Monaco and Dublin to host Olympic rugby repechage qualification tournaments

Monaco's Stade Louis II will play host to the men's Olympic repechage qualification tournament ©Getty Images

Monaco’s Stade Louis II will play host to the men’s Olympic repechage qualification tournament and Dublin’s UCD Bowl will stage the women’s event, World Rugby announced today.

The 12th and final spot at Rio 2016 is available in both competitions.

The men’s event scheduled for June 18 and 19 before the women’s tournament follows the next week on June 25 and 26.

Both events will feature 16 teams, with the respective winners claiming the last available places at next year's Olympics, where rugby sevens will make its historic debut in the Games.

The Stade Louis II is home to French Ligue 1 football club AS Monaco, while University College Dublin's rugby and football teams play their home matches at the UCD Bowl.

Chile, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Hong Kong, Mexico, Morocco, Russia, Samoa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tonga, Tunisia, Uruguay and Zimbabwe will compete in the men’s event.

They will each be bidding to join the 11 already qualified nations, which include World Rugby Sevens Series champions Fiji, hosts Brazil, Argentina, Australia, Britain, France, Japan, Kenya, New Zealand and the United States.

"These are exciting times for rugby worldwide and after a record-breaking Rugby World Cup 2015, rugby sevens takes centre stage within its biggest and best year, culminating in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games,” World Rugby chairman Bernard Lapasset said.

“With the road to Rio having reached and inspired new audiences, we are delighted that Monaco will host some of the world's finest men's teams as they compete to claim a coveted final Olympic qualification place.

“I would like to thank Prince Albert of Monaco for his enthusiasm and determination to bring rugby sevens to an iconic stadium in a sporting city and we look forward to showcasing rugby sevens at its entertaining best.”

South Africa's women will compete at the Olympic Games pending approval from SASCOC ©World Rugby

Argentina, China, Cook Islands, Hong Kong, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Mexico, Portugal, Russia, Samoa, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Uruguay and Zimbabwe will participate in the women’s competition.

The teams will be aiming to book their place at Rio 2016, joining New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Colombia, France, Fiji, Japan and the United States.

South Africa won the women’s regional qualifier but are waiting to see whether the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee will allow them to compete.

The organisation prevented their hockey side from taking part at Rio 2016 as they booked their place through the regional qualification process rather than SASCOC’s preferred Hockey World League route.

Kenya’s women will step in if South Africa are not able to compete.

“There's a real excitement around Ireland hosting the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2017 and, following on from August's terrific qualifying tournament for the HSBC World Rugby Women's Series, the UCD Bowl in Dublin has proved to be an excellent venue where fans will be treated to some top class women's sevens next June, as teams battle it out for the final place at Rio 2016,” Lapasset added.

"These final repechage tournaments are the culmination of a long process that gives all our member unions the opportunity to participate and potentially qualify for the Olympic Games.

“This pathway reflects the universality and global nature of our sport."