Rugby sevens at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Men's qualification

Twelve teams qualified for men's rugby sevens at the 2020 Summer Olympics (postponed to 2021^[1] due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Japan automatically qualified as host, with the top four teams of the 2018–19 World Rugby Sevens Series securing their spots. Afterwards, qualification was determined with each of the six continental confederations determining a representative, and the remaining qualification spot determined through an international sevens tournament.^[2]

Table

Event	Dates	Location	Quotas	Qualifier
Host	—	—	1	Japan
2018–19 World Rugby Sevens Series	30 November 2018 – 2 June 2019	Various	4	Fiji
				United States
				New Zealand
				South Africa
2019 South American Qualifying Tournament	29–30 June 2019	Santiago	1	Argentina
2019 RAN Sevens	6–7 July 2019	George Town	1	Canada
2019 European Qualifying Tournament	13–14 July 2019	Colomiers	1	Great Britain[note 1]
2019 Oceania Sevens Championship	7–9 November 2019	Suva	1	Australia
2019 Africa Men's Sevens	8–9 November 2019	Johannesburg	1	Kenya
2019 Asian Qualifying Tournament	23–24 November 2019	Incheon	1	South Korea
2020 Final Olympic Qualification Tournament	19–20 June 2021[3]	Stade Louis II	1	Ireland
Total				12

1. Great Britain qualified for the Olympics through England's performance as England were the designated home nation that could earn Olympic qualification for Great Britain

2018–19 World Rugby Sevens Series

Main article: 2018–19 World Rugby Sevens Series

As a principal route for the tournament, four places were determined by performance in the series over ten tournaments.^[4]

2018–19 Core Teams
Pos	Event  Team	Dubai	Cape Town	Ham­ilton	Sydney	Las Vegas	Van­couver	Hong Kong	Singa­pore	London	Paris	Points total
1	Fiji	13	22	22	15	12	17	22	19	22	22	186
2	United States	19	19	19	19	22	15	17	15	17	15	177
3	New Zealand	22	15	17	22	17	13	12	12	13	19	162
4	South Africa	12	17	15	13	10	22	10	22	10	17	148
5	England [a]	17	13	8	17	13	12	10	17	2	5	114
6	Samoa	8	7	12	3	19	10	15	13	8	12	107
7	Australia	15	10	10	12	10	8	5	10	19	5	104
8	France	7	5	2	10	1	19	19	8	15	13	99
9	Argentina	10	8	5	8	15	10	13	10	5	10	94
10	Scotland [a]	10	10	13	1	8	5	8	7	7	3	72
11	Canada	5	5	10	5	3	7	1	5	10	8	59
12	Spain	5	12	5	10	7	3	3	2	1	1	49
13	Kenya	1	3	7	1	5	1	5	3	1	10	37
14	Wales [a]	3	2	1	5	2	5	2	5	5	1	31
15	Japan	2	1	1	7	1	2	7	1	3	2	27

• Notes:

1. By agreement between the three unions on the island of Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales), England, as highest finisher among those nations in the 2017–18 series, represented Great Britain in qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Sevens.^[5] The final make-up of the Great Britain men's team was determined by the British Olympic Association.

Africa

Main article: 2019 Africa Men's Sevens

Rugby Africa held the 2019 Africa Men's Sevens on 9–10 November 2019 in Johannesburg, South Africa,^[6] with 2018 regional tournaments serving as a qualifier for the final tournament.^[7] Title winners Kenya gained direct entry to the Olympic Games, while Uganda and Zimbabwe progressed to the final qualifying stage. South Africa had already qualified through a top 4 finish in the World Rugby Sevens Series.

