Thomond Park showcased an action packed day of world-class rugby at the inaugural Limerick World Club 7’s with the Munster 7’s team topping their group. Supporters were treated to 18 matches of fast paced 7’s rugby from top northern and southern hemisphere clubs as the three pools were completed on day one of the event.

Munster, debuting in the World Club 7’s, put on a great show for the home crowd beating San Francisco and a strong Moscow Saracens side in their opening two games with Luke O’Dea and Ronan O’Mahony the standout performers. The home side then faced off against Fijian side Daveta in the final game of the day and produced a wonder display which included two tries from Darren Sweetman to beat the Fijian side 17-5 and top Pool C.

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Auckland showed why they were tagged as tournament favourites as they topped Pool A with wins over New York and Saracens. Despite losing their opening match to Saracens, South Africa’s Blue Bulls charged back with wins over New York and Auckland to claim second spot. Vancouver Bears proved to be the surprise package of the day with wins over New South Wales Waratahs and Stade Francais to emerge from Pool B along with DHL Western Province from South Africa, who topped the group with three wins.

Ireland Head Coach Joe Schmidt was in Thomond Park to watch Munster and would have been impressed by the skill and organisation shown by the Munster 7’s squad, coached by ex-Munster and Irish 7’s player, Colm McMahon.

Schmidt also took time to meet the Combine Team, 11 Irish-based amateur players who came through a trial event in Limerick on Monday to be selected as the substitute team for the event. Lansdowne’s Irish U20 star Mark Roche was called into the Munster 7’s Squad for the remainder of the tournament to replace the injured Gerhard van der Heever and made an appearance in the final few minutes against the Fijian side. His Lansdowne team mate Eoin Walsh has been called up to the Saracens squad.

The action kicks off today in Thomond Park from 11:50 (12:50 South African Time) with a series of play-offs along with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final. The action will run right through the day until the final at 17:50 (18:50 South African Time). To add to the entertainment, permission has been granted for the All-Ireland hurling semi-final between Limerick and Kilkenny to be shown on a big screen in the entertainment zone outside the stadium.

Day One Results

Pool A

• Aukland bt New York 29-0
• Saracens bt Vodacom Bulls 10-7
• Vodacom Bulls bt New York 33-14
• Auckland bt Saracens 22-5
• New York bt Saracens 28-5
• Vodacom Bulls bt Auckland 12-5

Pool B

• Vancouver Bears bt NSW Waratahs 19-15
• DHL Western Province bt Stade Francais 12-0
• Vancouver Bears bt Stade Francais 24-0
• DHL Western Province bt NSW Waratahs 26-19
• DHL Western Province bt Vancouver Bears 15-0
• Nsw Waratahs drew with Stade Francais 19-19

Pool C

• Munster Rugby bt San Francisco 17-7
• Daveta (Fiji) drew with Moscow Saracens 19-19
• Munster bt Moscow Saracens 21-12
• Daveta (Fiji) bt San Francisco 33-7
• Moscow Saracens bt San Francisco 24-0
• Munster bt Daveta (Fiji) 17-5

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The Blue Bulls ended as the 4th seed team and will play against 5th seed team Vancouver Bears in the 3rd quarter final today, starting at 13:22 (14:22 South African Time).

Live stream – The action can be followed live via a YouTube stream – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAbMbX-R8TE&feature=youtu.be

The Vodacom World Blue Bulls Club 7’s team: Waylon Murray (vice captain), Hein Viljoen, Niel Meyer, André Warner, Carel Swart, Clayton Stewart, Lood de Jager, Enver Brandt, Leroy Bitterhout, Ryan Nell (captain), Nardus van der Walt, Ganfried May.
Management: Xander Janse van Rensburg (Team Manager), Pieter du Plessis (Physiotherapist, Strength and Conditioning), David Manuel (Coach), Werner de Beer (Operational and Logistics).

The 2014 DHL Western Province Sevens team: 1 Ruan Mostert (Durb-Bell – captain), 2 Earl Johnson (Kuilsriver), 3 Danie Roux (False Bay), 4 Jason Kriel (Durb-Bell), 5 Josh Bassingthwaighte (Maties), 6 Armien Bailey (Helderberg), 7 Anthony Taylor (Young Stars), 8 Ashwill Peters (Sir Lowrians), 9 Frederick Muller (UWC), 10 Errol Jaggers (Helderberg), 11 Iewan Bartels (Hamilton’s), 12 Earl Rose (Sir Lowrians).
Management: Ricky Petersen (Coach), Bobby Joubert (Manager), Riefaat Jappie (Trainer), Peter Jooste (Executive member).