Twenty-one teams have gathered for the World Rugby Sevens Repechage in Monaco this weekend to determine which of the two women’s teams and one men’s team will complete the line-up for the rugby sevens competition in Tokyo next month.
Oceania will be represented by four sides, Samoa and Tonga in the men’s and Papua New Guinea and Samoa in the women’s competition.
This is the last opportunity for our teams to join Australia, Fiji and New Zealand in Tokyo, but with limited spots and fierce competition, every minute will count.
Men
Nine teams were drawn into two pools, with prior performances determining seeding. The top two teams from each pool will progress to the knockout stages, with the last team standing earning their ticket to Tokyo.
Samoa
Earned their spot in Monaco after being the second highest non-qualified team at the 2019 Oceania Sevens.
As one of three World Series core teams competing, Samoa is considered one the favourites, especially after finishing the 2018/19 season sixth overall. But with disappointing results last season, and the meteoric rise of Ireland, many predict the final spot will be decided between the Irish and the French.
Drawn alongside Ireland, Tonga, Zimbabwe and Mexico in Pool A, Samoa has an excellent chance of progressing through to the knockout stage.
Their toughest challenge will be against the Irish, who boast a prolific scorer in Jordan Conroy, who led the series last year with 30 tries.
And of course, their match-up with their Pacific neighbour will always be worth watching, especially as Tonga’s selection decision has created a lot of unknowns.
Coach Brian Lima decided to select a squad filled with local players, and the unavailability of four key players from last season, leaves Belgium Tuatagaloa to shoulder a heavier load. Samoa will be relying on the veteran’s experience, having twice won the World Series with the All Blacks Sevens.
The goal will be to finish on top of the pool, which will allow them to avoid France on the cross-over, setting up an easier match-up, potentially against Hong Kong. If they make the final, it will be the second time, having lost a spot at Rio to Spain five years ago.
Matches:
AEST NZST SST
v Mexico 19 June 17:28 19:28 20:28
v Tonga 19 June 20:34 22:34 23:34
v Zimbabwe 19 June 01:39 03:39 04:39
v Ireland 20 June 21:17 23:17 00:17
Squad:
Vaovasa Afa, Vaa Apelu Maliko, Uaina Sione, Levi Milford, David Tavita, Paul Scanlan, Melani Matavao, Steve Rimoni, Faafoi Falaniko, Paul Eti Slater, Bright Tapeneko, Belgium Tuatagaloa
Tonga
Earned their spot in Monaco after being the third highest non-qualified team at the 2019 Oceania Sevens.
With the decision to fill their squad with European based players, nobody is quite sure what to expect from 'Ikale Tahi.
While everyone is talking about Samoa and Ireland, and which one will top the pool, Tonga has amassed an impressive team full of internationally capped players and champions.
However, the one player everyone is talking about is former All Black, Malakai Fekitoa. The World Cup and Super Rugby champion has switched allegiance to his birth nation and will be joined by his brother Saia, and uncle, Alaska Taufa, in the team.
The squad also boasts former Wallaby Lopeti Timani, who declared his intentions to play for his homeland the same week his brother Sitaleki was recalled to the Wallabies after nearly a decade.
There is plenty of experience in the team, with Premiership, Pro14 and Top14 players, but there is also a handful who have played on the World Series, including Afusipa Taumoepeau who debuted at the 2008 London Sevens for Australia.
Also, being in Pool A, Tonga’s talent should still easily account for minnows Mexico and Zimbabwe. We will have to wait and see what they can do against the Irish and Samoa, but it will definitely be worth watching.
Whatever happens this weekend for Tonga, at least an All Black and Wallaby now bleed red.
Matches:
AEST NZST TST
v Samoa 19 June 20:34 22:34 23:34
v Ireland 19 June 23:24 01:24 02:24
v Mexico 19 June 02:01 04:01 05:01
v Zimbabwe 20 June 20:55 22:55 23:55
Squad:
Fotu Lokotui, Roy Lolesio, Atunaisa Manu, Vaea Vahea, Malakai Fekitoa, Afusipa Taumoepeau, David Halaifonua, Alaska Taufa, Daniel Kilioni, Lopeti Timani, Jack Ram, Saia Fekitoa
Women
Twelve teams were drawn into three pools of four teams. The top two teams in each pool, as well as the two highest ranked third-place teams will qualify for the knockout stage.
The teams will then be seeded, based on their finish in the pool, and split into two qualifying groups. Each group will consist of a two-round knockout, with both winners earning a spot in Tokyo.
Papua New Guinea
Earned their spot in Monaco after being the second highest non-qualified team at the 2019 Oceania Sevens.
As the fourth best team in Oceania, the opportunities to play on the big stage is often limited, but the Palais make the most of their chances, and are the third highest ranked team at the tournament.
Drawn in Pool B with Kazakhstan, Jamaica and Tunisia, PNG is favourite to progress through the group into the knockout phase, as none of their opponents won their continental competitions.
Even though Papua New Guinea finished fourth at the 2019 Oceania Sevens, their competition was against three of the world’s best teams.
This doesn’t mean the Palais can take it easy. Knockout seeding means everything in this tournament, so every point will count. If Papua New Guinea can be seeded number one, they can potentially avoid Russia and France, making their quest to become PNG’s first team to qualify for the Olympics one step closer.
“It's a really big thing for us, not only for female team sport, but for the country as a whole,” captain Kymlie Rapilla told World Rugby.
Papua New Guinea is in a great position to qualify, and having your coach be the son of Gordon Tietjens certainly can’t hurt.
Matches:
PGT/AEST NZST
v Tunisia 19 June 22:08 00:08
v Jamaica 19 June 03:09 05:09
v Kazakhstan 20 June 19:47 21:47
Squad:
Kymlie Rapilla, Fatima Rama, Helen Abau, Geua Larry, Esther Gigimat, Lynette Aua, Gwen Pokana, Chelsea Garesa, Alice Alois, Cathy Puro, Taiva Lavai
Samoa
Earned their spot in Monaco after being the third highest non-qualified team at the 2019 Oceania Sevens.
With limited international experience, Samoa faces a difficult task of qualifying for Tokyo. The team’s last match was in November 2019 at the Oceania Sevens.
They have been placed in Pool A, where they are the lowest ranked qualifier in the group. They face European champion Russia, RAN champion Mexico and Argentina, the third-place South American side.
Their opening match is against Russia, who are favourites to progress all the way through, alongside France, due to their core team status.
Given the nature of the tournament’s structure, Samoa will need to have at least two wins to stand any chance of progressing through to the knockout stage.
Manusina coach Auimatagi Sapani Pomare has selected six of his 12 players from the Apia Maroons.
Former Samoa women’s international Filoi Eneliko has been working with the squad, and hopes a positive performance will transform women’s rugby back in the islands.
Matches:
AEST NZST SST
v Russia 19 June 19:20 21:20 22:20
v Argentina 19 June 00:16 02:16 03:16
v Mexico 20 June 19:03 21:03 22:03
Squad:
Fogamanono Tusiga, Rebirth Vaaga, Perise Tumutumu, Faalua Lefulefu, Fofoga Vaa, Jasmine Esekia, Fuarosa Niusila, Linda Fiafa, Saelua Leaula, Lomi Peniamina, Ofa Sopoaga, Elisapeta Leti