Round 1 teams

•  Botswana
•  Ghana
•  Ivory Coast
•  Kenya
•  Madagascar
•  Mauritius
•  Morocco
•  Namibia
•  Nigeria
•  Senegal
•  Tunisia
•  Uganda
•  Zambia
•  Zimbabwe

Pool A

Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
Zimbabwe	3	3	0	0	81	19	+62	9
Madagascar	3	2	0	1	93	43	+50	7
Zambia	3	1	0	2	47	59	–12	5
Nigeria	3	0	0	3	19	119	–100	3

Pool B

Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
Kenya	3	3	0	0	107	7	+100	9
Uganda	3	2	0	1	94	53	+41	7
Namibia	3	1	0	2	55	87	–32	5
Senegal	3	0	0	3	31	140	–109	3

Knockout round

	Semi-finals				Final
	9 November – 13:00 – Bosman Stadium
	Zimbabwe	12
					9 November – Bosman Stadium
	Uganda	21
					Uganda	0
	9 November – 13:22 – Bosman Stadium
					Kenya	29
	Kenya	40
	Madagascar	14
					Third place
					9 November – Bosman Stadium
					Zimbabwe	24
					Madagascar	7

Asia

Main article: 2019 Asia Rugby Sevens Olympic Qualifying Tournament

Asia Rugby held a tournament on 23–24 November 2019 in Incheon, South Korea.^[8] The tournament winners South Korea gained direct entry to the Olympic Games, while Hong Kong and China progressed to the final qualifying stage. Japan had already qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics as host.

Pool A

Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
Hong Kong	2	2	0	0	108	0	+108	6
Malaysia	2	1	0	1	26	73	–47	4
Chinese Taipei	2	0	0	2	19	80	–61	2

Pool B

Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
China	2	2	0	0	59	27	+32	6
Philippines	2	1	0	1	36	38	–2	4
Singapore	2	0	0	2	24	54	–30	2

Pool C

Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
South Korea	2	2	0	0	63	7	+56	6
Sri Lanka	2	1	0	1	33	49	–16	4
Afghanistan	2	0	0	2	5	45	–40	2

Knockout round

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	24 November – 10:00 – Namdong Asiad Stadium
	South Korea	32
					24 November – 14:14 – Namdong Asiad Stadium
	Malaysia	7
					South Korea	12
	24 November – 10:22 – Namdong Asiad Stadium
					China	7
	China	50
									24 November – 17:30 – Namdong Asiad Stadium
	Singapore	5
									South Korea	12
	24 November – 10:44 – Namdong Asiad Stadium
									Hong Kong	7
	Sri Lanka	17
					24 November – 14:36 – Namdong Asiad Stadium
	Philippines	24
					Philippines	0
	24 November – 11:06 – Namdong Asiad Stadium
					Hong Kong	26			Third place
	Hong Kong	38
									24 November – 17:04 – Namdong Asiad Stadium
	Afghanistan	0
									China	19
									Philippines	14

Europe

Main article: 2019 Rugby Europe Sevens Olympic Qualifying Tournament

Rugby Europe held a tournament on 13–14 July 2019 in Colomiers, France.^[9]

Teams competing in the tournament included:

• The top nine placed Olympic teams in the 2019 Moscow Sevens, with England representing Great Britain for qualification purposes^[5]
• The 2019 Rugby Europe Sevens Trophy winner and runner-up
• The 2019 Rugby Europe Sevens Conference winner

England won the tournament, meaning that Great Britain qualified for the 2020 Olympics. The second and third placed teams, France and Ireland, qualified for the inter-continental tournament for the last available slot.

Pool A

Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
France	3	3	0	0	86	15	+71	9
Italy	3	2	0	1	63	46	+17	7
Portugal	3	1	0	2	64	29	+35	5
Hungary	3	0	0	3	0	123	–123	3

Pool B

Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
Spain	3	2	1	0	104	22	+82	8
Ireland	3	2	1	0	110	31	+79	8
Russia	3	1	0	2	54	106	–52	5
Ukraine	3	0	0	3	12	121	–109	3

Pool C

Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
England	3	3	0	0	97	14	+83	9
Germany	3	2	0	1	64	59	+5	7
Georgia	3	1	0	2	52	57	–5	5
Lithuania	3	0	0	3	19	102	–83	3

