On the 9th & 10th of August, Limerick will host some of the biggest names in club and provincial rugby from both Northern and Southern Hemispheres, with confirmed teams for the Limerick World Club 7s Festival including Saracens, New South Wales Waratahs, Stade Français, Moscow, Auckland, New York, Vancouver, South Africa’s Blue Bulls and Western Province, and Munster Rugby.
The inaugural Limerick World Club 7s Festival is taking place at Thomond Park the weekend before this year’s World Club 7s event in Twickenham with many of the same teams taking part in both, meaning that travelling fans will get four days of superb 7s in one week!
“We have been looking for this type of event in Limerick for some time,” said CEO of Limerick Marketing Company Eoghan Prendergast, who warmly welcomed the announcement of the Limerick World Club 7s Festival, and who has been working on bringing this event to the city since last summer. “We are particularly delighted that, in partnership with World Club 7s, we will be highlighting Limerick’s love affair with sport across a wide of range of audiences around the world.”
“Thomond Park Stadium is delighted to play its part in hosting Limerick World Club 7s this August,” says John Cantwell, Stadium Director of Thomond Park Stadium, “and this top class event will provide an exciting additional must-see experience to our calendar of events at Thomond Park and will also deliver significant economic and social benefits to Limerick and the region. This tournament has the potential to become one of the leading international 7s rugby competitions in the world on an annual basis and to further endorse Limerick and the region as a hotbed of rugby and a centre of sporting excellence.”
More than a tournament
As well as the legendary facilities at Thomond Park, visitors to Limerick World Club 7s are invited to enjoy the events happening throughout Limerick, as this is a citywide festival, not just a rugby tournament.
Limerick City and County Manager Conn Murray is very pleased to welcome the inaugural Limerick World Club 7s Festival to the city. “We are looking forward to welcoming visitors and guests from all over the country and further afield this year, and for the next four years, and to showcasing everything about our vibrant and welcoming city.”
Limerick
Limerick has been chosen as host city for World Club 7s as it is the ideal venue to facilitate a long-term, world-class event that will bring club 7s and their passionate colourful support from all over the world.
Limerick has the right airlift via Shannon, a strong supply of quality hotel stock and an international reputation for sporting events.
“We very much appreciate the support of all in Limerick City and County Council, particularly that of Eoghan Prendergast who has been working closely with our team,” said Tim Magee, “and we would also like to thank John Cantwell and the great team at Thomond Park, and all at Munster Rugby.”
7s
This calibre of club 7s has never been seen on this island before. Some of the greatest names in rugby refined their game on the 7s circuit including Jonah Lomu, who credits his success to his grounding in 7s, saying that he would not have been the player or person that he is without it. 7s tournaments are loved all over the world for their cosmopolitan international flair and sense of entertainment and fun. With colour, cheerleaders and crazy costumes commonplace, dressing up is encouraged!
Ahead of its inclusion as an Olympic sport in the Rio Olympics, the Limerick World Club 7s will attract not just rugby fans of all persuasion, but sports lovers of every stripe and groups of friends and families, all out to enjoy the unique festival atmosphere of 7s in Ireland’s most sport-mad city.
The speed and finesse at this level of 7s makes it perfect for TV and the Limerick World Club 7s tournament will be shown around the world, but you really have to be there to experience an atmosphere unlike anything else in rugby. Each game has 2 halves of 7 minutes, so the entire tournament between the 12 teams from 5 continents playing at the Festival this August will fit perfectly into 2 days of fast-paced, high-scoring, scintillating rugby action.
Daily ticket prices will cover the whole day, with special limited ticket offers of kids tickets from €5 per day or €10 per weekend, and adults from €12.50 per day, €20 per weekend. Tickets for the World Club 7s Series will go on sale on Wednesday the 26th of February and are available on www.Ticketmaster.ie and from all usual outlets including Thomond Park Stadium, or by phoning:
0818 719 300 – Republic of Ireland Customers
0844 847 2455 – Northern Ireland Customers
00 353 1456 9569 – International Customers
