqaev0Jl pic.twitter.com/vmUrsrznFp
— Limerick.ie (@Limerick_ie) August 7, 2014

Organisers are keen to emphasize that the event involves the whole city and not just Thomond. The Limerick Pub Embassy Partnership has arranged for each visiting team to have a home-base pub where the food, culture and traditions of that team will be celebrated.

Bobby Byrnes – Saracens (London)

Michael Flannerys Denmark St – Stade Français (Paris)

Clohessy’s – Fiji Daveta

Mickey Martins – San Francisco

The Blind Pig – New York

Cobblestone Joes – Vancouver

Dolans – Auckland (NZ)

The Locke Bar – NSW Waratahs (AUS)

Orchard DHL – Western Province (SA)

Nancy Blakes – Vodacom Blue Bulls (SA)

Old Quarter – Moscow