Rugby sevens at the 2016 Summer Olympics: Difference between revisions

As a result of Great Britain competing as one union in the Olympics and as several in international rugby (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Irish players that choose to play for the Irish Rugby Union), should one of either the England, Wales or Scotland teams qualify then Great Britain will be awarded a spot in the Olympic Games. These three British unions agreed in advance of the 2013–14 [[2013–14 IRB Sevens World Series|men's]] and [[2013–14 IRB Women's Sevens World Series|women's]] Sevens World Series that their highest-finishing teams in that season would represent all three unions in the first stage of qualification in both 2014–15 series. The England [[England national rugby sevens team|men's]] and [[England women's national rugby union team (sevens)|women's]] teams earned the right to represent the British unions in that stage of their respective competitions.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.irbsevens.com/archive/tcode=1280/season=2013/news/newsid=2071465.html#england+nominated+qualify+gb+olympics |title=England nominated to qualify GB for Olympics |publisher=[[World Rugby|International Rugby Board]] |date=11 July 2014 |accessdate=13 July 2014}}</ref> The unions will then decide the composition of the Great Britain team. Players based in Northern Ireland are part of the [[Irish Rugby Football Union]] and the IRFU demanded that Northern Irish players, that have committed to play for the Irish rugby union, only play for Ireland despite being eligible under IOC rules to compete for Great Britain.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140222180047/http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/mediazone/pressrelease/newsid%3D2070257.html ]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120424195138/http://www.irb.com/mm/document/aboutirb/irborganisation/02/06/18/19/120327ljrugbysevensplanfinal.pdf ]</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Mackay|first1=Duncan|title=Rio 2016 qualifying system for rugby sevens revealed|url=http://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1013475/rio-2016-qualifying-system-for-rugby-sevens-revealed|website=Inside the Games|accessdate=20 April 2016|date=23 March 2013}}</ref>

 

 

=== Men's tournament ===

This structure led to some minor issues regarding participation of a Great Britain team in the qualifying stages of the 2016 Games. Due to a tradition of cooperation between the governing bodies of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland—especially during the quadrennial tours of the Southern Hemisphere by the unified [[British and Irish Lions]] 15-a-side team—these were far less contentious than in football; as early as 2011, World Rugby (then known as the International Rugby Board) endorsed the concept of a united Great Britain team for the 2016 Games.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/12982888.stm |title=International Board backs British Olympic sevens team |work=BBC Sport |date=6 April 2011 |accessdate=17 August 2012}}</ref>

 

 

As is the case with [[olympic boxing]], rugby in Ireland is organised on an all-island basis. This means that Northern Irish players who have chosen to represent Ireland in rugby, despite the fact that they are residents of the UK, must play for the IRFU and thus must compete for Ireland. Northern Irish players who have qualified to play international rugby for the other home nations could still play for Great Britain.

 

===Brazil===

 

==See also==