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The Cayman Islands will play host to the Rugby Americas North Sevens this weekend, and the annual event has added importance this year. It will act as an Olympic Qualifying event but despite two divisions taking place within the competition, only one ticket to Tokyo will be granted.
A change in the qualifying route mid-stream saw the automatic spot for the women taken away after both Canada and the USA earned automatic spots on the HSBC Sevens Series. Bizarrely, though both New Zealand and Australia also qualified, the Oceanic qualifier retained its automatic spot.
It’s a disappointing decision from World Rugby, particularly given the timing, and means that the women will instead be playing for spots in the Repechage tournament. With six teams entered, the top two finishers will head to the last-gasp knock-out that will take place in 2020.
The field appears reasonably balanced with Mexico, runners-up to the USA in 2016, considered favorites but any other could emerge as a challenger. Trinidad & Tobago have been the next best side while both Jamaica and St. Lucia are showing potential.
For the men, however, the stakes remain high. The winner will advance directly to Tokyo with the second and third-placed teams handed spots in the Repechage. The USA earned automatic qualification via the World Series leaving eight tames to battle it out.
In this bracket there is an overwhelming favorite in Canada, the only remaining Sevens Series regulars. Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, and Mexico all feature some impressive athletes but it’s Jamaica who are seen as the likely runners-up.
Saturday’s pool stage kicks off at 10am local time, 8am PDT, 11am EDT. All matches will be streamed live by Rugby Americas North on YouTube and Facebook.
DAY ONE FIXTURES – WOMEN
10:00 local / 08:00 PDT / 11:00 EDT – Mexico vs St. Lucia
10:22 local / 08:22 PDT / 11:22 EDT – Trinidad & Tobago vs Bahamas
10:44 local / 08:44 PDT / 11:44 EDT – Jamaica vs Bermuda
12:34 local / 10:34 PDT / 13:34 EDT – St. Lucia vs Trinidad & Tobago
12:56 local / 10:56 PDT / 13:56 EDT – Mexico vs Bermuda
13:18 local / 11:18 PDT / 14:18 EDT – Jamaica vs Bahamas
15:30 local / 13:30 PDT / 16:30 EDT – Jamaica vs St. Lucia
15:52 local / 13:52 PDT / 16:52 EDT – Bahamas vs Bermuda
16:14 local / 14:14 PDT / 17:14 EDT – Mexico vs Trinidad & Tobago
DAY ONE FIXTURES – MEN
11:06 local / 09:06 PDT / 12:06 EDT – POOL A – Canada vs Barbados
11:28 local / 09:28 PDT / 12:28 EDT – POOL A – Bermuda vs Mexico
11:50 local / 09:50 PDT / 12:50 EDT – POOL B – Jamaica vs Cayman Islands
12:12 local / 10:12 PDT / 13:12 EDT – POOL B – Guyana vs Trinidad & Tobago
13:40 local / 11:40 PDT / 14:40 EDT – POOL A – Canada vs Mexico
14:02 local / 12:02 PDT / 15:02 EDT – POOL A – Bermuda vs Barbados
14:24 local / 12:24 PDT / 15:24 EDT – POOL B – Jamaica vs Trinidad & Tobago
14:46 local / 12:46 PDT / 15:46 EDT – POOL B – Guyana vs Cayman Islands
16:36 local / 14:36 PDT / 17:36 EDT – POOL A – Canada vs Bermuda
16:58 local / 14:58 PDT / 17:58 EDT – POOL A – Mexico vs Barbados
17:20 local / 15:20 PDT / 18:20 EDT – POOL B – Jamaica vs Guyana
17:42 local / 15:42 PDT / 18:42 EDT – POOL B – Trinidad & Tobago vs Cayman Islands
