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Canadian women to open Olympic rugby sevens competition against Japan

Jul 6, 2016 | 3:25 PM

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.

Based on recent World Series performances, the Canadian women were seeded third in the Olympic field behind No. 1 Australia and No. 2 New Zealand. Britain was seeded fourth.

Canada split its four meetings this season with England, which joins forces with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to compete as Britain at the Games, but won the last two encounters.

The Canadians beat 10th-seeded Japan both times they met this season but did not face No. 9 Brazil on the world circuit.

The women’s competition opens with France facing Spain, the last team to qualify for the field. The men’s side opens with France versus Australia.

The Canadian men did not qualify for Rio.

 

 

The Canadian Press