The warning is clear for Ireland’s SVNS rivals as Terry Kennedy, fresh from being named World Rugby men’s player of the year for his outstanding performance in the 2022 season with 50 tries, is gearing up for another crack at the sevens circuit.
After a brief hiatus in Sydney for a taste of life outside rugby, Kennedy is eager to return full-time and has been training hard for the upcoming HSBC SVNS Series, starting with Dubai and Cape Town.
Kennedy’s journey took an unexpected turn, bypassing a potential URC derby with Munster to embrace the fast-paced and expansive game of sevens.
Despite initially being part of the Ireland U20s and the Leinster academy, he found his passion in the sevens format, drawn to the travel, teamwork, and the unique style of play. Ireland has risen to prominence in the sevens world, achieving their best-ever fifth-place finish in 2021/22 and reaching the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup Sevens.
Reflecting on earlier years, Kennedy reminisces about the challenges of being a part-time squad with fewer resources, training in the evenings due to work and college commitments. Despite the hurdles, they traveled the world for competitions, from Stellenbosch in South Africa to invitational tournaments in Dubai and adventurous trips to Uruguay and Chile.
As the upcoming season approaches, Kennedy acknowledges the more focused and streamlined structure, with eight double-header tournaments.
The squad, having enjoyed past downtime with card games and camaraderie, now recognizes the singular focus on their ultimate goal: medals and consistent high performance, leading up to the Olympics.
Kennedy expresses excitement about the new venues, including Perth, and looks forward to the grand finale in Madrid. With a strong squad, cohesive teamwork, and healthy competition, Ireland aims to make a strong impression in Dubai and beyond.
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