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'Better than the OBJ catch': Ireland women go viral after crazy manoeuvre labelled 'insane'

Erin King during the Team Ireland Paris 2024 team announcement for Rugby Sevens at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Blanchardstown, Dublin. (Photo By David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Ireland women’s sevens players Erin King and Emily Lane have gone viral after a lifting catch in their 7th-8th placing match against Great Britain.

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The catch by Lane has been labelled ‘insane’, who was being lifted by King as the ball sailed over the both of them. Lane was able to make the catch while horizontal, and King’s strength was able to safely keep her up.

Lane may have ended up dangerously falling if not for King’s miraculous strength, able to flip her back around to land on her feet.

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Within a matter of hours a clip of the incident reached five million views on X, with over 100,000 likes.

The clip landed with an American audience, many who had not seen rugby before as the reach of the Olympics breaks new ground for the sport.

One fan wrote “this is better than the OBJ catch”, a reference to NFL star wide recieve Odell Beckham Jr. and his infamous grab from 2014 that broke the internet.

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The sevens have been a big success with Americans with Ireland’s Erin King the latest player to gain notoriety.

USA 7s star Ilona Maher has become the most followed rugby athlete on social media in the world during this Olympics, while USA’s bronze medal finish in the women’s event may propel the game further.

She has rocketed to 1.8 million followers on Instagram, past Sonny Bill Williams and Siya Kolisi who both have 1.3 million. Maher passed the million mark on Friday.

Barstool Sports podcaster Feitelberg was impressed with the USA women’s side and their “intimidation move” against the Japanese.

Good Morning Football host Kyle Brandt has been sharing sevens highlights to his 450,000 followers on X and even advocated for hosting a new show.

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The Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 is coming to England. Click here to buy tickets.

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Comments

1 Comment
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Terry24 237 days ago

Rugby is an amazing sport. 7s is an excellent way to crack the US market. Amazing to watch and easy to play.

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Comments on RugbyPass

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JW 13 minutes ago
Kyren Taumoefolau All Blacks stance splits opinions on eligibility

MP are a NZ side through and through, NZ is even having to pay for it.

Yes they caved to public demand, I bet it accomplished a lot of internal goals. They could have left it to the other groups, but I’m of the belief that they weren’t showing the capability to make it work as being a good reason for NZR to jump in and do it. I think it’s actually funded 50/50 between NZR and WR though.

(when nothing was stopping a pi player playing for any side in Super Rugby)

Neither is that fact true. Only 3 non NZ players are allowed in each squad.


I see you also need to learn what the term poach means - take or acquire in an unfair or clandestine way. - Moana have more slots for non eligible players (and you have seen many return to an NZ franchise) so players are largely making their own choice without any outside coercion ala Julian Savea.

Not one of these Kiwis and Aussies would go live in the Islands to satisfy any criteria, and I’d say most of them have hardly ever set foot in the islands, outside of a holiday.

Another inaccurate statement. Take Mo’unga’s nephew Armstrong-Ravula, if he is not eligible via ancestry in a couple of generations time, he will be eligible because he plays his rugby there (even if he’s only their for rugby and not living there), that is a recent change made by World Rugby to better reflect examples like Fabian Holland and Fakatava.

It’s becoming the jump-ship/zero loyalty joke that international League is.

Look I understand you’re reason to cry and make an example at any opportunity, but you don’t really need to anymore, other recent changes made by WR are basically going to stop the Ireland situation, and time (perhaps no more than a decade) will fix the rest.

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JW 29 minutes ago
Kyren Taumoefolau All Blacks stance splits opinions on eligibility

Yes! Well, not so much both ways, more both ends. She is only thinking of players who give up one dream to pursue another, that is players coming towards the end/cross roads of their aspirations, but it is also perfectly fine for someone to do that at the beginning of their career too, yes.


Very good post.

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JW 33 minutes ago
Kyren Taumoefolau All Blacks stance splits opinions on eligibility

No. She’s saying it’s the reason she voted for it when she was in World Rugby, not why everyone else voted in favour.


You also seem to be mistaken that she was critizing Kyren for it. You are way off the mark other than suggesting it’s fine for Kyren to switch allegiance.


You also either don’t understand what the word poach means; take or acquire in an unfair or clandestine way. - or you’re not familiar with Kyren’s decision/circumstance.

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Taylor Jackson 1 hour ago
How Australian rugby can combine gourmet home cooking and the overseas 'takeaway'

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Nancy Strong 1 hour ago
Departing Quins boss Billy Millard in talks over huge Test job

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JWH 2 hours ago
'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

Not the ABs. Covered with Roigard, Ratima, and Hotham thank you very much

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J
JWH 2 hours ago
'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

Not NZR’s problem, its the FRU’s. They should’ve brought up that issue when scheduling matches and coordinating, not the other way around. Besides, it the Frenchies own fault at the end of the day.

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Head high tackle 2 hours ago
Rugby down under could have hit high gear with Anzac Tests

Sorry but all NZR was going to get from it was costs and a small profit. Having the match in Perth EVERY YEAR meant RA grabbed millions and NZR was left with nothing but weary players and no money.

Silly proposal by RA when its analysed.

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Head high tackle 2 hours ago
'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

And at world cups when the pressure comes on France fall apart. They constantly have blow-ups with their team mates and sometimes, like 2011, with their coaches, and then they lose. They dont tour together so dont handle world cups when locked as a team for 6 weeks. Do what you like France but 1/ you will never win a WC until you know how to tour for 6 weeks together and 2/ you are devaluing test rugby and making it easy for others to do it to you in the future. Just dont be all shocked and offended when it comes back at you.

