NAIROBI, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The new Kenya Sevens head coach will face a stern test as he must guide the team to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Only 12 teams will make the finals in Tokyo including hosts Japan. Four slots will be up for grabs at the World Series, which starts in December and ends in June while each of the six continental bodies will send one team to the finals to make 11.
The final slot will be decided through a repechage tournament, where only the best losers from each of the six continents will battle it out with the winner earning the ticket to Japan.
Kenya is due to name its head coach next week after incumbent Innocent Simiyu declined to reapply for his post.
Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) chairman Richard Omwela says the coach must strive to help the team finish in the top four at the World Series to secure automatic qualification.
"Rugby sevens' inclusion in the Olympic Games has had a profound effect on the growth of the sport at all levels. As we enter another Olympic qualifying cycle, teams have everything to play for. We anticipate another thrilling World Rugby Sevens Series and also expect the regional association qualification tournaments to be highly competitive," World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said.
