USA Rugby will take the momentum of its first Sevens World Series leg victory into its continental Olympic qualification tournament in June.
The U.S. men prevailed in the 2014-15 season finale in London, beating Australia 45-22 in the Cup final Sunday. It finished the nine-leg World Series in sixth place overall.
The top four from the World Series qualified for the first Olympic rugby sevens tournament in Rio de Janeiro next year -- Fiji, South Africa, New Zealand and England (Great Britain for Olympic qualifying purposes).
The U.S. will be favored to clinch the one Olympic berth available at next month’s North American and Caribbean qualifying tournament in Cary, N.C. If the U.S. does not win that tournament, it could still get into the Olympics via a later last-chance global qualifying tournament.
However, Canada did beat the U.S. 40-0 in the previous World Series leg in Glasgow last weekend. The U.S. came back to win 29-10 over Canada earlier Sunday in London.
The U.S. showed great improvement in the World Series this season after placing 13th overall in 2013-14. Its best previous finish in a World Series leg was second in Adelaide, Australia, in 2010. The World Series debuted in 1999-2000.
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THAT MOMENT: When you win your first ever Cup! Congrats @USARugby! #London7s pic.twitter.com/8OaBYm9zl1
— World Rugby 7s (@WorldRugby7s) May 17, 2015