Overnight, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) released the official pools for the Men’s and Women’s Olympic Games sevens repechage events at the magnificent Hotel Hermitage of Monte Carlo. Due to host the Men’s tournament on 18-19 June at the Stade Lous II, these two events are the final opportunity for teams like Samoa, the Fijiana women’s team and new nations like Germany and China to join the leading sides in an attempt at the Olympic dream.
Serene Highnesses Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco were active participants in hand-picking the nations to publicize this exciting event, which had the full backing of the Olympic movement who are now inside 100 days countdown on the ‘Road to Rio’. The focus on Rugby Sevens as a new sport has brought increased recognition and significantly, members such as Monaco have hosted events and will in-fact host the Men’s tournament as the Women’s tournament will be staged on the green fields of Dublin.
Improved exposure and funding have vastly improved the competition, as eident in the recently completed Men’s series. Riveting matches with many unpredictable outcomes–such as Scotland beating the favourite South African side, to win the London Sevens held at Twickenham.
Outgoing World Rugby President Bertrand Lapasset was also present to show his regard for the Olympic movement, World Rugby and the developing nations who now hold a very special opportunity. “I would like to wish the 32 teams left in the process the very best of luck and look forward to two very compelling and intensely competitive events, in Monaco and Dublin.”
Lapasset has been a leading hand in the Olympic inclusion, as seen in the picture above (with Jonah Lomu on left) meeting dignitaries like his Highness Prince Albert, Government Ministers and World Sports bodies before the successful inclusion of the sport in 2009. A significant step in the process of acceptance back into the ‘Olympic Movement’ was achieved at a ceremony held in Cardiff in November 1994, when World Rugby was officially confirmed as a ‘Recognized’ International Federation of the IOC
Along with the former IRB Sevens World Series, the HSBC Sevens Series has taken the competition into markets where the games have ‘romanced’ sports fans in a strategy to grow the game and the culmination of that collected effort will be in August. The sport must use this position on the worlds stage to establish strong relationships in Africa, Asia and in growing regions like South Korea, India, Russia and China.
Pools announced for Olympic Games rugby sevens repechage events
MONACO SEVENS – MEN’S OLYMPIC GAMES REPECHAGE (18-19 JUNE) STADE LOUIS II
Pool A: Samoa, Zimbabwe, Tonga, Ireland
Pool B: Canada, Germany, Uruguay, Sri Lanka
Pool C: Russia, Chile, Morocco, Tunisia
Pool D: Hong Kong, Spain, Mexico, South Korea
DUBLIN SEVENS – WOMEN’S OLYMPIC GAMES REPECHAGE (25-26 JUNE) UCD BOWL
Pool A: Russia*, Samoa, Zimbabwe, Madagascar
Pool B: Spain*, Mexico, Venezuela, Tunisia
Pool C: Ireland*, China, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago
Pool D: Hong Kong, Argentina, Kazakhstan, Cook Islands
* Final rankings of Ireland, Russia and Spain confirmed after the conclusion of the HSBC World Rugby Women’sSevens Series in Clermont-Ferrand on 28-29 May.
Last Word On Sports resident Sevens contributor Jovilisi Waqa is also excited, as the chance for the likes of Samoa or Russia to advance in such a knockout tournament will be at the same intensity of the Olympic stage. All 32 teams (16 sides for both Men and Women) must now prepare to face the two day round robin and qualifying stages, to find the final and 12th participating side in the Olympics.
In earlier events and in 2014/2015 Sevens Series overall results, Men’s and Women’s teams had been awarded instant qualification and in events across the globe, further qualification tournaments scheduled from Oceania, America, Asia and Europe determined many nations places. Now they must go on to meet some of the leading teams, like Fiji, the 2015/2016 Men’s HSBC Sevens Series winners, The announcement yesterday will produce the final team to the fill the Games roster of teams [12 teams] who will compete at Rio de Janiero.
The eyes of the world are now on awaiting these two remaining seats at the Olympic table. The Olympic Games Sevens Repecharge will truly test some of the Tier Two and Tier Three developing nations, but that is the appeal and the built up enthusiasm from established Olympic nations and members; such as Prince Albert of Monaco, and his patriotism of the sport. New fans of Rugby will be global including host nation Brazil (see picture above)
Rugby Sevens at the Olympics – 6-11th August 2016
“Main photo credit”
