Pools announced for men’s rugby sevens Olympic repechage
Canada’s men’s rugby sevens team will have it’s final chance to qualify for Rio in Monaco over June 18-19.
The World Rugby Sevens Series has come to a close for the 2015/2016 season and now all eyes shift to the Olympic Games Global Repechage. The Canadian men finished out the season ranked 13th overall.
World Rugby has announced the four pools for the qualifying tournament, which guarantees to be one of the most intense of the year, as only the winning team will qualify for the final spot at the Rio 2016 Summer Games.
Canada, seeded in Pool B, will face Uruguay, Sri Lanka, and Germany on its first day of competition. Standings after the opening day will determine next opponent.
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Canada is the only team in Pool B that is a part of the core 15 teams involved in the World Rugby Sevens Series. The group of core teams is announced for each season, based on performance in the previous round. Each core team has a guaranteed place in all of that season’s stops on the world circuit.
Admir Cejvanovic carries the ball in a match against Argentina at Paris Sevens 2016 (Photo: Rugby Canada).
The repechage in Monaco will be a bit of a blast from the past for several Canadian veterans, as it has been a few years since they’ve faced each of these competitors.
Samoa, which finished 9th after the 2015/2016 series is seen as Canada’s toughest obstacle ahead of an Olympic berth, however here is a look at the match-ups Canada will face in its pool on day one…
Uruguay
Phil Mack pictured at London Sevens 2016 (Photo: Rugby Canada).
Uruguay currently sits 25th in the all-time standings. The Canadians last faced Uruguay on February 9, 2013, Las Vegas Sevens, shutting out Uruguay 36-0 in the pool round.
Sri Lanka
Canada during a match France at Paris Sevens 2016 (Photo: Rugby Canada).
Ranked 36th in the all-time table, Sri Lanka last faced Canada on the sevens series in 2008 when the circuit hit Hong Kong. The Canadians gave Sri Lanka no scoring opportunities in a 53-0 final.
Germany
Canada’s John Moonlight, from left to right, Adam Zaruba, Harry Jones, Nathan Hirayama and Sean White celebrate Hirayama’s conversion to defeat France at Canada Sevens in Vancouver on March 13, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Germany is currently ranked 39th in all-time standings, having last made an appearance on the sevens circuit in 2009. Canada was the last team to face Germany in that appearance, beating the German squad 26-24 to advance to the shield final on May 24, 2009.
Catch the action live on World Rugby.
