Twelve teams qualify for women's rugby sevens at the 2020 Summer Olympics (postponed to 2021[1] due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Japan automatically qualifies as host, with the top four teams of the 2018–19 World Rugby Women's Sevens Series securing their spots. Afterwards, qualification is determined with each of the six continental confederations determining a representative, and the remaining qualification spot determined through an international sevens tournament to be determined.[2][3]
^ abWith both the United States and Canada advancing to the tournament through securing top four slots in the 2018–19 World Rugby Women's Sevens Series, the spot for the RAN champion was re-allocated, allowing the final Olympic qualifying tournament to have two teams qualify for the Olympic Games.
^Great Britain qualified for the Olympics through England's performance as England were the designated home nation that could earn Olympic qualification for Great Britain. Rugby sevens players from Scotland and Wales, however, were eligible to be selected for the British team at the Olympic Games.
^South Africa won the qualifying tournament but declined their spot due to a policy against accepting spots from continental tournaments. Kenya, as runner-up, qualified instead.[4]
^By agreement between the three unions on the island of Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales), England represented Great Britain in qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Sevens.[7] The final make-up of the Great Britain women's team was determined by the British Olympic Association.
Rugby Africa held the 2019 Africa Women's Sevens on 12–13 October 2019 at Jemmal, Tunisia.[8] With South Africa declining their Olympic qualification spot, Kenya advanced to the Olympic tournament.[4]
Asia Rugby held a tournament on 9–10 November 2019 in Guangzhou, China.[9] Japan, already qualified for the Olympics as the host country, did not enter. China won the tournament and gained direct qualification.
Rugby Europe held a tournament on 13–14 July 2019 in Kazan, Russia.[10]
England won the tournament, meaning that Great Britain qualified for the Olympics.
Teams eligible to compete in the tournament included:
Rugby Americas North held the 2019 RAN Women's Sevens on 6–7 July 2019 at George Town, Cayman Islands. With the United States and Canada both qualifying through the Women's Sevens Series, the first and second placed teams Jamaica and Mexico advanced to the final qualifying tournament.[11]
Oceania Rugby held the 2019 Oceania Women's Sevens Championship on 7–9 November 2019 at Suva, Fiji.[12] With Australia and New Zealand already qualified through the Women's Sevens Series, Fiji gained direct qualification to the Olympics while Papua New Guinea and Samoa advanced to the final qualifying tournament.
Sudamérica Rugby held a tournament on 1–2 June 2019 in Lima, Peru.[13] Brazil won direct qualification to the Olympics while the second and third placed teams Colombia and Argentina advanced to the final qualifying tournament.
A 12-team repechage tournament was scheduled to be held from 20 to 21 June 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A new venue and date for the tournament has yet to be announced. Two runners-up from each of the six continental qualification tournaments will play, with the winner and runner-up advancing to the Olympic tournament.[14]
^Kenya originally qualified for the OQE as the second-placed team but instead advanced directly to the Olympics after South Africa declined their place. They were replaced by Tunisia, the fourth-placed team.
