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England have qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. They did so today in both the Men’s and Women’s divisions yet England will not be involved in the Olympics, instead the team will be Great Britain.
With World Rugby not following the same national criteria as that of the IOC, the confusion means that England qualified for the Olympics and will play as Great Britain, a country comprised of the rugby unions of England, Scotland, and Wales as well as for Northern Ireland.
The Team Great Britain Rugby 7’s competitors in Tokyo 2020 are to therefore exclusively be comprised of English players in both the Men’s and Women’s events.
The Great Britain Women’s side became the seventh qualifier for Tokyo 2020 following Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and the USA.
Meanwhile the Men’s side secured the 8th spot as they followed hosts Japan in addition to participants Argentina, Canada, Fiji, New Zealand, South Africa, and the USA.
For the second placed sides at the European qualifiers this weekend the Olympic dream is not yet over. Russia’s Women and France’s Men will compete in the global repechage tournament in 2020 as will the third placed sides – France’s Women, and Ireland’s men.
Eliminated were the remaining sides which include Italy who fielded Juan Ignacio Brex. The former Argentine 7’s and Argentina XV player will now qualify to play test rugby for Italy via the Olympic loophole. He will thereby be able to play at RWC 2019 if selected.
Italy will not be involved in the global repechage qualifying tournament for Tokyo 2020. Those presently confirmed in the Women’s division are Argentina, Colombia, France, Jamaica, Mexico, and Russia; while the Men’s is now comprised of Brazil, Chile, France, Ireland, Jamaica, and Mexico.
The Men’s England side were 31-7 over hosts France in the Tokyo 2020 qualifying tournament final today in Colomiers.
They reached the final after beating Italy 35-0 in the Quarter Finals and Portugal 29-12 in the Semi Finals. This followed on from day one in which the English were also unchallenged as they defeated Germany 33-7, Georgia 24-7, and Lithuania 40-0.
The English Women were 19-0 winners over Russia in the Final. Their closest match was against Ireland were they were 17-7 winners.
MEN’S DAY TWO RESULTS
Quarter Final 1: France 28-0 Georgia
Quarter Final 2: Spain 5-14 Portugal
Quarter Final 3: England 35-0 Italy
Quarter Final 4: Ireland 21-0 Germany
Semi Final 1: France 19-12 Ireland
Semi Final 2: England 29-12 Portugal
Final: England 31-7 France
WOMEN’S DAY TWO RESULTS
Quarter Final 1: France 55-0 Romania
Quarter Final 2: Russia 44-0 Italy
Quarter Final 3: Spain 17-14 Poland
Quarter Final 4: England 17-7 Ireland
Semi Final 1: England 24-12 France
Semi Final 2: Russia 12-5 Spain
Final: England 19-0 Russia
