Canadian women to open Olympic rugby sevens competition against Japan
TORONTO — The Canadian women’s rugby sevens team will open its Olympic campaign against Japan before facing host Brazil on the opening day of competition.
The Olympic rugby match schedule was released Tuesday. The women play Aug. 6-8 while the men go Aug. 9-11, both in Rio.
Canada will face Britain on Day 2 to wrap up pool play at Deodoro Stadium. Teams will then be split into medal or consolation rounds later that day with the competition concluding Aug. 8. The top two teams from each of the three pools, plus the two best third-placed sides, advance to the last eight.
Britain, drawn mainly from the England side that placed fourth on the World Series circuit this season, is expected to be Canada’s toughest test in the pool round.