Ireland’s touch rugby teams delivered one of the standout stories in sports Ireland this week, returning from the 2026 European Touch Championships with three medals and a powerful statement about the sport’s rise at home. In Vichy, France, Irish sports supporters saw silver for the Men’s Open and Men’s 30s, while the Women’s Open made history by landing Ireland’s first-ever European Open bronze.
Played across four demanding days in temperatures above 30 degrees, the tournament featured a record 78 teams and tested every squad’s fitness, depth and nerve. For Ireland, the reward was a major breakthrough in ireland sports news and another sign of the strength building across rugby ireland from elite performance to community sport.
Sports Ireland Success Built on Grit, Depth and Big-Game Composure
The Ireland Men’s Open arrived in France with serious pedigree after back-to-back European finals and a quarter-final appearance at the 2024 World Cup. Their campaign began with a setback against Scotland, but the response was impressive. Ireland won seven of their remaining nine round-robin matches to book another final against England.
The decider became one of the games of the championship. Ireland struck through Rory Fulton, Luke de Renzy, Mark Phelan, Kiran Byrne and Joe Ballance, leading at different stages, but England snatched an 8-7 win with a late score. It was heartbreak, but also proof that Ireland remain among Europe’s best. Head coach John Ennis said the squad improved game by game and praised the unseen work behind the campaign.
Kiran Byrne finished as the Men’s Open top scorer with 21 tries, underlining Ireland’s cutting edge.
Women’s Open Make History with Landmark Bronze
The biggest milestone came from the Women’s Open, who secured Ireland’s first European Open medal in the category. After finishing third in the round robin, with strong wins over Scotland and Euro Select, they faced Scotland again in the bronze-medal match.
This time Ireland produced a clinical display, winning 11-6. Cara Summerbell and Katie Harmon both grabbed hat-tricks in a performance full of confidence and attacking intent. Captain Lianna Prizeman praised the squad’s resilience, especially with eight debutants integrated into the panel. For ireland women sports and grassroots rugby, this was a result with real significance.
Key Irish Medal Winners
- Men’s Open: Silver
- Women’s Open: Bronze
- Men’s 30s: Silver
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Men’s 30s Add Another Silver as Young Talent Also Impresses
The Men’s 30s matched their 2022 European result by taking silver after a smart, disciplined campaign. A squad featuring seven debutants finished third in the round robin before edging hosts France 7-6 in a dramatic semi-final, sealed by Stefan Fletcher’s late try. England proved too strong in the final, but vice-captain Darren Broderick said the team’s ability to adapt under pressure was central to their run.
There were strong stories elsewhere too. Ireland’s Mixed Open, with an average age of just 20, placed sixth from 13 teams after victories against the Netherlands, Scotland, Jersey and Italy. Many of that panel now head to the European Junior Championships, making this an important development story for ireland youth sports.
The Women’s 35s came close to another medal, leading France at half-time in the bronze match before falling 6-4. The Men’s 40s finished seventh despite injuries, while the Men’s 50s claimed sixth place in an 11-team field.
Ireland also had a notable officiating presence, with four referees involved and Siobhán Daly receiving her Level 4 badge during the event.
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What This Means for Irish Sports
This was more than a medal haul. It was evidence of a healthy player pathway, experienced coaching and a widening base of talent across Irish sports. While gaa, ireland football, ireland rugby and athletics ireland often dominate the ireland sports headlines, touch rugby is carving out its own place with meaningful results on the European stage.
The next thing to watch is how this momentum carries into junior competition and future senior campaigns. For sports Ireland, the message from Vichy is clear: Ireland’s touch rugby programme is no longer just competitive, it is building towards sustained success.
Article/Image Courtesy: Irish Rugby
