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Opportunity

Do you have what it takes to succeed in the rugby equivalent of the 'The X Factor'?

The IRFU have issued an open invitation to all male athletes, from all sports, to take part in a Sevens competition.

THE IRFU HAS today issued an open invitation to all male athletes, from all sports, to consider taking part in the Irish Rugby Men’s Sevens programme.

Four Talent Identification Days (TID) will be held in various locations around Ireland in January 2015, with speed, power and endurance of players tested, to determine whether they have what it takes to compete at the highest level.

In addition to rugby club talent, the IRFU are especially keen on attracting athletes from other team sports whose skills are transferable, such as athletics, basketball, hockey and Gaelic Games.

The IRFU Performance Director David Nucifora, who last October originally announced the scheme and confirmed the entrance of a team in Division C of the Men’s Rugby Europe Championship, said:

“We are looking for the sporting X Factor and to ensure we leave no stone unturned we are not limiting our search to those already playing club rugby.

“Rugby sevens is a game that rewards explosive and agile athletes with good handling skills from any sporting background. Our initial TID will be aimed at putting players through a battery of physical tests to see whether they have the physiological characteristics we require.

“The best athletes will be selected to then attend a sevens trial day from which an eventual squad of 20 players will be selected to prepare for the European Championships in June 2015.”

The closing date for entries is 19 December and anyone interested can sign up here.

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