Ireland, France and Russia Claim Last Three Rugby Sevens Spots at Tokyo 2020

Ireland’s men and France and Russia’s women claimed the three remaining rugby sevens spots at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games following the World Rugby Sevens Repechage tournament, which concluded in Monaco on Sunday.

In a thrilling men’s final showcasing the very best of rugby sevens, Ireland’s Terry Kennedy opened the scoring early, but Ireland were required to recover from a 12-7 half-time deficit to secure their place at the Olympic Games for the first time. Jordan Conroy scored a pair of second-half tries, while Harry McNulty added a fourth that put the seal on a 28-19 victory.

“It’s just bizarre,” Ireland captain, Billy Dardis said. “You dream of doing something really special, and that’s playing rugby. It’s incredible what we’ve done just over a number of years. It’s absolutely incredible.”

Ireland’s Conroy finished as the men’s tournament’s top try scorer with 11 tries and was delighted at the prospect of becoming an Olympian. “It’s an absolute dream come true to beat France and go to the Olympics, you don’t get to call yourself an Olympian every day,” he said.

France’s women beat Hong Kong 51-0 to secure their return to the Olympic Games while Russia's women will make their Olympic debut in Japan next month after winning 38-0 against Kazakhstan.

The men’s Olympic competition will take place from 26-28 July, with the women’s tournament following on the 29-31 July, culminating in the gold medal match on ‘Super Saturday’. All the action will take place at Tokyo Stadium, the venue for the opening match of Rugby World Cup 2019.

Australia and Fiji are reigning women’s and men’s Olympic champions respectively following their victories in Rio.

Rugby pictures: Pictures from 2019 Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, Pictures from 2018 Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, Pictures from 2017 Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, Pictures from 2016 Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, Pictures of Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2015, Pictures of the Asia Rugby Sevens Olympic Games Qualifier in Hong Kong, Pictures of Singha Thailand Sevens 2015, Pictures from the 2013 British & Irish Lions Tour in Hong Kong, Pictures of Hong Kong Sevens 2014, Pictures of Hong Kong Sevens 2013, Pictures of Chartis Cup 2012 and Pictures of Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2012.

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