The pools and schedule for next month's Women's Sevens Series qualifier have been announced. Twelve teams will battle it out in the Irish capital on 22 and 23 August for two spots on next season's Women's Sevens Series.

Brazil, who have already qualified for the Olympic Games 2016 as hosts, will play Wales, Japan and Samoa in Pool A.

China will be hoping to maintain their place on the series when they take on Netherlands, Kenya and the Olympic qualified Colombia in Pool B, while hosts Ireland will play an improving South Africa, Hong Kong and Mexico in Pool C. 

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The action gets underway at 11.30 on 22 August when China face Kenya at the University College Dublin (UCD) Bowl with tickets available here.

Speaking ahead of the tournament, Ireland's Director of Rugby Sevens Anthony Eddy said: “It’s massively important to get onto the sevens series circuit, it’s our number one goal, so we can play against the best teams in the world. If we are going to have a shot at the Olympic repechage we are going to have to play at the best level.”

“In our pool we face South Africa - a team that have been on the series for a couple of years now, and are one of the teams that have been relegated from last season. They will be desperate to perform at this event and get back on the circuit. We are up for the challenge and it’s great to have the tournament at home in Dublin.”

“With 12 countries competing in this event from all over the world, this is a great opportunity to give the game more exposure in Ireland,” said Eddy.

Brazil and Colombia have already confirmed their place at Rio 2016 alongside New Zealand, Canada, Australia and Team GB, while Mexico and Ireland have earned a spot in the global repechage tournament next year which will determine the 12th and final qualifier for the women’s event in Rio. 

China and South Africa have experienced the pressure of a qualifier before, having safely negotiated the 2014 event in Hong Kong along with Fiji and France to ensure they would play in all six rounds of the 2014-15 series.