RWC Sevens: Qualifiers start in Uruguay
The first team to qualify for the Rugby World Cup (RWC) Sevens will be determined when hosts Uruguay battle it out with their South American counterparts Paraguay, Chile, Brazil, Peru, Colombia and Venezuela for top honours this weekend.
Argentina, although they have already qualified for the Dubai showpiece, will also send a team to this weekend's qualifying tournament.
The other eight teams that have already guaranteed places for RWC Sevens in Dubai include: Fiji, New Zealand, England, Australia, France, Scotland, South Africa (who all qualified for the quarter-finals in the 2005 edition of the tournament in Hong Kong) and Host Union the Arabian Gulf, while a further 15 places will be filled via the regional qualifier structures.
Three qualifiers will come from Africa, two from North America, one from South America, two from Asia, five from Europe and two from Oceania. This structure will guarantee the presence of some teams not regularly seen on the IRB Sevens World Series circuit.
RWC Sevens 2009 will be the first tournament to incorporate a women's competition and all 16 women's teams will be confirmed through the regional qualifier process. Two qualifiers for the women's section will come from Africa, two from North America, one from South America, three from Asia, six from Europe and two from Oceania.
"For the women's game the start of the regional qualifying process is an exciting development. In total 83 Unions will participate in tournaments held across all six regions highlighting Rugby Sevens's truly global appeal and the growing stature of the women's game," said IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset.
"These regional qualifying Tournaments are a very exciting prospect, kick-starting an important year for Rugby Sevens. Coupled with the popular IRB Sevens World Series, the Tournaments will ensure that an unprecedented amount of elite level Rugby Sevens is played over the next 12 months," added Lapasset.
Regional Qualifying tournaments:
June 14/15: European qualifier (women), Limoges
July 12/13: European qualifier (men), Hanover
October 26/27: North American qualifier (men and women), Bahamas
*Asian qualifier (men and women)
*African qualifier (men and women)
*Oceania qualifier (men and women)
*Dates TBC
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