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Sam Agars

The repêchage has drama, intrigue and plenty of action, but is it really the best way to decide who should have the final spot in the Olympics?
There is no doubt that last weekend’s men’s event was a brilliant spectacle and Spain’s effort was remarkable.
But their victory – and the fact HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series teams Samoa, Russia and Canada went home empty handed – makes one wonder if the set-up is flawed.
The most important thing is that the best teams are in the Olympics, but this is not always the case due to the nature of the regional qualifying and that the host nation is ensured of a spot.
The qualifying format – which saw the top four teams from the 2014-15 world series guaranteed of a berth - seems to work pretty well on the whole, with 11 of the top 12 men’s team on this year’s world series represented in Rio.
The women’s numbers are a little less, with only nine of the top 12 heading to Rio, but with the repechage still to come.
Would it not be ideal to then make sure the next best team in this year’s world series not yet qualified is guaranteed that last spot?

A safety net of sorts to avoid anomalies like Samoa, a seriously good side who has missed out?
While the repechage has its benefits in engaging the fans and creating interest, the world series, which requires consistency over a number of rounds – 10 for the men and five for the women – would seem to be a better way to judge who is worthy of an Olympic berth.
If finishing order in this year’s world series had been used to decide, Samoa would have indeed been off to Rio, as would Russia in the women’s competition.
Of course, there will always be the argument that ‘if you’re not good enough to win the repechage, you don’t deserve to be in the Olympics’.
Samoa crush Hong Kong’s Olympic dream at the repêchage quarter-final stage
But a team that has performed well through an entire world series season and finished ninth overall seems more deserving than a team who rode their luck and pinched a win in the repechage.
Instead, Samoa – a team that won the Paris Sevens just last month – miss out and World Rugby miss out on the chance to have the very best sevens teams on show on the world’s biggest sporting stage.


One person who certainly won’t be subscribing to this view ahead of the weekend’s women’s event is Hong Kong coach Anna Richards.
“You have got to be in it to win it” was one of the thoughts Richards offered before she and her team left for Dublin.
The quote probably doesn’t do justice to her optimism – Richards goes into the event with a genuine confidence, even if she is a little unsure how her charges will go against the likes of HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series core teams Spain, Russia and Ireland.
Player profiles: Hong Kong women’s sevens squad
It is a phrase used often is sport, mostly by teams or individuals who perhaps know they need a bit of luck and everything to go their way to come out on top.
The beauty of sport, and in particular sevens, is that anything can happen and the current repechage system certainly gives the underdog a fighting chance.
Spain’s effort last weekend exemplified Richards’ words perfectly – they were just in it on Saturday, but found something when it mattered.

Hong Kong must take some confidence out of seeing the unlikely actually materialise and will be hoping lightning strikes twice when they attempt to secure an unexpected spot at Rio.
They will obviously have to do a lot more than just be ‘in it’ if they are to win it, but are not without a chance if, like Spain, the seas part for them.
They kick off the tournament in a similar way to the men, with winnable matches against Argentina, Kazakhstan and Cook Islands in pool D.
Olympic sevens dream all-but over after Hong Kong women get off to sluggish start in Tokyo
If they do manage to progress – not a certainty given a history of willing battles against both Argentina and Kazakhstan – they cross to a tough pool A for finals action.
World series seventh-place finishers Russia head that group, while Samoa and Zimbabwe are also there and are no slouches.
But a quarter-final berth against either Samoa or Zimbabwe would indeed be winnable for Hong Kong and from there, who knows?
Maybe they can make the most of a system that really does give everybody a chance.


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Asia Rugby Olympic Sevens Qualifiers

Brilliant spectacle, but is the repêchage really the best way to determine qualifiers for the Olympics?

Hong Kong against Samoa in the Olympic repêchage rugby sevens quarter-final. Photos: World Rugby

Chong Ka Yan pulls away from the Guam defence.

***FOR NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY*** This image shows #11 Belgium Tuatagaloa (left, blue) of Samoa chasing by France's Virimi Vakatawa during qualifiers (Game 9, Pool A) on the second day of the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2016. 09APR16 SCMP/Edward Wong [RUGBY SEVENS]

Last chance for Hong Kong as sevens squad head for final Olympic qualifier in Monaco

Max Woodward scores for Valley against HKCC. Photo: HKRU

***FOR NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY*** Hong Kong #7 Ben Rimene powers forward during qualifiers (GAME 6, POOL E) Hong Kong (in red) vs Cayman Islands (in white) of the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2016. 08APR16 SCMP/Edward Wong [RUGBY SEVENS]

Eric Kwok is in line to make his debut at the Olympic sevens repechage in Monaco. Photo: SCMP picture

Bring it on, say Hong Kong after favourable draw for winner-takes-all Olympic rugby repêchage

Hong Kong players celebrate after they beat Spain at the 2016 Hong Kong Sevens. Photo: SCMP

Japan's scrum half Keisuke Uchida tries to take down Hong Kong's full back Alexander McQueen during the Asian Rugby Championship Hong Kong vs Japan match at the Hong Kong Football Club in Happy Valley. 07MAY16 SCMP/Jonathan Wong

***FOR NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY*** This image shows Hong Kong team's Ben Rimene (L) celebrates with Toby Fenn, who scored a try in extra time to defeat Spain on the second day of the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2016. 09APR16 SCMP/ Jonathan Wong [RUGBY SEVENS]

Olympic repêchage offers an ideal opportunity for Hong Kong to show they mean business

Japan in action against Hong Kong at the 2016 Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens. Photos: SCMP

***FOR NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY*** This image shows during qualifier final Hong Kong's Rowan Varty (right, blue) is tackled by Japan's Shohei Toyoshima (left, white) on the third day of the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2016. 10APR16 SCMP/ May Tse [RUGBY SEVENS]

***FOR NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY*** This image shows during qualifier final Japan's Kazushi Hano (centre, white) is tackled by Hong Kong's Jamie Hood (right, blue) on the third day of the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2016. 10APR16 SCMP/ Sam Tsang [RUGBY SEVENS]

Japan team players celebrate their win of the Final, during the Asia Rugby Sevens Qualifier Pools at Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po. 08NOV15

Sport

Rugby

HK Sevens

Spain secured a trip to Rio with a surprise win last weekend in Monaco meaning World Series teams Samoa, Russia and Canada missed out


The repêchage has drama, intrigue and plenty of action, but is it really the best way to decide who should have the final spot in the Olympics?


Women’s Rugby

Rio 2016 Olympic Games

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2015-16

Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


Column

Boots and all

Brilliant spectacle, but is the repêchage really the best way to determine qualifiers for the Olympics?

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Spain secured a trip to Rio with a surprise win last weekend in Monaco meaning World Series teams Samoa, Russia and Canada missed out

Spain secured a trip to Rio with a surprise win last weekend in Monaco meaning World Series teams Samoa, Russia and Canada missed out