WORLD RUGBY HAS announced that Dublin will host the Women’s Sevens Olympic Repechage Tournament next summer, while Monaco will stage the Men’s qualifier.
UCD will be the venue for the tournament which runs between 25-26 June 2016.
With just one qualifying berth up for grabs, competition will be fierce as Ireland vie with 16 other teams for the final place in Rio.
Home advantage could be crucial as Uruguay, Argentina, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Russia, Spain, Portugal, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Samoa, Cook Islands, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong and China arrive in town for the two-day event.
The Belfield Bowl previously played host to the Sevens Series Qualifying Tournament last August and today’s announcement is another boost for the women’s game in Ireland.
The Irish Rugby Football Union has already been awarded the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup and this will be another opportunity to show its propensity to stage an international tournament.
“We are delighted with today’s announcement that Ireland is going to host the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Olympic Repechage Tournament with the support of Sport Ireland,” David Nucifora, Irish Rugby High Performance Director, said.
“Having successfully hosted the recent World Rugby Women’s Sevens Qualifying Tournament in August, it a fantastic opportunity to bring world class Sevens back to Ireland and UCD.
“This gives us another great opportunity to showcase Women’s sevens in Ireland and with a place in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio up for grabs, it is an extremely important tournament for all the teams involved.”
Meanwhile, the men’s team will be in France a week earlier to compete for a spot at the Olympics. The Stade Louis II, home of Monaco football club, will be the setting for the make-or-break tournament.
The Olympic Sevens tournament takes place between 9-11 August.
