Uruguay and Chile complete 24-team line-up for Cup

Kenya's Nelson Oyoo (centre) is tackled by Samoa's Tom Iosefo (left) and Tomasi Alosio (right) during the second day of the World Rugby Sevens Series Cape Town at Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town on December 10, 2017. PHOTO | GIANLUIGI GUERCIA |

What you need to know:

  • Other nations representing Africa are of course giants of the game South Africa, who got an automatic slot after making the Cup quarters in Moscow, and Uganda and Zimbabwe via the Africa qualifiers.
  • Kenya were also semi-finalists in Dubai 2009, but will be hard-pressed to repeat or better that performance based on current form.

The 24-team line-up for 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco is complete after Uruguay and Chile booked their places in the men’s competition via the Sudamerica Rugby Sevens Series.

The two South American countries’ qualification completed the global process to select the best sevens rugby playing nations for the abridged game’s showcase event.

Kenya were long assured of their fourth consecutive appearance at the World Cup Sevens by virtue of finishing fourth in the tournament in 2013 in Moscow to earn an automatic berth to the San Francisco edition.

Other nations representing Africa are of course giants of the game South Africa, who got an automatic slot after making the Cup quarters in Moscow, and Uganda and Zimbabwe via the Africa qualifiers.

Kenya were also semi-finalists in Dubai 2009, but will be hard-pressed to repeat or better that performance based on current form.

World heavyweights and masters of the game New Zealand are the reigning champions.

They, together with Fiji, England, Wales, Australia, France and hosts USA are the other automatic qualifiers.

Qualified teams

New Zealand, England, Fiji, Kenya, South Africa, Wales, Australia and France and hosts USA qualified automatically

Scotland, Canada, Argentina and Samoa qualified as four best-placed teams other than the above via the 2016-17 men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Russia, Ireland, Japan, Hong Kong, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Uruguay and Chile qualified via the global qualification process.