Greg O’Shea ‘Hopefully we can finish it of as Champions of Europe’.

Munster and Shannon’s Greg O’Shea is facing into a big weekend with the Ireland sevens squad this weekend, as they set off to Exeter for the final leg of the Rugby Europe Grand Prix Series.

Last weekend’s showing in Clermont has ensured that Anthony Eddy’s side have secured qualification for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series qualifying tournament in Hong Kong.

There’s still plenty to play for though, as Ireland look to book their place in next years World Cup and secure this season’s European crown.

O’Shea says he and his teammates are striving to be able to call themselves European champions.

“We had a lot on the line (in Clermont) with qualification for Hong Kong, which we got, thank god. It was massive to get it, we’ve another week now and go to Exeter, so hopefully we can get another good performance and finish it off champions of Europe’

The Shannon man was happy with how his own personal performance last week and believes the sevens programme is great for player development.

“It’s great for development fellas like Alex Wootton, Adam Byrne and Tom Daly have all stepped through the sevens and there all playing senior rugby for their provinces. I love it just for personal development, you get more game time on the pitch and more ball in hand.’

This weekend O’Shea and his teammates have the chance to qualify for the World Cup in San Fransisco, and win the European Grand Prix Series but the main goal is to continue to build as a team and perform well when they take to the pitch in Hong Kong next April and attempt to secure their status as a core nation in the World Rugby Sevens Series.

“It would be massive for Irish Rugby. I think we’re the only top tier nation without a sevens team on the circuit so that’s the plan now, and if we can keep the heads down hopefully we can execute it’

The lightning quick Shannon back, who has been hampered through injury early in his career is also looking forward to the new season with his club and his province when the sevens campaign is over.

“I’m looking forward to it, I love Shannon there’s black and blue running through my veins, my whole family is mad into Shannon. I’m loving the sevens but when that’s over I’ll get a three week break and I’ll be back in there and back with Munster as well. Munster is great, the facilities are incredible and I’m looking forward to getting some serious work done’

You can listen to Greg’s interview in full on the link below.

IRELAND MEN’S SEVENS Squad (2017 Rugby Europe Sevens Grand Prix Series – Round 4, Sandy Park, Exeter, Saturday, July 15-Sunday, July 16):

Fionn Carr (Naas)
Jordan Conroy (Buccaneers/Connacht) Billy Dardis (UCD) (capt)
Ian Fitzpatrick (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)
Adam Leavy (Galwegians/Connacht)
Harry McNulty (UCD)
Jimmy O’Brien (UCD/Leinster)
John O’Donnell (Lansdowne)
Greg O’Shea (Shannon)
Mark Roche (Lansdowne)
Nick Timoney (Queen’s University/Ulster)

IRELAND MEN’S SEVENS Fixtures –

Exeter 7s – Pool A:

Saturday, July 15:

Ireland v Portugal, Sandy Park, 11.30am
Ireland v Belgium, Sandy Park, 2.15pm
Ireland v France, Sandy Park, 5pm

Saturday, July 16:

Play-Offs

The full fixtures/pools are available on the Rugby Europe tournament page.