Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
The pools for the final Olympic qualifier events for the men and women have been drawn in Monaco, the location of the men’s repechage event on June 18-19. The women’s event will take place in Dublin the following weekend on June 25-26.
Four Americas sides will participate in each of the men’s and women’s draw. Only the winner of each tournament will be invited to take part in the inaugural Olympic 7s to take place in Rio de Janeiro.
On the men’s side Canada has landed a reasonably favorable draw in Pool B, with Germany, Uruguay, and Sri Lanka in their group. Chile are in Pool C with Russia, Morocco, and Tunisia. Mexico have Hong Kong, Spain, and South Korea alongside in Pool D. Tournament favorites Samoa head up the most challenging division on paper, with Zimbabwe, Tonga, and Ireland all together in Pool A.
With one stop on the HSBC Sevens Series still remaining for the women – in Clermont-Ferrand, France, on May 25-26 – three spots are to be confirmed pending their final Series rankings. Ireland, Russia, and Spain will be seeded according to their position on the table, with the rest of the teams pre-determined.
Two Americas sides will contest Pool B with Mexico and Venezuela lined up against Tunisia and the 2nd ranked entry. Pool C has Trinidad & Tobago with the 3rd ranked entry, China, and Portugal. Argentina rounds out the Americas hopes for the women with Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, and the Cook Islands in Pool D. The highest ranked Series entry will compete in Pool A along with Samoa, Zimbabwe, and Madagascar.
While knockout seeding has yet to be confirmed, the tournaments will follow the same format as regular HSBC Sevens Series events with 45 games taking place over the two days. The top two teams from each pool will progress to the Cup finals, with the winner of the Cup receiving the Olympic invitation. If the knockout stages use the identical pattern of this year’s Series, the Cup finals will be as follows: A1 vs D2, C1 vs B2, D1 vs A2, B1 vs C2; as seen below:
MEN – MONACO – JUNE 18-19
| POOL A | POOL B | POOL C | POOL D |
| Samoa | Canada | Russia | Hong Kong |
| Zimbabwe | Germany | Chile | Spain |
| Tonga | Uruguay | Morocco | Mexico |
| Ireland | Sri Lanka | Tunisia | South Korea |
WOMEN – DUBLIN – JUNE 25-26
| POOL A | POOL B | POOL C | POOL D |
| 1st seed* | 2nd seed* | 3rd seed* | Hong Kong |
| Samoa | Mexico | China | Argentina |
| Zimbabwe | Venezuela | Portugal | Kazakhstan |
| Madagascar | Tunisia | Trinidad & Tobago | Cook Islands |
*seeds to be determined by final HSBC Sevens Series rankings of Ireland, Russia, and Spain
