Billy Dardis

Billy Dardis is an Olympian, Professional Rugby 7’s Player for the Irish Rugby 7’s team, Senior Vice President, Operations, for TritonLake, a Private Equity Placement Agent, and an Executive Board Member for Rugby Players Ireland, the representative body for professional rugby players in Ireland.

Billy’s value of hard work stems from his childhood. After captaining Naas Rugby Club underage teams, Billy’s first taste of success was a rugby scholarship at the age of 11 to Newbridge College. He later captained Newbridge’s Junior Cup Rugby Team, further developing his ability to lead and perform. After moving to Terenure College, his friends nurtured his appreciation for success and effort on the pitch and in the classroom, celebrating every achievement whether that be academic or sporting.

Billy was rewarded with a Leinster Academy contract and pursued a degree in Health & Performance Science from UCD as an Ad Astra Elite Athlete Academy scholar. In 2017, Billy was asked to captain the Irish Rugby 7’s Team on the team’s quest for HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series status and qualification to the Olympic Games. Billy led the team to numerous European Championship titles, World Series qualification, two Rugby World Cups, winning Bronze in 2022, and the Tokyo Olympic Games, balanced with his masters in Management Consultancy from UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School.

During his time as a professional athlete, Billy has engaged with many charity campaigns focused on mental health and well-being – Tackle Your Feelings, associated with Rugby Players Ireland, and ISPCC Childline. Additionally, Billy is a proud ambassador for the ‘Dare to Believe’ initiative set up by the Olympic Federation of Ireland, visiting schools weekly to talk about his story and show the students how to play rugby. Billy’s well-rounded personality is further highlighted by his love of travel, food, and enjoying the company of close friends and family. He also supports his girlfriend – Laura, on her entrepreneurial ventures into the Gin Botanicals industry, acting as a soundboard for advice and expertise as Laura continues to make waves across the country and in foreign markets with her company – Drink Botanicals Ireland.