Olympic chance adds spice in Kaunas

Norway - last year's hosts - confident about 2015

Europe’s second tier sevens championship – officially the “Division A” title – is normally a highly competitive weekend, with two promotion places to next year’s “Top 12” European Women’s Grand Prix (WGPS)  on offer, as well as the possibility of relegation for two other teams to “Division B”.

However this year there is the extra enticement of four places in Europe’s Olympic repecharge qualifier to be played in Portugal next month, from which three teams will go forward to the world repecharge in June 2016.

Historically the two teams relegated from the previous years WGPS normally do very well the following year, and as a resultBelgiumandSwedenwill start as favourites to return to the top flight. The Belgians in particular were very unlucky to go down last year as they reached the bowl final in both legs of the series, but missed the cut to Germany as a result of a shock German win over Wales in a pool game.

Their preparations have been thorough this year, with teams taking part in three sevens tournaments in recent weeks. Although one of the leading players - Ciska de Graeve – will be missing they remain confident of bouncing straight back.

Sweden’s fall was contributed to by aplayer boycottthat had also hamstrung their hopes of reaching the XVs World Cup the previous year. That dispute now seems to have been resolved, so Sweden should be fielding a full-strength team for the first time since 2012.

They will not have it their own way, however, asRomania– the third seeds for the tournament – have won praise from several observers for the progress they have made since last year, and that after they nearly upset Scotland in last year’s Division A semi-finals.

Other teams likely to be competing for places in the Olympic qualifier, and possibly the WGPS, includeCzech Republic,who beat Division a rivalsPolandin Amsterdam and only lost to Maple leafs, Tribe and Wales – all higher ranked teams. They have suspended their entire domestic sevens series to prepare their team for this tournament and are confident that they can get to Portugal.

Switzerlandalso had a good tournament in Amsterdam and – although they unusually tend to favour the XVs – their experienced squad will also be pressing for a top four place.

Georgiareached the semi-finals last year, but have not looked as sharp in preparations this year and if they play as they did in the warm-up tournaments may struggle to make the most of their fourth seeding.Poland,FinlandandMoldovashould again compete strongly for places in the quarter-finals, but progress beyond that will depend on favourable draws.

At the other endHungaryand hostsLithuania, promoted last year, will be aiming to consolidate their place in the pool. The pressure of home advantage in this tournament is almost a disadvantage – asNorwaydiscovered last season – and the Lithuanians will do very well to avoid the drop. As for Norway, they should be stronger this year with the return of Cathinka Walberg, but they were the lowest ranked national team after Amsterdam (though they did push pool opponents Georgia hard) and their first concern may centre on avoiding of the drop. If they beat Georgia they could make the quarter-finals, which shows how close this tournament can be.

At this stage this has been no announcement regarding streaming – though past tournaments in Lithuania have been available online. Results should appear on theRugby Europe websitethroughout the weekend.

Pools:

A:Belgium, Finland, Czech Republic, Lithuania

B:Sweden, Moldova, Poland, Hungary

C:Romania, Georgia, Switzerland, Norway

Squads:

Belgium:Margaux Lalli (Lille), Nele Pien (Lille), Carmen De Donder (Dendermonde), Cathy De Geyter (Boitsfort), Evelien Rosier (Leuven), Margaux Stévins (Boitsfort), Emilie Musch (Boitsfort), Sytske D’haeseleir (Ovalie Caennaise), Cécile Blondiau (Soignies), Hanne Boedt (Dendermonde), Gaëlle Portier (Coq Mosan), Jeanne Marquegnies (Frameries)

Czech Republic:Barbora Bendová (RC JIMI Vyškov/RK Petrovice), Pavlína Čuprová (RC JIMI Vyškov), Klára Hladilová (RC Sparta Praha), Martina Hlaváčová (RC Tatra Smíchov/RC Sparta Praha), Kateřina Koubová (RC Tatra Smíchov), Kateřina Nováková (RC Plzeň/RC Dragon Brno), Kamila Rousová (RC Dragon Brno), Věra Samková (RC Sparta Praha), Šárka Šimánková (RC Sparta Praha), Kateřina Vrbacká (RC JIMI Vyškov), Bára Světlíková (RC Slavia Praha), Lucie Svobodová (RK Petrovice)

Georgia:(To be confirmed):Ana Poghosiani, Nino Eloshvili, Bela Gogsadze, Ana Andghuladze, Natia Tsintskiladze, Qristine Gvazava, Ana Kvachadze, Salome Sagharadze, Salome Makasarashvili, Tatia Beitrishvili, Nino Tabatadze, Ketevan Modebadze

Norway:Cathinka Walberg (ORK), Ingrid Hjulstad (ORK), Ingrid Ringsrud (SRK), Jenny Heyerdahl Bryhni (ORK), Kari Evensen Paulsrud (NTNUI / ORK), Kari Fykse Lie (BSI), Katrine Lightstone (ORK), Kathrine Ringdal (NTNUI), Mari Beck (BSI), Mari Ophus (NTNUI), Tonje Lyssand (SRK), Åsa Haaland (NMBUI)

Poland:Sylwia Łuksik, Oliwia Dąbrowska, Angelika Piekorz, Agata Ładońska (Diablice Ruda Śląska); Marlena Mroczyńska, Hanna Maliszewska, Karolina Jaszczyszyn, Laura Abucewicz (Biało- Zielone Ladies Gdańsk); Katarzyna Paszczyk, Agnieszka Kowalczyk (Black Roses Posnania);, Elżbieta Brzustowska (Tygrysice Sochaczew);, Karolina Nalewczyńska (Syrenki AZS AWF Warszawa)

Romania:(To be confirmed) Hirjete Irina, Linda Matei, Crisan Bianca, Dinca Alina, Sandu Ana-Maria, Dinita Alina, Lepciuc Gabriela, Vizitiu Emilia, Brinza Andreea, Mitachescu Andreea, Sava Iuliana, Citea Gabriela, Anghel Roxana, Balcan Brindusa, Radu Madalina si Ilies Roxana

Switzerland:Esther, Duss (Captain) (Lucern Dangels), Kirstin Aebischer (Bern Devils) , Kim Andrey (Bern Devils) , Rahel Bosshard (Zurich Valkyries) , Carole Casparis (Lucern Dangels) , Selina Fux (Bern Devils) , Simone Haymoz (Zurich Valkyries) , Viola Jackman (Basel Birds/Lucern Dangels), Ramona Mani (Bern Devils) , Claire Pagnot (Sélestat-Illkirch, France) , Aida Stamm (Zurich Valkyries) , Fabienne Ullmann (Bern Devils)