International Selection Policy

General information

Qualification Criteria for FIE/EFC events

Having achieved a relevant result, fencers will be considered ‘qualified’ for the remainder of the current season. For ‘entry-level’ events (that is, for Cadet Circuit, Junior World Cup, U23 Series, and Satellite World Cup), fencers will also remain on the panel for the entirety of the following season.

In order to represent Ireland at any international event, fencers must:

Be a current member of Fencing Ireland with a competition licence, and
Hold a valid FIE licence issued by Fencing Ireland, and
Have attended the most recent Irish Open and/or National Championships.

Policies for over-subscription of places and allocation of vacant places are discussed in the appendices at the bottom of the page. All fencers are advised to contact their relevant weapon mentor for assistance with season planning and advice on improving their performance.

Please note that Fencing Ireland is only able to request an FIE licence for fencers in current possession of a valid Irish passport.

1. Senior events

a. Entry-level events: FIE Satellites and EFC U23 Circuit

b. Elite events: FIE World Cups and FIE Grand Prix

All fencers who meet one of the following criteria are invited to attend World Cups and Grand Prix:

reached the 3rd round of a Satellite (i.e. poules are considered the first round (regardless of how many rounds of poules), a fencer must then win a direct elimination bout or progress through the first round of direct eliminations via a bye), or
placed in the top 50% at an EFC U23 or Junior World Cup, or
reached the round of Direct Elimination at an FIE World Cup in the preceding season.

c. Major Championships: European and World Championships

d. Olympic Zonal Qualifier

2. Student and U23 events

a. Entry level: EFC U23 Circuit

b. Major championships: EFC U23 European Championships

c. Universiade

3. Junior events

a. Entry level: FIE Junior World Cups

All fencers who meet one of the following criteria are free to attend Junior World Cups:

ranked inside the top 15 of the national rankings at the date of application, or
placed in the top 50% at a nominated event, or
placed in the top 50% at a Cadet Circuit event in the current season, or
reached the round of Direct Elimination at a Junior World Cup or Cadet Circuit event in the preceding season.

Other fencers must apply to the Selectors for consideration.

b. Major Championships: Junior European and World Championships

4. Cadet events

a. Entry level: EFC Cadet Circuit

All fencers who meet one of the following criteria are free to attend Cadet Circuit events:

ranked inside the top 15 of the national rankings at the time of application, or
achieved a top-half finish at a nominated event, or
reached the round of Direct Elimination at a Cadet Circuit event in the preceding season, or
on recommendation of Youth Subcommittee based on youth results overseas.

Other fencers must apply to the Selectors for consideration.

b. Major Championships: Cadet European and World Championships

c. Youth Olympic Games

Appendices

Appendix I: Selection Procedure

The role of the Selection Subcommittee is to:

Continually assess the qualification criteria and recommend any adjustments to the Board.
Track and record competition results of Irish fencers on an ongoing basis.
Deal with all selection requests, either by
- approving requests in line with the published criteria, or
- referring to the Board and mentors for further consideration.

The Selectors will accept and consider competition plans during the summer pre-season. All fencers who have met the qualification criteria will be allocated places in order of priority (per Appendix II).

Applications received after the start of the season will also be considered on a rolling basis. Approval of late applications is subject to places remaining at the requested event/s. Fencers must give no less than four weeks’ notice of their intention to fence at an international event.

In exceptional circumstances, the Board may recommend selection of a fencer who has not qualified during the season, where the Board has reason to believe he/she would have qualified if not for illness/injury, alternative circuit commitments, or another reason outside the fencer’s control. In all such cases, the Board will publish its full rationale, including results on which the decision was based.

Appendix II: Allocation of limited places at senior FIE/EFC events

At senior events where there are more qualified fencers than available places, fencers will be prioritised based on the following criteria, according to their best result.

World Cup points, then
World Cup results: L64 < L96 < L128; pool victories; then
Satellite results: top 25% < top 50% < top 75%; then
U23 results: top 50% < top 75%; then
Domestic ranking at the date of application.

Examples include the Olympic Zonal Qualifier (one fencer per weapon) and FIE events where a referee is required (up to four fencers per weapon.)

Note:
For FIE events where there is a referee requirement, it is possible to send more than four fencers. In such cases, all applicants will be placed in priority order based on the scheme above, with automatic places offered to the top four. Athlete in subsequent positions will have the option to attend subject to ensuring the necessary refereeing fee is covered.

Appendix III: Allocation of remaining team places at FIE/EFC events

Appendix IV: Allocation of team places at Five Nations events

Places on the Ireland team for the Five Nations will be allocated in order of domestic ranking only. On publication of the end-of-season rankings after Nationals, the following season’s team will be named.

A fencer is deemed eligible if he/she meets all of the following criteria:

Is a current member of Fencing Ireland with a valid competition licence, and
Is eligible to hold Irish citizenship (for any reason), and
Has not represented any nation other than Ireland internationally during the
preceding season.

Places are offered to eligible fencers in descending order until all places and reserve places are filled.