How to qualify in Rugby
How rugby sevens teams qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics
Rugby sevens at Los Angeles 2028 has a men's and a women's tournament of 12 teams each, 12 players per team. Each fills in four steps:
- The 2027 SVNS World Championship (planned as three tournaments, April to early June 2027): the top four teams, leaving out the United States.
- Six regional championships between June and December 2027: one place each for Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania and South America.
- A final repechage tournament of eight teams before June 2028: the winner qualifies.
- The United States as host.
For India, the Asian regional championship in 2027 is the main chance: its winner goes to LA28. A good Asian result can also earn a place in the repechage.
The places
| Men | Women | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 SVNS World Championship (top four, not the US) | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| Regional championships, 2027 | 6 | 6 | 12 |
| Final Olympic repechage | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Host country | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Teams | 12 | 12 | 24 |
Places go to the country. Players must meet World Rugby's player welfare guidelines on age and its Regulation 8 on eligibility.
Regional championships
One winner from each of Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania and South America, planned between 7 June and 31 December 2027. Teams that already qualified at the World Championship may play. Dates and places are still to be confirmed in the document.
The North America exception. If a North American team qualifies at the World Championship, the North American championship sends its winner only to the repechage, and the repechage gives one extra place. For women the same applies if three Oceania teams qualify at the World Championship.
The final repechage
Eight teams: one from each of the six regions plus a second for two regions still to be named, based on how each region did in the 2027 sevens season. Teams already qualified cannot enter. The winner qualifies.
The host country
The United States is guaranteed a place in each tournament, provided its teams keep playing in World Rugby-approved international sevens. It had to confirm by 30 June 2026. An unused host place would go to the next team at the World Championship.
Places turned down
| Place | Goes to |
|---|---|
| World Championship | The next team at the World Championship |
| Regional | The next team at that championship, if World Rugby's Executive Board agrees it plays regularly at a high level |
| Repechage | The next team at the repechage |
Dates
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| By 30 June 2026 | The United States confirms its host places |
| April to early June 2027 | SVNS World Championship (three tournaments planned) |
| 7 June to 31 December 2027 | Regional championships (dates to be confirmed) |
| Before June 2028 | Final Olympic repechage |
| 26 June 2028 | Entries deadline for the Games |
| From 12 July 2028 | Olympic rugby sevens (Games 14 to 30 July) |
Where to follow it
world.rugby publishes results and qualified teams.