Fiji, South Africa, New Zealand and Great Britain are the first four teams to qualify for the Olympics in the history of rugby sevens.Top of the table at the end of this Sunday’s Sevens World Series (2014/15), these teams have been confirmed as the first through to the Games, after the sport’s 92-year absence from the Olympics. Rio 2016 will also be the first time the seven-a-side version of the sport will be played at the Games.
Fiji, the tournament champion, may have little Olympic experience, but the return of rugby to the Games was an inspiration for the country in its attempt to change this story. One of the world’s dominant forces in rugby sevens, the Fijian selection always lands one of the top spots in the World Series. The island nation won the World Cup rugby sevens in 2005, and came third in the last tournament in 2013. Could this be the chance they were waiting for to win the country’s first Olympic medal?
"We have made it to Rio,” the Fijian captain, Osea Kolinisau, said. “It has been a long, tough road and there are plenty of top teams in the Series but we have worked hard towards it. The boys are very proud of making it to Rio and it means a lot to Fiji as a whole because it is the first time a team will go to the Olympics with a chance of a medal. It is a dream come true to be an Olympian.”
Fijian captain Osea Kolinisau scoring yet another try (Photo: Chris McGratch/Getty Images)
Other rugby powerhouses reasserted their dominance of the sport and booked their spots at the Rio 2016 Games. Following a decision taken ahead of the tournament, England represented Great Britain during the World Series and, finishing in fourth place, the hosts of the last Olympic Games qualified for Rio 2016. South Africa, World Series champion in 2008/2009, also confirmed its participation in the Olympics.
The powerful New Zealand team, led by DJ Forbes, has won 12 of the last 16 World Series. This time however it came in third, its worst-ever position in the tournament. However, it was still enough to ensure the side will travel to Rio.
"The World Series was important but qualification for the Olympics was the goal," Sir Gordon Tietjens , the New Zealand coach, said. "We knew it wasn't going to be easy to finish in that top four so to know we're there is really pleasing and you can start seeing yourself going to Rio now."
The haka is coming to Rio: New Zealand’s traditional pre-match battle cry will feature at the Olympic Games (Photo: Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)
The rugby sevens Olympic tournament will bring together 12 countries. Six classifying championships will take place in the second half of 2015 – all six champions will qualify. The one remaining spot will be filled by the champion of the Olympic world qualifying tournament, which will take place in 2016. Brazil, as host, is guaranteed a spot.
For the women’s event, the qualifying system for the Olympics is the same. Next weekend (23-24 May), is the final stage of the World Series, and will determine the first four teams to qualify.
Rio2016.com is not an absolute authority on qualification for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which is an ongoing process. Final places will only be confirmed in July 2016 (for the Olympic Games) and August 2016 (for the Paralympic Games). The qualification systems are defined by each sport’s respective International Federation and the International Olympic Committee or International Paralympic Committee, and are subject to change. When an athlete or team wins a quota place for their nation, the final decision on whether this ‘slot’ is used and which athletes are sent is taken by the respective National Olympic Committee or National Paralympic Committee (NOC or NPC). Even when athletes win a ‘nominal’ place for themselves, NOCs/NPCs may have to decide who to send if the number of qualified athletes from one country exceeds the quota.
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