Asia Rugby confirmed that the men’s and women’s continental qualifiers for next year’s Summer Olympics will now be held at the Yodoko Sakura Stadium in Osaka Prefecture on November 18 and 19.

The qualifiers were originally due to take place at the Mikuni World Stadium in Kitakyushu Fukuoka Prefecture, but following discussions with the Japan Rugby Football Union these were moved to Osaka City.

This decision has been made to accommodate an expected increase in the number of participating men’s and women’s teams and to ensure there is suitable accommodation for everyone involved.

Teams are due to compete across pool matches and playoffs during the two days of the Asian rugby sevens qualifier, with the exact format and nations participating yet to be finalised.

The winners of both the men’s and women’s competitions will secure direct places to next year’s Paris 2024 Olympics.

The countries that finish second and third in both the men’s and women’s events will enter a Final Olympics Repechage Tournament, where they will compete for a final available spot at Paris 2024 against the teams that placed second and third in the other continental qualifiers.

In total 24 teams, featuring 288 athletes, are due to compete in the rugby sevens tournament at Paris 2024.

The rugby sevens tournaments at next year’s Olympic Games are due to take place from July 24 to 30 at the Stade de France in Paris.