@rapido said in World Rugby opressing Tongan Rugby:
I found this article irritating, because this is already a well known viewpoint yet a titbit like this in article is then totally unexplained:
Kefu had hoped that Piutau and about 10 others would be free to play for Tonga by qualifying via an Olympics Sevens tournament before the World Cup, but that door was shut on the Tongans' faces.
Wtf? Why has the Olympic loophole been "shut on the Tongans' faces"? Isn't that an important thing to explain? I'm assuming it's the timing of the qualifying tournament?
Yes, that's correct. This is from the relevant WR media release:
Regional association tournaments will take place in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania and South America from June-December 2019. The top ranked team from each regional tournament will secure qualification.
Tonga can only qualify for the Olympics through a regional Olympic qualification tournament, because they are not one of the core nations that play in the 2019 World Sevens Series and can, therefore, not compete for one of the top 4 spots in those Series.
Relevant parts of the eligibility rules:
Olympic loophole: Regulation 8.7 and following subsections, particularly 8.12.
in combination with Regulation 8 Schedule 2.