Pool A in the women’s event runs from 6-8 August at Deodoro Olympic Park, and features number-one seed and reigning HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series champions Australia, along with USA, Fiji and Colombia.
Spain, who beat Russia in the dramatic final of the recent repechage in Dublin, will realise their Olympic dream against New Zealand, France and Kenya in Pool B while the pick of the groups could well be Pool C, which includes the much-fancied Canada and Great Britain teams (where Wales’ Jasmine Joyce is hoping to be among the final 12 squad members selected) as well as home favourites Brazil and Japan.
In the men’s competition (9-11 August at the same venue), favourites Fiji have been drawn in Pool A with defending Olympic champions USA, as well as South American rivals Argentina and Brazil. Pool B is another tough group, which includes South Africa, Australia, France and Spain, while it doesn’t get any less competitive in Pool C as New Zealand will play Great Britain (where five Welsh players are currently vying for a final squad position), Kenya and Japan.
In both competitions, the top two teams from each pool, plus the two best third-placed sides, progress to the quarter-finals.
Women’s – 6-8 August (seeding in brackets)
Pool A: Australia (one), USA (six), Fiji (seven), Colombia (12)
Pool B: New Zealand (two), France (five), Spain (eight), Kenya (11)
Pool C: Canada (three), Great Britain (four), Brazil (nine), Japan (10)
Men’s – 9-11 August (seeding in brackets)
Pool A: Fiji (one), USA (six), Argentina (seven), Brazil (12)
Pool B: South Africa (two), Australia (five), France (eight), Spain (11)
Pool C: New Zealand (three), Great Britain (four), Kenya (nine), Japan (10)
