11 Dec 2015

Sport: Final Olympic sevens qualifying dates confirmed

10:52 am on 11 December 2015

The final rugby sevens qualification tournaments for the Rio Olympics have been confirmed for June next year.

16 men's teams will compete in Monaco for the last remaining qualifying berth, including Pacific hopefuls Tonga and Samoa.

Tonga men's sevens coach Andy Katoa and his team debrief after losing the Oceania Championship final to Australia.

Tonga finished second at the Oceania Championships, to earn a chance at the final Olympic qualifier. Photo: RNZI / Vinnie Wylie

Meanwhile Samoa and Cook Islands will be among the 16 women's teams in Dublin vying for the 12th and final spot in the main draw.

The Fiji men's team have already qualified for Brazil after winning last season's World Series while the Fiji women sealed their place by winning last month's Oceania Championship.

The Samoa and Fiji women's sevens team huddle together following the Oceania Championships final.

The Manusina women's sevens team will be hoping to join their Fijian counterparts again at the Rio Olympics. Photo: RNZI / Vinnie Wylie