Chinese Women Qualify for OlympicsChinese Women Qualify for Olympics China’s women’s sevens team has qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics after winning the final of the World Cup against Kenya 24-7. The team cruised through their group with big wins over Mexico, the Czech Republic, and Poland, before defeating Paraguay 31-0 and Poland again in the semi-finals. South Africa Wins Men’s World Cup South Africa’s men’s sevens team defeated Great Britain 14-5 in the final of the World Cup to secure their place in Paris. Quewin Nortje opened the scoring for South Africa, and Tristan Leyds converted to make it 7-0. Robbie Fergusson scored in the corner for GB, but Shilton van Wyk ran 50 yards to score after the restart. Leyds converted, giving South Africa a 14-5 lead at half-time. No goals were scored in the second half, securing South Africa’s victory. Olympic Rugby Sevens The rugby sevens at the Olympic Games will take place from 24 to 30 July at the Stade de France. The following teams have qualified: Men: Argentina Australia Fiji France Ireland Japan Kenya New Zealand Samoa South Africa USA Uruguay Women: Australia Brazil Canada China Fiji France Great Britain Ireland Japan New Zealand South Africa United States
The Chinese women, who have competed in the Sevens World Cup since the inaugural tournament in 2009 and were favorites to book their place, cruised through their group with big wins over Mexico, the Czech Republic and Poland.
They defeated Paraguay 31-0 in the last eight before facing Poland again in the semi-finals.
Hong Kong’s Liam Herbert tries to break through the Spanish defense. Photo: World Rugby
A 40-7 win took China to the final, where they dispatched Kenya 24-7 to qualify for their second consecutive Olympic Games.
“We feel very good, we are so excited to go to Paris,” said Chen Keyi, who scored two of her side’s tries. “I think we deserve it, we work so hard for each other, both on and off the field.
“(Time for) a holiday for us I think. We want to go home and see our parents and friends. See you in Paris!”
The men’s final pitted the tournament’s two favorites: Great Britain, who won silver at Rio 2016, and South Africa, who won bronze at the same Olympic Games.
Quewin Nortje opened the scoring for the “Blitzboks” while Tristan Leyds converted the score to make it 7-0. Robbie Fergusson scored in the corner for GB to cut the lead to two, but from the restart Shilton van Wyk ran 50 yards to score.
When Leyds converted, South Africa led 14–5 at half-time. No goals were scored in the second half, giving South Africa a place in Paris while the British missed out.
“It’s a pretty special group we have here, just cherishing the moment is what we live for,” Leyds said. “There was a lot of pressure from outside, people at home got disappointed (when we didn’t perform), but we kept the group close and it paid off, we qualified for Paris.”
The rugby sevens at the Olympic Games will take place from 24 to 30 July at the Stade de France.
Olympic Rugby Sevens
Gentlemen: Argentina, Australia, Fiji, France, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, New Zealand, Samoa, South Africa, USA, Uruguay
Women: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Fiji, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, United States
