Australia qualify for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Sun, Jun 16, 2019, 10:30 PM
Rugby Australia
by Rugby Australia
The Aussie women have qualified for Tokyo 2020. Photo: World Rugby
The Aussie women have qualified for Tokyo 2020. Photo: World Rugby

The Australian Women’s Sevens team have qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and have wrapped up the World Series for the 2018-2019 season.

Australia became the fourth team to automatically qualify, fending off a late charge by France to ensure their participation and join New Zealand, USA and Canada in Japan next year.

In a mixed final day for the Aussie 7s, Australia fell to Spain in the quarter finals (14-15) but defeated Russia (31-21) and France (24-10) to finish the last round of the Series in fifth place.

Australia finished the World Series in fourth position (86 points) ahead of France (70 points). New Zealand (110 points), USA (100 points) and Canada (94 points) took out the top three positions respectively.

Australian Women’s Sevens Head Coach John Manenti said: “It’s been a massive effort by the whole squad and staff across the Series to ensure our qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and I really want to congratulate everyone on the role they played to get us here.

“Whilst today didn’t go the way we wanted it too, this team has shown real character and grown since we started the Series in America last year.

“We have blooded some of the next generation of players and I am really excited about what this group can do and the potential we have over the coming seasons.

“I was also really impressed with the way our leaders really stood up, both on and off the park, with the standards they set and the battles through adversity and injury they faced.  

“This is just the beginning though. We know how hard the next year will be and the work we will have to put in to get the results we desire.

“We will be ready for that and every player and staff member is looking forward to adding to the next chapter in the history of the Aussie Women’s Sevens jersey.”

The Aussie Women’s Sevens will have a period of annual leave before returning for pre-season ahead of the 2019-2020 season.

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