Irish Rugby: Ireland men's sevens cut 'nothing short of a disgrace'

Former World Rugby sevens player of the year Terry Kennedy says the decision to cut the Ireland men's sevens team at the end of the 2024-25 season is "nothing short of a disgrace".

On Wednesday, the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) confirmed the cessation of the men's sevens programme as "part of a broader strategic effort to ensure long-term financial sustainability".

In November, the IRFU's financial results showed an 18m euro (£15.1m) deficit for the 2023-24 season.

Kennedy, who competed in the Tokyo and Paris Olympics men's sevens, was critical of the IRFU's decision.

"Absolutely shocking from the IRFU. The way they've handled the whole situation is nothing sort of a disgrace," he said in a statement on social media.

"So disappointed the current group of players as well as the younger players coming through won't be afforded the same opportunities that myself and the lads have because of the short-sightedness of a couple of old guys running the game here."

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