PORTUGAL

News | Profile | Anthem | Tickets

Portugal win Hanover Sevens

Sunday 13th July 2008

Crying Wolf: Portugal will travel to Dubai with high hopes

Portugal secured the spoils at the Hanover Sevens in Germany on Saturday, a tournament which doubled as a qualifier for the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai.

The teams that won qualification for the showpiece event of the abbreviated game were the top five finishers: Portugal, Wales, Georgia, Ireland and Italy.

The Lobos of Portugal went into the tournament as favourites and lived up to their billing, recording an emphatic 26-12 win over Wales in the final.

Georgia and Ireland won through to Dubai by dint of being losing semi-finalists, whilst Italy squeezed through via the fifth-place play-off where they managed to pip Spain.

The two sides had won through with tight victories over Ireland and Georgia, who also qualified for Dubai by reaching the Cup semi finals.

The fifth qualifying berth went to the winners of the Plate trophy, Italy, who battled first past hosts Germany and then a strong Spain side in the final.

The overall standard among the 12 European sides vying for the five places was extremely high. On day one Wales trailed at half-time against Ireland and then needed a try at the death to deny Ukraine victory. Portugal edged hosts Germany 14-12 in their third match and Georgia needed a last minute breakaway to beat Russia.

While the hosts Germany were downed by Pablo Feijoo's last-minute try for Spain, Markus Walger sealed a 17-12 win over Romania and they then pushed Italy close in the Plate before beating the Ukraine to finish seventh overall.

HANOVER SEVENS - FINAL RANKINGS

1: Portugal
2: Wales
3: Georgia
4: Ireland
5: Italy
6: Spain
7: Germany
8: Ukraine
9: Russia
10: Romania
11: Poland
12: Belgium

2009 RUGBY WORLD CUP SEVENS - QUALIFYING SCHEDULE

COMPLETED QUALIFIERS:

South America (CONSUR)
Men's & Women's qualifiers - Punta del Este, 18-19 January 2008
Men: Argentina (direct qualifiers from RWC Sevens 2005) & Uruguay
Women: Brazil

Europe (FIRA-AER)
Men's qualifiers - Hannover, 12-13 July 2008; Women's qualifiers - Limoges, 14-15 June 2008
Men: Portugal, Wales, Ireland, Georgia, Italy
Women: England, Netherlands, France, Russia, Spain, Italy

UPCOMING QUALIFIERS:

Oceania (FORU)
Men's & Women's qualifiers - Samoa, 24-25 July 2008
- Two men's teams to qualify (Australia, Fiji, New Zealand direct qualifiers from RWC Sevens 2005)
- Two women's teams to qualify

Africa (CAR)
Men's - Tunisia, 31 October - 1 November ; Women's - Uganda, 20-21 September 2008
- Three men's teams to qualify (South Africa direct qualifier from RWC Sevens 2005)
- Two women's teams to qualify

Asia (ARFU)
Men's & Women's qualifiers - Hong Kong, 4-5 October
- Two men's teams to qualify (Arabian Gulf qualify as Host Union)
- Three women's teams to qualify

North America (NAWIRA)
Men's & Women's qualifiers - Bahamas, 25-26 October 2008
- Two men's teams to qualify
- Two women's teams to qualify

With thanks to the IRB