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Head high tackle 2 hours ago
Rugby down under could have hit high gear with Anzac Tests

Yes I just love how the two articles Ive read about this so far talk about the great matches the NRL and AFL will have on “ANZAC” weekend so RA and NZR should have a test match. SR will have exactely the same thing as NRL and AFL EXCEPT….. It will be between actual Aus v NZ teams.

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SadersMan 2 hours ago
Rugby down under could have hit high gear with Anzac Tests

Yeah, nah. A test match in the middle of SRP is nuts. Cue, test players being given 4 or 5 SRP matches to prepare then recover from an ANZAC test. As we know, when star power leaves SR, the eyes switch off.


And comparisons with AFL & NRL ANZAC club fixtures are also silly. Neither code has international pull to contend with.

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A
AllenArias 2 hours ago
Departing Quins boss Billy Millard in talks over huge Test job

l Get paid over $110 per hour working from home. l never thought I'd be able to do it but my buddy makes over $22991 a m0nth doing this and she convinced me to try. The p0ssibility with this is endless....

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AllenArias 2 hours ago
Departing Quins boss Billy Millard in talks over huge Test job

I get paid over $130 1 to 3 hours working from home with 2 kids at home. I never thought I’d be able to do it but my best friend earns over $27k a month doing this and she convinced me to try. The potential with this is endless.

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SadersMan 3 hours ago
Sky Sports commentator on why Wallabies players are outplaying All Blacks counterparts

You’re confused.


A quick check of the Reds/Crusaders match statistics shows your first comment is nonsense. Hence I thought, either joking or sarcasm.


Then your 2nd comment jumps into the world of conspiracy theory. Despite HHT alluding to (admittedly somewhat clunky) the stupidity of Taylah using team variables (the draw) versus an individual match-up. Again I thought, joking or sarcasm?


Hardly rocket science mate.

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DS 3 hours ago
2025 Lions' selection: An idiot's guide

My Lions Coaches would be P.O’CONNELL -FORWARDS / LINEOUT ,J. FOGERTY - SCRUM/BREAKDOWN, J. NIENABER - DEFENCE, R. WRIGGLESWORTH - ATTACK,, N.JENKINS - KICKING - , S.LANCASTER - SKILLS[ knows A.Farrell very well and alot of England and Irish players who will be touring] My Lions SQUAD 41 PLAYERS STRONG 1] P.SCHOEMANN - E.GENGE - A.PORTER 2] D.SHEEHAN - R.KELLENHER - J.GEORGE - D.LAKE [4 HOOKERS] 3] W.STUART - Z.FAGERSON - T.FURLONG [If proves fitness and form Otherwise F.BEALHAM 4] M.ITOJE - D.JENKINS 5] T.BEIRNE - O.CHESSUM - G.MARTIN 6] T.CURRY - J.MORGON -J.RITCHIE 7] B.CURRY -B.EARL - R.DARGE 8] C.DORIS -J.CONAN 9] JGP - B.WHITE - A.MITCHELL 10] F.RUSSELL - M.SMITH - G.FORD 11] J.LOWE - D.V.D.MERWE 12] B.AKI - R.HENSHAW [If S.TUIPULUTO doesn’t prove his fitnss and form] 13] H.JONES - G.RINGROSE - T.JORDON [Utility 14] T.FREEMAN - D.GRAHAM - E.DALY [Utility] 15] H.KEENAN - B.KINGHORN

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SC 3 hours ago
'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

Fair point. Serin is very good as are the others CV lists at 9.


My point was that none are Dupont’s class or experience at this point in their careers.

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C
CV 3 hours ago
'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

Serin oozes class. He’d walk into any other test side. Then they also have Jauneau, Coly, Couilloud, Le Garrec… Six or so test level nines. At 10 they have Hastoy, Berdeu, Reus, Le Brun… At Toulouse they have 21 year old Valentin Delpy. He’s excellent too. The only position I see they have less depth in is tighthead prop. Haven’t been impressed with Colombe.

14 Go to comments
S
SC 3 hours ago
'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

Did Ireland beat the All Blacks after the 22 series?


Wasn’t it the Irish who were patting themselves on the back at the RWC after their pool victory over South Africa telling them they will see them again in the Finals overlooking their QF vs the All Blacks?


If you are going to lecture NZ on respect then don’t live in a glass house, Red.

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J
JW 3 hours ago
Kyren Taumoefolau All Blacks stance splits opinions on eligibility

I think he should need to go and permanently reside in Tonga

That’s ridiculous, aren’t both his parents Tongan? Thanks like saying Lomax shouldn’t have been allowed to be an All Black.

I don't see any benefit to NZ rugby

How is being able to select someone with the experience of going to a Rugby World Cup already not a huge benefit for the All Blacks?

Fiji is a viable rugby nation with it's sides talent overwhelmingly coming from Fiji, Tonga and Samoa should have to do the same

You need to give it the same amount of time then.


Again, you’re making no sense. It seems like you really are trying to make an example of the wrong situation because of the NH poaching problem. I suggest you listen to what I’m telling you and not just gloss over the facts to suite your argument.

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J
JW 3 hours ago
Five Aussie takes: Wallaby watch on wings, rocks and diamonds of Tahs attack

Not sure I agree with Josephs idea of resting players/using this game to freshen things up, it should have been a winnable one I would have thought. Maybe their lack of wins against NZ sides is really starting to grind on them down south and theyre going all out to win the tough games?


I thought Kalani was superb. Is he Wallaby capped/locked already and can NZR snaffle him lol Tate has been dropping a bit of form so perhaps another game out will do him good. I definitely feel like he’s still the type to run on short bursts of form (as apposed to the ‘permanent’ type) so saving the best for last could be a real angle if he was serious.


I think Kiss has improved on his approach from the first two season, or it at least took the team a while to adapt. Enjoy their play this year.

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