THE Fiji Airways Fijiana draw for round one of the 2019 HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series has been announced, with the women to face Canada, France and Ireland in Glendale, Colorado on October 21 and 22 (Fiji Time).
The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series acts as a principle route to Olympic qualification and the Fijiana will be looking to start the season strongly under the tutelage of interim coach Ro Alifereti Doviverata.
With teams returning to action for the first time since Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 in July, the stage is set for a thrilling weekend in Colorado with the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series the first step on the road to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Defending series champions Australia will face Russia, Spain and Mexico in Pool A.
Rugby World Cup Sevens winners New Zealand are joined in Pool B by hosts USA, returning core team China and England.
France and Canada, who finished third and fourth respectively in the 2018 series, take their place in Pool C alongside Fiji and Ireland.
World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said: “With the addition of Glendale, the women’s series increases to six rounds this year, in line with our ambitions to provide more high-quality competition under the wider Women’s Plan 2017-25.
“With the world series also acting as principle route for qualification for Tokyo 2020, we expect this season to be more competitive than ever as teams compete for a place at the Olympic Games.
“After an outstanding Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco, which attracted record audiences, we are delighted to be back in the US and looking forward to watching an action-packed weekend of high octane and fast-paced sevens rugby.”
Fiji Airways Fijiana Round 1 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series Draw
Glendale, Colorado.
Sunday 21st October (FIJI TIME)
5.00am – Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s v Canada
7.36am -Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s v France
9.58am -Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s v Ireland
Monday 22nd October (FIJI TIME)
From 4.52am – FINALS for Pool C
