Making sense of Europe’s World 7s decision day

When it comes to qualifying for the Women’s Sevens World Cup next year all most continental confederations have to do is just gather all their members into one place and have a tournament. However, in Europe this is not possible.

A record 34 European nations entered the World Cup this time round, all bar one competing for five vacant places in the 2013 tournament (Russia are the exception – as hosts they have already qualified). Over the past few weeks those 34 have been whittled down to just 16, and these teams will now play-off for those precious places at the end of the month.

The 16 countries in the tournament – which will also take place in Moscow (thus giving next year’s world cup organisers a chance of a dry run) – are (in seeding order):

1. England
2. Spain
3. Netherlands
4. France
5. Russia
6. Italy
7. Ukraine
8. Portugal
9. Germany
10. Sweden
11. Switzerland
12. Moldova
13. Wales
14. Ireland
15. Scotland
16. Croatia

To add an extra element of confusion, the top 12 teams are also competing for the European Championship, which will be awarded based on performances at two tournaments – Moscow, and last weekend’s event in Ameland, Netherlands. Wales, Ireland and Scotland have a low ranking as they have only returned to sevens this year, and therefore had no track record to justify a high place. They and Croatia qualified via two tournaments two weeks ago.

The sixteen teams have been drawn in four pools:

Essentially, the top five qualify – not including Russia (because they have already qualified and are taking part because this is also the continental championship). The top two teams from each pool will go to  the quarter-finals, with the winners of each quarter-final qualifying for the World Cup. The losing quarter-finalists will then play in the plate competition, the winner of which (and/or runner-up if Russia finish finish in the top five) will also go to Moscow.

To give a clearer idea about how this will work out in practice, a few “predictions”. Clearly the results will probably not go quite as detailed below (France and Scotland certainly have the ability to upset things!), but it is easier to understand the process if actual team names are used.

• England to win Pool A , probably with Portugal as runners-up
• Spain will also win Pool B. The runners-up spot to Ukraine or Scotland – probably Ukraine (just). Tough pool this one.
• Pool C should go to the Netherlands, based on experience, but with Ireland a very close second.
• Given home advantage Russia should just sneak Pool D, with Wales probably beating France for second (again, just). Another tough pool.

Given that the quarter-finals would be…

• England v Ukraine (we’ll say a win to England)
• Spain v Portugal (win to Spain)
• Netherlands v Wales (win to Netherlands)
• Russia v Ireland (win to Ireland)

The four winners would qualify for the World Cup, and play-off for the tournament title. The four losers will play in the Plate competition,and with it the final place in the World Cup. If the above results happened the Plate semi-finals would work like this…

• Ukraine v Portugal
• Wales v Russia

Ukraine would probably beat Portugal and make the plate final. If Russia beat Wales, then Ukraine would take the fifth qualifying place regardless of the result of the plate final. On the other hand, if Wales beat Russia then the fifth place would go to the winner of a plate final between Ukraine and Wales.

A guide to the qualification process elsewhere in the world can be found here.