Ireland Sevens captain Billy Dardis says his team harbour realistic ambitions of an Olympic medal after another landmark occasion for the side.
Ireland secured bronze at the Rugby 7s World Cup with a superb 19-14 win over Australia in Cape Town as the upward trajectory for the Sevens programme continues.
After recording wins over Portugal and England, James Topping's side sent the hosts South Afrcia packing in the quarter-finals, but came up just short against New Zealand with a place in the final at stake.
That disappointment was short-lived as they regathered to see off Australia and earn a third-place finish.
"It’s pretty surreal really," Dardis told RTÉ 2fm's Game On. "It’s been a long enough weekend, playing Friday, Saturday and Sunday. To come away with a bronze medal at a World Cup is pretty special.
"It’s probably a fair reflection of how we have gone this year, the momentum we have built and the teams we have beaten.
"It was one last big effort (against Australia) to do something we will remember for the rest of our lives. It was incredible. The atmosphere in the stadium was electric."
The manner of the All Blacks defeat still rankles – "we weren’t in the game from the start, let two easy tries in and we were always chasing our tails" - but the response against Australia was something that gave the captain immense pride.
And where to from here?
A win over New Zealand is an obvious short-term target. Despite reaching a World Series final, collecting a third-place finish in Toulouse and seeing off every other team on the circuit at some point, the All Blacks have yet to be conquered.
"We are so close to doing that. We have been within a score of beating them the last three occasions. We are right there."
The bigger picture aspect is around qualification for the 2024 Olympic Games.
This is a stepping stone I think for Irish Sevens
Having finished eighth at the 2018 World Cup, the highest finish from a non-core World Series team, before achieving World Series status a year later, it has been steady progression under Anthony Eddy and now Topping.
Loftier goals are now being set as the team continues to move in the right direction.
"I think the IRFU are really proud. It’s well respected programme within Irish rugby. I really do think it will continue to get better. I think the IRFU has recognised how good a programme it is.
"This is a stepping stone I think for Irish Sevens. A medal at the next Olympics is the next thing on the horizon.
"After the last five or six years, and the trajectory we are on, the only way is up."
