Ireland rugby supporters had plenty to cheer as the national touch squads returned from Vichy with three medals and a major slice of history. In one of the strongest weeks yet for sports ireland on the international stage, the Irish teams produced silver for the Men’s Open, silver for the Men’s 30s, and a landmark bronze for the Women’s Open at the 2026 European Touch Championships.
The tournament, staged in France from 22-25 July, featured a record 78 teams and tested every squad in temperatures above 30°C. For followers of ireland sports news, it was a story of resilience, depth and progress across men’s, women’s and youth pathways.
Sports Ireland Spotlight as Touch Rugby Teams Rise in Vichy
The Men’s Open arrived with serious pedigree after recent European finals appearances and a quarter-final run at the 2024 World Cup. Their campaign did not begin smoothly, with an early loss to Scotland, but they quickly found rhythm and won seven of their remaining nine round-robin matches to reach yet another European final.
The decider against England became one of the standout ireland sports highlights of the week. Ireland led at different stages through scores from Rory Fulton, Luke de Renzy, Mark Phelan, Kiran Byrne and Joe Ballance, but England snatched an 8-7 win late on. It was a painful finish, yet also another sign that Ireland remain among Europe’s elite in touch rugby.
Head coach John Ennis praised the squad’s growth across the tournament, pointing to the preparation and sacrifice behind the result. Kiran Byrne finished as the side’s top scorer with 21 tries.
Women’s Open Make History for Irish Sports
The biggest breakthrough came from the Women’s Open, who secured Ireland’s first-ever European Open bronze medal. After a strong round-robin showing that included wins over Scotland and the Euro Select team, Ireland met Scotland again in the bronze-medal play-off.
This time, the Irish side were clinical. They pulled away for an 11-6 victory, with Cara Summerbell and Katie Harmon both delivering hat-tricks in a superb attacking display. For ireland women sports and grassroots rugby followers, this was a result with lasting significance, especially with eight debutants integrated into the squad.
Captain Lianna Prizeman said the medal reflected years of work and commitment. Summerbell ended the event as Ireland’s leading women’s scorer with nine tries.
Other Irish Results Worth Watching
- Men’s 30s: Silver medal after a dramatic 7-6 semi-final win over hosts France before losing the final to England.
- Mixed Open: Sixth place from 13 teams, with an average age of just 20 and several players now set for the European Junior Championships.
- Women’s 35s: Narrowly missed a medal after a 6-4 defeat to France in the bronze match.
- Men’s 40s: Finished seventh despite injuries to key players.
- Men’s 50s: Claimed sixth place in an 11-team field.
What This Means for Ireland Sports News
There was more than medals in this trip. The Men’s 30s reached the final with a largely fresh group and seven debutants, showing real squad depth. The Mixed Open underlined the strength of ireland youth sports, while the presence of four Irish referees, including Siobhán Daly earning her Level 4 badge, reflected progress off the field too.
For anyone tracking ireland rugby fixtures, ireland sports results and wider ireland sports culture, this championship offered a clear message: touch rugby in Ireland is building momentum at every level. The next key step is whether these squads can turn European success into further gains at junior and world events.
That is the real takeaway from this sports ireland story. Ireland did not just win medals in Vichy; they showed a pathway for the future, and that is worth watching closely in the months ahead.
Article/Image Courtesy: Irish Rugby
