Keenan included in Ireland Sevens squad

Hugo Keenan has been included in the Ireland Sevens squad for this weekend’s season-ending tournament in Madrid.

Reports last week suggested that the Ireland full-back would make a sensational return to the Sevens code ahead of this summer’s Olympic Games.

The 27-year-old will miss some of Leinster’s BKT URC run-in, including this weekend’s round-18 match against Connacht, but could return if Leo Cullen’s side progressed through the knockouts.

He is likely to miss Ireland’s summer Tests against South Africa on 6 and 13 July.

Connacht’s Andrew Smith has also been included in James Topping’s squad.

Keenan, a key member of Andy Farrell’s side in recent seasons, links up with the Sevens squad five years after winning the last of his 12 caps, while Connacht winger Smith was an outstanding performer for Topping’s side on the series last year.

During his two years in the Sevens programme, Keenan was a regular presence throughout the key moments on Ireland’s journey to HSBC SVNS Series qualification – a memorable third place finish as an invitational team in London, to the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco, and then World Series qualification in Hong Kong in 2019.

Ireland will meet Fiji, South Africa and New Zealand in Pool B.

Meanwhile, Ireland Women welcome back Béibhinn Parsons and Aoibheann Reilly, while there is a first call-up for Katie Corrigan (above), one of Ireland’s breakout stars in the Six Nations.

However, there is no place for former Meath footballer Vikki Wall in Allan Temple-Jones’ 13-woman squad.

Ireland face Australia, Olympic hosts France and Fiji in Pool B.

The Olympic Sevens takes place in at Stade de France in Paris from 24 to 30 July.

Ireland Men’s Sevens squad

Niall Comerford (UCD RFC)
Jordan Conroy (Buccaneers RFC)
Sean Cribbin (Suttonians RFC)
Billy Dardis (Terenure College RFC)
Hugo Keenan (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Terry Kennedy (St Mary’s College RFC)
Hugo Lennox (Skerries RFC)
Harry McNulty(UCD RFC)(capt)
Gavin Mullin (UCD RFC)
Chay Mullins (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht/IQ Rugby)
Aaron O’Sullivan (Blackrock College RFC)
Andrew Smith (Clontarf FC/Connacht)
Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC)

Ireland Women’s Sevens squad

Megan Burns (Blackrock College RFC)
Katie Corrigan (Old Belvedere RFC)*
Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (Railway Union RFC)(capt)
Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC)
Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC)
Erin King (Old Belvedere RFC)
Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow RFC)
Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC)
Kate Farrell McCabe (Suttonians RFC)
Anna McGann (Railway Union RFC)
Ashleigh Orchard (Cooke RFC)
Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC)
Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC)
*uncapped