The ‘Rugby 7’s’ Olympic qualification route for ‘Tokyo 2020’ was confirmed by the International Olympic Committee and World Rugby.
Twelve teams will battle it out for medals in both the men’s and women’s rugby 7’s competition which will be played from 27th July to 1st August, at the Tokyo Stadium.
Hosts Japan has secured automatic qualification as hosts of the main stage event. 11 places in both the men’s and women’s segment are left to be completed following the qualification process.
In similar fashion to Rio 2016, the top four finishers in the men’s and women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2019 will find themselves earning automatic qualification for the 2020 tournament.
In addition, six teams from the men’s and women’s World Rugby regional association, Olympic qualification tournaments will earn themselves a ticket to Tokyo.
These Regional association tournaments will take place from June to December 2019 in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania and South America.
The final remaining spot will be filled through the World Rugby Olympic Repechage tournament which will see 12 teams, including two highest ranked teams based on the 2019 regional qualification rankings from each region, will be invited to participate in these Olympic repechage tournaments.
This repechage tournament will take place at a time between the final regional qualification event and June 2020, with the overall winners of the men’s and women’s tournaments claiming the final ticket to Tokyo 2020.
Speaking to Asia Rugby, World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said: “Rugby sevens’ inclusion in the Olympic Games has had a profound effect on the growth of the sport at all levels. As we enter another Olympic qualifying cycle, teams have everything to play for.
“We are anticipating another thrilling HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and also expect the regional association qualification tournaments to be highly competitive.
“We look forward to following the fast-paced rugby sevens action across the season ahead, as teams come within touching distance of Tokyo 2020 and securing another chance of Olympic glory.”
Rugby 7’s at Tokyo 2020 will feature in the first week of the competition, as matches will be played across six days of two sessions per day from 27th July to 1st August.
Unlike in Rio 2016, the schedule has seen change; with the men’s competition set to be played over the first three days, and the women’s competition will be played over the final three days.
With the finals contests for medals, being played on an iconic ‘Super Saturday’.
Sevens was an instant hit following its impressive Olympic Games debut at Rio 2016, with the Australian women claiming gold at the first rugby competition of the games since the 1924 Games. The Fiji men claimed their nation’s first-ever Olympic medal, with an historic gold that captured hearts around the world.
Following the sport’s extremely successful introduction to the Olympics, a research was done recently by Nielsen research. Which estimated that the fan-base of rugby followers increased by more than 30 million, expanding its international reach with its emerging markets such as SA, China, India and Brazil showing substantial growth.
The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2019 begins with the first round of the women’s series in Colorado, USA, on 20th & 21st October.
While the 2019 Asia Rugby Sevens Series will act as qualification for Tokyo 2020, this year’s series (2018) got underway in Hong Kong with Japan winning both the men’s and women’s legs in round one.
The second leg of the series will take place in Korea on the 29th and 30th of September, followed by the final leg in Colombo, Sri Lanka on the 14th and 15th of October at the Racecourse International Stadium.
