Only 12 Women’s teams will participate in the Rio Olympics in 2016. Brazil will automatically qualify as a host nation along with the top four teams from the Women’s Sevens World Series. If you’re counting with us, that leaves seven open spots…how will those be determined? Read on as we’ve supplied our Olympic rugby qualification guide below.

Qualified for 2016 Olympics at Rio:

Brazil – Olympic Host
New Zealand – London 7s
Australia – Amsterdam 7s
Canada – Amsterdam 7s
Great Britain – Amsterdam 7s
Columbia – South America 7s
United States – NACRA 7s
France – Europe 7s
South Africa – Africa 7s*
Kenya – Africa 7s*
Fiji – Oceania 7s
Japan – ARFU 7s
Spain – Olympic Repechage

*South Africa won the continental qualifier however their Olympic Committee’s has decided that they will not be allowed to participate. Kenya will now represent Africa at the Rio Olympics, with Tunisia, Zimbabwe and now Madagascar taking part in the repechage. For more, Scrumqueens has the full scoop.

Women’s Sevens World Series – 4 Teams

Mentioned above, but the top four teams from the Women’s Sevens World Series are in. It’s very likely that New Zealand will pass through this weekend as they lead the series with 80 points. The other  three spots are in flux as there are two remaining tournaments, London 7s and Amsterdam 7s. Canada & Australia have 58 and 56 points respectively. After that it gets a bit hairy as France, USA and England all have over 50 points as well.

2015 Regional Association Women’s Sevens Championships – 6 Teams

Teams that don’t get a coveted spot from the Series will need to win their respective 2015 Regional Association Women’s Sevens Championships. The tournament winner will attend Rio unless they’ve already qualified and then the runner up would take their place.

World Repechage – 1 Team

The last spot for the Olympics will go to the winner of a 16 team tournament made up of three teams from:

• Three teams from Africa
• Three teams from Asia
• Four teams from Europe
• Two teams from North America & the Caribbean
• Two teams from Oceania, and
• Two teams from South America

Each region will decide how the teams in their area will be selected. The tournament will be in Dublin, Ireland on June 25-26, 2016.

Host – 1 Team

Brazil holds the golden ticket!

Rio 2016 Tournament Details

• Rugby will be played over six days, from August 6th through 11th, 2016.
• The world’s top women will be the first rugby players to compete for an Olympic Games medal for 92 years, with 12 teams competing over three days before the men’s teams take their turn.
• Two group stage matches will take place on the first day of competition, followed by the final group stage match and first round of elimination play on day two. The medal round will then take place on the third day.
• Matches will be held at Deodoro Sports Complex (15,000 seat capacity).
• View the full Rio 2016 daily competition schedule here.