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

By Ben Smith
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.

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.

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.

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.