Williams’ Warriors must wait for Rio call

THE IRFU will wait another two years before deciding whether or not to send an Irish sevens team to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Chief executive Philip Browne informed this newspaper last January that he had significant reservations over the costs — which could stretch to seven figures — involved in establishing a national sevens side while the qualification procedures have yet to be agreed.

Ireland has a long way to go to catch up with the leading nations in the truncated game as it does not participate in the official HSBC World Sevens Series and even reaching Brazil would not be guaranteed.