Former high-performance director David Nucifora has slammed the Irish Rugby Football Union for scrapping its men’s sevens programme.
The IRFU cited financial challenges and said the men’s sevens programme did not contribute as a development pathway for the men’s fifteens game as it does for women’s rugby.
Nucifora worked at the IRFU from 2014 to 2024, during which time the Ireland men’s sevens team competed at the 2021 and 2024 Olympic Games, finishing 10th and sixth respectively.
Ireland finished second on the men’s 2023-24 SVNS Series standings, before dropping to 11th this past season.
Nucifora criticised the IRFU’s decision when responding to a Facebook post by David Barry, a main financial backer of the IRFU’s sevens programme.
“Firstly a huge thanks to you David Barry who had the vision and the generosity to back our plan,” he wrote. “Without you it wouldn’t have happened.
“To now see this short sighted nonsense decision is gut-wrenching. Your vision helped create Irish Olympians and change peoples’ lives.
“The lack of vision and leadership being shown is also a major concern for Irish rugby.
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“World Rugby and some unions do not deserve the right to own the game of sevens,” he added. “The sooner someone takes it from them the sooner it will meet its potential.”
World Rugby recently announced a new three-division SVNS Series format that reduces the number of teams in the top tier from 12 to eight from next season.
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