Knockout stage

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	14 July – 11:00 – Stade Michel Bendichou
	France	28
					14 July – 14:59 – Stade Michel Bendichou
	Georgia	0
					France	19
	14 July – 12:06 – Stade Michel Bendichou
					Ireland	12
	Ireland	21
									14 July – 18:11 – Stade Michel Bendichou
	Germany	0
									France	7
	14 July – 11:22 – Stade Michel Bendichou
									England	31
	Spain	5
					14 July – 15:21 – Stade Michel Bendichou
	Portugal	14
					Portugal	12
	14 July – 11:44 – Stade Michel Bendichou
					England	29			Third place
	England	35
									14 July – 17:46 – Stade Michel Bendichou
	Italy	0
									Ireland	26
									Portugal	10

North America

Main article: 2019 RAN Sevens

Rugby Americas North held the 2019 RAN Sevens on 6–7 July 2019 at George Town, Cayman Islands.^[10] Canada won the tournament and gained direct entry to the Olympics. The second and third placed teams, Jamaica and Mexico, progressed to the final qualifying stage to play for the last available slot. The United States qualified through a top 4 finish in the World Rugby Sevens Series.

Pool A

Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
Canada	3	3	0	0	151	5	+146	9
Mexico	3	2	0	1	60	61	–1	6
Bermuda	3	1	0	2	17	101	–84	3
Barbados	3	0	0	3	27	88	–61	0

Pool B

Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
Jamaica	3	3	0	0	111	12	+99	9
Trinidad and Tobago	3	2	0	1	43	39	+4	6
Cayman Islands	3	1	0	2	24	78	–54	3
Guyana	3	0	0	3	26	75	–49	0

Knockout stage

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	7 July – 9:30 – Truman Bodden Sports Complex
	Canada	47
					7 July – 12:48 – Truman Bodden Sports Complex
	Guyana	5
					Canada	55
	7 July – 9:52 – Truman Bodden Sports Complex
					Bermuda	0
	Trinidad and Tobago	5
									7 July – 16:30 – Truman Bodden Sports Complex
	Bermuda	7
									Canada	40
	7 July – 10:14 – Truman Bodden Sports Complex
									Jamaica	5
	Mexico	12
					7 July – 13:10 – Truman Bodden Sports Complex
	Cayman Islands	7
					Mexico	7
	7 July – 10:36 – Truman Bodden Sports Complex
					Jamaica	24			Third place
	Jamaica	24
									7 July – 17:14 – Truman Bodden Sports Complex
	Barbados	10
									Bermuda	0
									Mexico	50

Oceania

Main article: 2019 Oceania Sevens Championship

Oceania Rugby held the 2019 Oceania Sevens Championship on 7–9 November 2019 at Suva, Fiji.^[11] The tournament included Japan as an invited team. Australia won the Oceania title and gained direct entry to the Olympics. As the next highest placing eligible teams not already qualified, Samoa and Tonga progressed to the final qualifying stage to play for the last available slot. Fiji and New Zealand had previously qualified through a top 4 finish in the World Rugby Sevens Series.

Pool A

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Fiji	4	4	0	0	175	15	+160	12	Advance to title playoffs
2	Japan	4	3	0	1	98	45	+53	10	Advance to title playoffs
3	New Zealand	4	2	0	2	124	38	+86	8	Middle classification
4	New Caledonia	4	1	0	3	17	180	–163	6	Lower classification
5	Niue	4	0	0	4	7	143	–136	4	Fifteenth place

Pool B

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Samoa	4	4	0	0	156	7	+149	12	Advance to title playoffs
2	Papua New Guinea	4	3	0	1	77	50	+27	10	Fifth place match
3	Solomon Islands	4	2	0	2	45	88	–43	8	Middle classification
4	Cook Islands	4	1	0	3	50	88	–38	6	Middle classification
5	Tuvalu	4	0	0	4	24	119	–95	4	Lower classification

Pool C

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Australia	4	4	0	0	201	7	+194	12	Advance to title playoffs
2	Tonga	4	3	0	1	97	44	+53	10	Fifth place match
3	American Samoa	4	2	0	2	41	116	–75	8	Middle classification
4	Vanuatu	4	1	0	3	43	119	–76	6	Lower classification
5	Nauru	4	0	0	4	33	129	–96	4	Lower classification

