Advertisement League of Ireland Horse Racing TV Listings GAA Fixtures The Video Review Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture Rugby Weekly Extra Dive into all the news and analysis 3 times a week The Football Family Weekly insights from the week’s big talking points Advertisement More Stories The IRFU will discontinue it's men's Sevens programme.Joe Hamby/INPHO FreeEnd game IRFU to discontinue men's Sevens programme The women’s Sevens programme is set to remain operational. 6.19pm, 14 May 2025 Share options THE IRFU HAVE confirmed it will discontinue it’s men’s Sevens programmes following the conclusion of the 2024/25 season. The Union says the women’s Sevens programme will remain operational. The move comes as the IRFU continues to review it’s various programmes, and is the latest major change under performance director David Humphreys – coming one month after the announcement that from August 2026 the four provinces will be responsible for 40% of the cost of men’s national player contracts. Humphrey’s predecessor, David Nucifora, had made the Sevens programme a priority when he joined the Union in 2014. Advertisement The men’s Sevens team qualified for the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, finishing 10th in Tokyo and sixth in Paris. While it was hoped the Paris Games would help drive interest around Sevens rugby in Ireland, the men’s programme is now set to wind up. The IRFU state the decision “is part of a broader strategic effort to ensure long-term financial sustainability and focus on key initiatives outlined in the Union’s strategic plan.” An IRFU statement added: “The Union’s assessment concluded that the men’s Sevens programme does not contribute as a development pathway for the 15s game, with current academy structures in place within the provinces offering greater development opportunities for men’s rugby.” Last November, the IRFU’S financial reports for the 2023/24 season revealed a deficit of €18 million for the 2023/24 season, with the Union spending €4.2m on Sevens. “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,” said Humphreys, via an IRFU statement. “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 IRFU said the women’s Sevens programme will continue as it “plays a vital role in the development of female players is currently aligned with the growing strength of the women’s 15s game in Ireland.” “It’s important to note that the women’s Sevens programme remains a critical part of our development strategy for women’s 15s rugby,” added Humphreys. “We fully recognise the need for a structured pathway for our female athletes and are committed to continuing the growth of the women’s programme. The women’s game is still in its infancy stage and as the structures within the women’s game evolve, we will continue to monitor the impact that Sevens has as a development opportunity.” IRFU CEO Kevin Potts said: “We would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the success of the men’s Sevens programme, especially in achieving qualification for the Tokyo and Paris Olympic Games. Their unwavering dedication, hard work and skill played a vital role in elevating the profile of Sevens rugby in Ireland. We are very proud of everything that was achieved during this period.” Ciarán Kennedy Viewcomments Send Tip or Correction Embed this post To embed this post, copy the code below on your site Email “IRFU to discontinue men's Sevens programme”. Recipient's Email Feedback on “IRFU to discontinue men's Sevens programme”. Your Feedback Your Email (optional) Report a Comment Please select the reason for reporting this comment. Please give full details of the problem with the comment... This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy before taking part. Leave a Comment Submit a report Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines. Damaging the good reputation of someone, slander, or libel. Racism or Hate speech An attack on an individual or group based on religion, race, gender, or beliefs. Trolling or Off-topic An attempt to derail the discussion. Inappropriate language Profanity, obscenity, vulgarity, or slurs. Advertising, phishing, scamming, bots, or repetitive posts. Please provide additional information Thank you for the feedback Your feedback has been sent to our team for review. Leave a commentcancel Access to the comments facility has been disabled for this user View our policy ⚠️ Duplicate comment Post Comment have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion Sevens Rugby News in 60 seconds persistence Lowry keeping the faith as he seeks to bounce back from the 'hurt' of latest near-miss Freeconcerns Tottenham lose key midfielder for Man United clash FreeControversy Leinster camogie finalists will play ‘under protest’ if forced to change into skorts 22 mins ago Who is new Connacht signing Sam Gilbert? Harry Diamond 'When you watch him caddying on TV, he has the same attributes from when I played against him' Freepropped up Ulster confirm signing of props Sam Crean and Rory McGuire Leinster champions Louth to start All-Ireland campaign against Monaghan in Newbridge Dates For Diary Next set of All-Ireland SFC fixtures announced with Donegal Tyrone on GAA+ Unavailable Paul O'Donovan absent as Rowing Ireland announces team for European Championships Former world champion cyclist avoids jail over wife's road death Brian Hayes: 'You fear for the worst but thankfully it wasn't anything serious' more from us Investigates Daft.ie Property Magazine Allianz Home Magazine The 42 Sports Magazine Money Diaries The Journal TV Journal Media Advertise With Us About FactCheck Our Network FactCheck Knowledge Bank Terms & Legal Notices Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition more from us TV Listings GAA Fixtures The Video Review Journal Media Advertise With Us Our Network The Journal FactCheck Knowledge Bank Terms & Legal Notices Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition © 2025 Journal Media Ltd Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition Switch to Desktop Switch to Mobile The 42 supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and the Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at https://www.presscouncil.ie, PH: (01) 6489130, Lo-Call 1800 208 080 or email: mailto:info@presscouncil.ie Report an error, omission or problem: Your Email (optional) Create Email Alert Create an email alert based on the current article Email Address One email every morning As soon as new articles come online Sign in or create a free account To continue reading create a free account Or sign into an existing account