Tokyo 2020 picture becomes clearer after key qualifying weekend

Mon, Nov 11, 2019, 1:12 AM
Beth Newman
by Beth Newman
Kenya have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. Photo: World Rugby
Kenya have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. Photo: World Rugby

Australia's men's Sevens weren’t the only team to book their Tokyo 2020 ticket last weekend, as the Olympic picture becomes a little bit clearer.

The Aussies took out last weekend’s Oceania 7s title, beating Samoa in the final, to secure their Tokyo berth in one of the key regional qualifiers.

Fijiana took out the women’s section to secure their spot in the 2020 Olympics, before finishing second to Australia in the Oceania championship final.

Further afield, Kenya’s men took out the African qualifier, beating Uganda in the decider, to secure their regional qualifying spot in the Tokyo games.

Kenya coach Paul Feeney said s solid block of training had paid off in their qualifying tournament.

"The boys played very well. We had a plan of how we wanted to play in this tournament," he said.

"The players worked very hard throughout the competition. They trained for 11 weeks non-stop. 

“So, I am very proud of them. We will take a break, then prepare for the 2020 World Rugby Sevens Series."

China’s women also sorted their Tokyo qualification with a title in the Asia regional qualifier.

With the bulk of the qualification tournaments now run and done, there are just four spots left in the 2020 Games.

One of those will be finalised in the men’s Asian qualifiers on the weekend of November 23 and 24 while the rest of the hopefuls will compete for the final spots in next year’s global repechage in June.

The Tokyo 2020 Sevens competition kicks off on July 27 with the men’s tournament, followed by the women on on July 30.

QUALIFIED

MEN

Hosts

Japan

Sevens World Series

Fiji

USA

New Zealand 

South Africa

South America

Argentina

RAN qualifier

Canada

Europe

Great Britain

Oceania

Australia

Africa

Kenya

WOMEN

Hosts

Japan

World Series

New Zealand

USA

Canada

Australia

South America

Brazil

Europe

Great Britain

Africa

Kenya

Asia

China

Global Repechage

MEN

Uganda

ZImbabwe

France

Ireland

Jamaica 

Mexico

Samoa

Tonga

Brazil

Chile

WOMEN

Madagascar

Tunisia

Hong Kong

Kazakhstan

France

Russia

Jamaica

Mexico

PNG

Samoa

Argentina

Colombia

 

 

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