Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
It’s hard to believe, but we’re now less than a month away from the first appearance of seven-a-side rugby at the Olympic Games, and the return of any kind of rugby after nearly a century’s absence. The full schedule for both the men’s and women’s competitions has now been released and can be seen below.
Interestingly each competing team will play a full set of games with all placings from 1 to 12 determined in knock-out fashion. All matches will take place at Deodoro Stadium, a temporary venue constructed specifically for the Olympics.
The women kick things off on Saturday, August 6 with their medals awarded on Monday, August 8, and the men kick off the very next day with their medals awarded on Thursday, August 11. Final selections for each team are set to be revealed in the coming days, with Canada to announce their women’s squad at 11:00am ET later today.
Kickoff times below are local Rio time.
WOMEN
The Americas teams will be on the field in four consecutive matches in the opening round, with hosts Brazil up first against Great Britain. Canada face Japan next, then USA and Fiji will dance, and finally Colombia will take on Australia. The second round features both head-to-head Americas matchups – Canada vs Brazil and USA vs Colombia.
Brazil finish the pool stages on Day 2 against Japan, and Canada follow with their biggest challenge in Great Britain. Colombia are next against Fiji, and the USA will draw a close to pool play with a tough match against HSBC Seven Series champions Australia.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 6
11:00 – POOL B – France vs Spain
11:30 – POOL B – New Zealand vs Kenya
12:00 – POOL C – Great Britain vs Brazil
12:30 – POOL C – Canada vs Japan
13:00 – POOL A – USA vs Fiji
13:30 – POOL A – Australia vs Colombia
16:00 – POOL B – France vs Kenya
16:30 – POOL B – New Zealand vs Spain
17:00 – POOL C – Great Britain vs Japan
17:30 – POOL C – Canada vs Brazil
18:00 – POOL A – USA vs Colombia
18:30 – POOL A – Australia vs Fiji
SUNDAY, AUGUST 7
11:00 – POOL B – Spain vs Kenya
11:30 – POOL B – New Zealand vs France
12:00 – POOL C – Brazil vs Japan
12:30 – POOL C – Canada vs Great Britain
13:00 – POOL A – Fiji vs Colombia
13:30 – POOL A – Australia vs USA
16:00 – 9th PLACE SF 1
16:30 – 9th PLACE SF 2
17:00 – MEDAL QF 1
17:30 – MEDAL QF 2
18:00 – MEDAL QF 3
18:30 – MEDAL QF 4
MONDAY, AUGUST 8
12:30 – 11th PLACE FINAL
13:00 – 9th PLACE FINAL
13:30 – 5th PLACE SF 1
14:00 – 5th PLACE SF 2
14:30 – MEDAL SF 1
15:00 – MEDAL SF 2
17:30 – 7th PLACE FINAL
18:00 – 5th PLACE FINAL
18:30 – BRONZE MEDAL FINAL
19:00 – GOLD MEDAL FINAL
MEN
Only three Americas representatives are in the men’s bracket. Medal hopes USA and Argentina will face each other in their first match, with hosts Brazil meeting HSBC Sevens Series champions Fiji in their tournament opener. A second all-Americas game will take place later as Brazil meet the USA, and Argentina end their first day against Fiji.
Argentina conclude their pool schedule with a game against Brazil, and the USA will face a significant obstacle in Fiji to bring a close to the men’s pool stages. With only 12 teams each and every match is of vital importance, though the avenue for two 3rd place teams to qualify for the medal finals provides a slight buffer should a team suffer a narrow defeat in the opening stages.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 9
11:00 – POOL B – Australia vs France
11:30 – POOL B – South Africa vs Spain
12:00 – POOL C – Great Britain vs Kenya
12:30 – POOL C – New Zealand vs Japan
13:00 – POOL A – USA vs Argentina
13:30 – POOL A – Fiji vs Brazil
16:00 – POOL B – Australia vs Spain
16:30 – POOL B – South Africa vs France
17:00 – POOL C – Great Britain vs Japan
17:30 – POOL C – New Zealand vs Kenya
18:00 – POOL A – USA vs Brazil
18:30 – POOL A – Fiji vs Argentina
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10
11:00 – POOL B – France vs Spain
11:30 – POOL B – South Africa vs Australia
12:00 – POOL C – Kenya vs Japan
12:30 – POOL C – New Zealand vs Great Britain
13:00 – POOL A – Argentina vs Brazil
13:30 – POOL A – Fiji vs USA
16:00 – 9th PLACE SF 1
16:30 – 9th PLACE SF 2
17:00 – MEDAL QF 1
17:30 – MEDAL QF 2
18:00 – MEDAL QF 3
18:30 – MEDAL QF 4
THURSDAY, AUGUST 11
12:30 – 11th PLACE FINAL
13:00 – 9th PLACE FINAL
13:30 – 5th PLACE SF 1
14:00 – 5th PLACE SF 2
14:30 – MEDAL SF 1
15:00 – MEDAL SF 2
17:30 – 7th PLACE FINAL
18:00 – 5th PLACE FINAL
18:30 – BRONZE MEDAL FINAL
19:00 – GOLD MEDAL FINAL
