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Boosted by the news that they will secure an automatic spot at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Rugby Sevens event, Brazil’s top female Rugby players return to home soil for the Sao Paulo leg of the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series determined to showcase the skill, speed and success to Brazilians.
Brazil sit joint eighth in the Series standings and head to Sao Paulo, the first IRB Sevens Series event to take place in the 2016 Olympic Games host nation, knowing that they have a great opportunity attract more players and fans to a sport that has witnessed a 25% increase in participation in two years.
President of the Brazil Rugby Union Sami Arap Sobrinho said: “This is a massive opportunity for Rugby and women’s sport in Brazil and, along with our friends from all the other competing nations, we are looking forward to showcasing the breath-taking sport of Rugby Sevens ahead of the Rio Olympics.”
“We are honoured to be representing our nation at Rio 2016 and proud to welcome the world’s top women’s Rugby Sevens players to Brazil this weekend. I urge sports fans to come along and experience our sport, once you have seen the tremendous skill and endeavour, you’ll be hooked.”
With major broadcaster SporTV screening all the action live and the IRB.com streaming every tackle, pass and try, the event promises to give an unprecedented broadcast platform in Brazil to the Sao Paulo Sevens and the draw has delivered some mouth-watering match ups.
The draw was announced as teams left Atlanta following the second round of the Series, where New Zealand claimed the top prize. Sean Horan’s players took on Ireland and England in their pool in Atlanta and will do the same again this weekend when they face each other in Pool A, along with USA.
Pool B will see Argentina join the series for the first time this year – and they’ll have to do battle with Australia, Russia and Japan in Arena Barueri.
Brazil are in Pool C where they’ll face Atlanta Sevens runners-up Canada, Spain and the Netherlands.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MATCH SCHEDULE FOR #BRAZIL7s >>
IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “The IRB Women’s Sevens Series really is taking off and the standard of competition in Atlanta was outstanding once again. I am sure that Sao Paulo will advance the sport.”
“We’re so excited to bring this top class event to Brazil now, just over two years out from the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Competition like this prepares the world’s top women for what it will be like in Rio, and they will benefit enormously from it.”
CLICK HERE TO VIEW IRB WOMEN’S SEVENS WORLD SERIES STANDINGS >>
Games kick off in Arena Barueri on Friday at 14.30 in Sao Paulo (GMT -3) when last year’s champions New Zealand take on Ireland.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH MATCH HIGHLIGHTS FROM DAY TWO IN ATLANTA>>
Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Russia, Spain and USA are core teams on the 2013/14 IRB Women’s Sevens World Series after reaching the quarter-finals of Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013. The eight core teams compete across all rounds of the Series.
IRB Women’s Sevens World Series 2013/14: Dates and Venues:
First leg: Dubai, United Arab Emirates – November 28-29, 2013
Second leg: Atlanta, Georgia, USA – February 15-16, 2014
Third leg: Arena Barueri, São Paulo, Brazil – February 21-22, 2014
Fourth leg: GuangzhoU University Town Stadium, Guangzhou, China – April 4-6 2014
Fifth leg: National Rugby Centrum, Amsterdam, Netherlands – May 16-17, 2014