Title playoffs

	International playoff				Oceania final
	9 November 2019 – 16.14 – ANZ Stadium
	A1  Fiji	33
					9 November 2019 – 19.50 – ANZ Stadium      Fiji 7      Australia 22
	A2  Japan	0
	Olympic qualifier 9 November 2019 – 16.36 – ANZ Stadium
	B1  Samoa	12
					Third place
	C1  Australia	19
					9 November 2019 – 18.57 – ANZ Stadium
					Japan	26
					Samoa	21

Fifth place match

	9 November 2019 – 17.20 – ANZ Stadium
	Papua New Guinea	0
	Tonga	31

South America

Main article: 2019 Sudamérica Rugby Sevens Olympic Qualifying Tournament

Sudamérica Rugby held a tournament on 29–30 June 2019 in Santiago, Chile.^[12] The tournament winners Argentina gained direct entry to the Olympic Games, while Brazil and Chile progressed to the final qualifying stage.

Pool A

Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
Argentina	4	4	0	0	184	5	+179	12
Paraguay	4	3	0	1	74	64	+10	10
Colombia	4	2	0	2	80	26	+54	8
Peru	4	1	0	3	47	130	–83	6
Guatemala	4	0	0	4	29	146	–117	4

Pool B

Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
Brazil	4	4	0	0	148	22	+126	12
Chile	4	3	0	1	146	19	+127	10
Uruguay	4	2	0	2	106	61	+45	8
Costa Rica	4	1	0	3	24	180	–156	6
Venezuela	4	0	0	4	26	168	–142	4

Knockout stage

	Semi-finals				Final
	30 June 2019 – 15:48 – Old Grangonian Club
	Argentina	35
					30 June 2019 – 19:04 – Old Grangonian Club
	Chile	0
					Argentina	26
	30 June 2019 – 16:10 – Old Grangonian Club
					Brazil	0
	Brazil	14
	Paraguay	12
					Third place
					30 June 2019 – 18:42 – Old Grangonian Club
					Chile	43
					Paraguay	0

Final Olympic qualification event

Main article: 2020 Men's Rugby Sevens Final Olympic Qualification Tournament

A 12-team repechage tournament was scheduled to be held from 20 to 21 June 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Two runners-up from each of the six continental qualification tournaments played, with the winner — Ireland — advancing to the Olympic tournament.^[13]

Continent	Qualifiers
Africa	Uganda
	Zimbabwe
Asia	China
	Hong Kong
Europe	France
	Ireland
North America	Jamaica
	Mexico
Oceania	Samoa
	Tonga
South America	Brazil
	Chile
Total	12

See also

• Rugby sevens at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Women's qualification

References

1. "Joint Statement from the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee". IOC. 24 March 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
2. "World Rugby and IOC confirm rugby sevens qualification process for Tokyo 2020". insidethegames.biz. 19 September 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
3. world.rugby. "Olympic repechage | World Rugby". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
4. "Schedule confirmed for HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2019". World Rugby. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
5. "Sevens Olympic pathway confirmed for 2020". England Rugby. 17 September 2018. Archived from the original on 12 October 2018.
6. "Nigeria Rugby Sevens to play in 2020 Olympic qualifiers". Rugby Africa. 30 April 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
7. "Regional Sevens 2018". Rugby Africa. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
8. "2020 도쿄 올림픽 남자 럭비 아시아 지역예선(7인제) 한국 개최 안내" (in Korean). Korea Rugby Union. 10 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
9. "Rugby Europe Competitions Calendar 2018/2019" (PDF). Rugby Europe. 28 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
10. "Cayman Islands and Barbados to play host to 2019 RAN Competitions". Rugby Americas North. 13 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
11. "Rugby sevens regional qualifiers confirmed for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games". Oceania Rugby. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
12. "El Camino Olímpico Tiene Fechas" (in Spanish). Sudamérica Rugby. 1 April 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
13. "Olympic preparations for sevens teams up in the air". Rugby World. Retrieved 1 August 2020.