More than one South American nations will be represented beside Brazil at the Olympic Games. Rugby Sevens has returned to the event after a long absence. The Rio de Janiero games will allow developing nations to represent their people. One of those developing nations has announced their side is ready, as Colombia release their women’s rugby sevens Olympics squad this week.
Colombia release their women’s rugby sevens Olympic squad
Alejandra Betancur will captain the Las Tucanes side coached by Laurent Palau. His assistant will be men’s international José Manuel Diosa, with Solangie Delgado her vice-captain for the 6-8 August event. The tournament is being played at Deodoro Stadium.
Drawn in Pool A, one of the toughest. HSBC 2015/2016 champions Australia are hot favourites, while they must also meet the United States and Fiji teams. It will be a very tough group, and they must draw on prior experience.
Colombia made their HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series debut in Atlanta in April. They faced both Australia and Fiji in pool play. With that experience, Colombia have set their target of a top-nine finish in Rio. High hopes. A top nine position is realistic, if the girls pull together.
“Our main goal is to finish ninth and in doing so securing a core place in next season’s World Sevens Series.” Colombia assistant coach José Manuel Diosa is quoted as saying.
It all bodes well for the future. Andrés Gómez, the Federarción Colombiana de Rugby President, describing it as “a motor for the development and growth of women’s rugby in the country. We have had huge support from the Colombian Ministry of Sport. Support from government offices, the local Olympic Committee and, of course, World Rugby” Gómez told WorldRugby.org.
Road to Rio
The South American nation have a strong history in Football [Soccer]. Rugby is not as popular. One thing that does buoy the interest of spectators is the Olympic Games. The Colombian women have gained a good support base. Medellín, the country’s rugby hotbed, is where most players have been drawn from and is where most resources are invested in.
They secured a place in the women’s draw with their win at the South American Regional Qualifier in June 2015. That win over Argentina surprised many. It placed them on the ‘Road to Rio’ and the women hope to make their nation proud.
A standout in the World Rugby tournament was Nicole Avecedo (pictured). A member of the women’s XV’s team, Avecedo is a talented player with plenty of pace. She will compliment the other women, to work hard on defence first, followed by counter-attack and clever set piece.
One factor that will be to their advantage, is familiarity with the conditions. Already having played at the stadium, the South American girls will be one of the best acclimatized teams, so they may have good conditioning. Fans can be sure that over the entire 14 minutes, the Las Tucanes will give it their all–possibly as others are tiring or flustered at the humidity. A real secret-weapon, but it all comes down to the quality of their match-day squad. The
Colombia squad: Pool A
Alejandra Betancur (captain), Solangie Delgado, María Camila Lopera Valle, Katherinne Medina, Nicole Avecedo, Sharon Acevedo, Guadalupe López, Estefanía Ramírez, Isabel Cristina Romero Benítez, Laura González, Laura García, Ana Ramírez.
“Main photo credit”
