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Spain will send two rugby teams to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro after their women’s side replicated the success of their men’s team in Monaco with a terrific victory in Dublin on Sunday. Entering the tournament as one of the top contenders, there was little doubt who the top two sides were heading into the final with Russia the other dominant force throughout.
Where upsets marked the Monaco tournament, Dublin appeared more a formality as Spain made it through to the Cup final without conceding a single point in their opening five games. Russia nearly mirrored them step-for-step only to run into a confident but outmatched Ireland in the semi-final. Spain never really looked like losing the final, with a late score from the Russians drawing the game closer though it had already been won.
It is a monumental achievement for Spanish rugby and surely a watershed moment for a country who recently hosted the Top 14 final with a record attendance of nearly 100,000. Though their XV-a-side teams are not at the same level, it is hoped success in the shortened version can spur renewed interest and support for the game as a whole.
The Americas teams did not fare well in Dublin. Argentina were the only one of four entrants to record a win on Day One, but a resounding defeat at the hands of Kazakhstan showed that the Cup final was well beyond their ability. Mexico drew with Venezuela in the first match for the two, which was followed by two defeats. Trinidad & Tobago managed only one try in three matches in their pool fixtures.
Day Two saw both Trinidad & Tobago and Mexico eliminated in quick fashion, with Venezuela advancing to the Trophy semi finals only to lose to Hong Kong. Argentina were shut out by Russia in the Cup quarter finals but managed to defeat Tunisia before losing to China in the 5th place final.
All eyes now turn to Rio for the biggest showpiece event in the history of 7s. The women compete from August 6-8 while the men follow from August 9-11.
DAY ONE RESULTS
POOL A
Samoa 57 – 5 Zimbabwe
Russia 58 – 0 Madagascar
Samoa 22 – 10 Madagascar
Russia 59 – 0 Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe 17 – 19 Madagascar
Russia 47 – 0 Samoa
POOL B
Mexico 5 – 5 Venezuela
Spain 38 – 0 Tunisia
Mexico 0 – 22 Tunisia
Spain 45 – 0 Venezuela
Venezuela 10 – 17 Tunisia
Spain 38 – 0 Mexico
POOL C
China 24 – 5 Portugal
Ireland 51 – 0 Trinidad & Tobago
China 34 – 5 Trinidad & Tobago
Ireland 24 – 12 Portugal
Portugal 42 – 0 Trinidad & Tobago
Ireland 12 – 0 China
POOL D
Argentina 5 – 36 Kazakhstan
Hong Kong 12 – 12 Cook Islands
Argentina 17 – 12 Cook Islands
Hong Kong 12 – 21 Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan 12 – 5 Cook Islands
Hong Kong 15 – 17 Argentina
DAY TWO RESULTS
TROPHY QUARTER FINALS
Madagascar 0 – 7 Cook Islands
Portugal 29 – 0 Mexico
Hong Kong 20 – 0 Zimbabwe
Venezuela 17 – 0 Trinidad & Tobago
CUP QUARTER FINALS
Russia 34 – 0 Argentina
Ireland 38 – 0 Tunisia
Kazahkstan 26 – 0 Samoa
Spain 21 – 0 China
13th PLACE SEMI FINALS
Madagascar 10 – 0 Mexico
Zimbabwe 12 – 5 Trinidad & Tobago
TROPHY SEMI FINALS
Cook Islands 24 – 14 Portugal
Hong Kong 24 – 5 Venezuela
5th PLACE SEMI FINALS
Argentina 17 – 7 Tunisia
Samoa 5 – 28 China
CUP SEMI FINALS
Russia 19 – 10 Ireland
Kazahkstan 0 – 28 Spain
13th PLACE FINAL
Madagascar 22 – 12 Zimbabwe
TROPHY FINAL
Cook Islands 17 – 12 Hong Kong
5th PLACE FINAL
Argentina 0 – 33 China
BRONZE FINAL
Ireland 17 – 5 Kazakhstan
CUP FINAL
Russia 12 – 19 Spain
