Hong Kong to host Asian Sevens qualifiers for the Olympics

The Hong Kong Rugby Football Union (HKRFU) marked Olympic Day with the announcement of the Asia Rugby Sevens Qualifiers for the Olympics, which will take place at the Hong Kong Stadium, home of the world renowned Hong Kong Sevens, from 7-8 November.

The tournament will be the sole Olympic qualification event for Asia’s premier men’s teams and the first in a two-tournament qualification series for women, the second of which will be held in Tokyo, Japan from 28-29 November. Sri Lanka is expected to field two teams: one for men and the other for women.

The men’s Sevens winner in Hong Kong will claim Asia’s sole automatic slot amongst the 12 teams participating in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where Rugby Sevens will make its debut.

The team that have already qualified for the men’s competition are Fiji, New Zealand, South Africa, England, USA, Argentina and hosts Brazil.

The remaining five places will be awarded to the winners of regional qualifiers in Europe, Oceania, Africa and Asia as well as the winner of a 16-team international repechage tournament to be held later in the year. (SJ)