Glasgow--South Africa and Fiji became the first countries to assure themselves of a place in next year's inaugural Olympic sevens tournament in Rio after winning through to the quarter-finals of the Glasgow Sevens on Saturday.
The top four teams at the end of this season's World Rugby Sevens will qualify automatically for next year's tournament in Brazil.
And with just the Scottish round plus next week's finale in London to be completed, Saturday's results assured South Africa and Fiji -- first and second in the overall standings heading into the Glasgow event -- of a place at the Olympics.
"It's a big moment for us," said South Africa's Frankie Horne in a World Rugby statement.
"We have worked hard this season to qualify and it's an historical event for the game of sevens to be in the Olympics," he added.
"We thoroughly deserve it but it's a great privilege and a great honour for us to be there and represent the game of sevens".
But by losing their pool decider 24-19 to New Zealand, who along with Fiji had a 100 percent record on the first day in Glasgow, the Blitzboks will now play the Pacific Islanders in Sunday's quarter-finals.
New Zealand, meanwhile, will face Scotland in the last eight after the hosts finished runners-up to Fiji in their pool.
The other quarter-finals see Canada up against England, currently fourth in the standings, with fifth-placed Australia taking on the United States.
AFP
