Former Ards player Michael Lawton made his debut for the Ireland 7s team in Bosnia at the weekend. Michael came through the ranks at Ards playing mini rugby, youth rugby and All Ireland 1st XV before moving on to further his playing career at Dungannon and Ballynahinch.

He is currently a PE assistant in Somerset, England and was invited to attend Exiles trials for Ireland 7s in Birmingham in January 2015, he progressed along with approximately 500 other hopefuls from across Ireland for final trials in Dublin, this was whittled down to 28, with Michael still in the game.

April and May saw intensive National training weekends in Dublin, two squads were eventually forged, one for the GB7s series playing in England, Scotland and Wales and one for the Rugby Europe Division C tournament in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Michael was selected for the European squad.

This tournament was played over the weekend of June 6th – 7th 2015, Michael played in all the games where they triumphed and won the final to lift the Division C title and gain promotion to Rugby Europe Division B.

Ireland's results in the tournaments knockout stages means they have achieved their first aim of gaining promotion to the Rugby Europe Men's Sevens Division B tournament, which will take place in Croatia over the weekend of June 20-21.

The highest ranked eligible team from Division B qualifies to participate in the Rugby Europe Olympic Repechage tournament in Lisbon on July 18 - 19.

The winners of the Lisbon tournament will then have the opportunity to compete in the World Olympic Repechage in 2016 to secure the last spot for Rio 2016.

Recognition of Michael’s talent at representative level has been a long time coming, it’s great to see and all at Ards RFC wish him every success in the future.