Ireland men's rugby sevens team scrapped as IRFU cut costs

May 15, 2025

Ireland men’s sevens programme has been scrapped following relegation in an attempt to cut costs.

The team were relegated from the World SVNS Series in Los Angeles earlier this month after finishing 11th.

A spokesperson confirmed that the women’s team will remain unaffected, with the IRFU happy to see a pathway to the women’s XV team. However, the same can’t be said for the men’s team, and it was one of the reasons why the programme will come to an end when the season finishes.

IRFU performance director David Humphreys said: “The financial situation we face is challenging, and it’s crucial that we take decisive action to secure the long-term success of Irish Rugby.

“While the decision to end the men’s sevens programme is a difficult one, it is necessary in order to ensure that our resources are focused on the areas that will have the greatest impact on the future of the game in Ireland.

“We are committed to making sure that this transition is handled with the utmost respect for all those who have contributed to the success of the sevens programme.”

The Sevens side have featured in two Olympic games, finishing 10th in Tokyo in 2021 and sixth in Paris last year.

In November, the IRFU outlined the bleak financial situation on their hands. They reported a loss of £15.3million in their 2023-24 accounts and suggest the lack of home autumn internationals had a significant impact on that figure.

Former Ireland sevens captain Billy Dardis shared his disappointment at the news. He said: “It’s disappointing because Irish rugby is such a stronghold in world rugby.

“It’s such a medal opportunity at the Olympics. We went over second in the world at the time and we were hoping to get a medal. Within Team Ireland, we were the big ones, like rowing, boxing and athletics.”

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