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Rugby sevens pools announced for Tokyo 2020 Olympics
The pools for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic rugby sevens competitions have been announced by World Rugby exactly one month ahead of the men’s final at Tokyo Stadium
Tokyo 2020 Olympic rugby sevens pools announced with less than a month to go; The 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams are in three pools of four teams; Reigning men’s gold and silver medalists Fiji and Great Britain will face hosts Japan; Women’s Olympic champions Australia to play USA, China and Japan; Rugby sevens set to thrill fans from 26-31 July at Tokyo Stadium.
The pools for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic rugby sevens competitions have been announced by World Rugby exactly one month ahead of the men’s final at Tokyo Stadium.
The 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams have been allocated to three pools of four teams, according to rankings based upon performances in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and other World Rugby sanctioned tournaments over the past two years.
There are some mouth-watering encounters for fans around the globe to look forward to as rugby sevens makes its second appearance at the Olympic Games following an unforgettable debut in Rio.
Men’s competition
The men’s competition sees three of the top four placed teams from the Rio 2016 Olympic Games together in Pool B as reigning Olympic champions Fiji will face silver medalists Great Britain and hosts Japan, who finished a very creditable fourth in Rio, along with Olympic debutants Canada who claimed bronze at the last HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series event, which took place in Vancouver last year.
Pool A sees a renewal of the mouth-watering antipodean rivalry between current Rugby World Cup Sevens and World Series champions New Zealand and Australia, who met in the final of the last Series event in Vancouver, with the All Blacks Sevens winning a tightly contested match 17-14. Joining them in Pool A are Argentina, who finished sixth in Rio, alongside Olympic debutants the Republic of Korea who qualified for Tokyo by winning the Asian qualification tournament with an extra-time ‘golden point’ try to overcome Hong Kong.
South Africa, bronze medalists in Rio, and USA are in Pool C having both achieved direct Olympic qualification by finishing in the top four of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2019, where the USA Eagles finished runners-up after reaching the medal podium in seven of the 10 Series rounds. Joining them are Kenya, who qualified courtesy of their first Rugby Africa men’s sevens title since 2015, and Olympic debutants Ireland, who secured the final spot thanks to a thrilling 28-19 victory over France in the World Rugby Sevens Repechage in Monaco earlier this month.
Women’s competition
The women’s competition is equally fascinating with Pool C seeing hosts Japan grouped with Rio 2016 Olympic champions Australia alongside a powerful USA team, who qualified directly for Tokyo after finishing runners-up in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2019, reaching the medal podium in five of the six rounds. The pool is completed by Olympic debutants China, who secured their place in Tokyo with an emphatic 33-0 victory over Hong Kong in the Asian qualifier final.
Pool B is the only pool without an Olympic debutant as Rio 2016 bronze medallists Canada are joined by France, Fiji and Brazil. France were in fine form as they swept all before them to qualify for Tokyo via the World Rugby Sevens Repechage in Monaco earlier this month. Brazil qualified for Tokyo thanks to a 28-15 victory over Colombia in the South American qualifier, while Rio 2016 quarter-finalists Fiji overcame Papua New Guinea to qualify from Oceania.
In Pool A, current Rugby World Cup Sevens and World Series title holders New Zealand will face the Russian Olympic Committee team, Great Britain and Kenya. New Zealand beat both Kenya and Great Britain on the way to claiming the silver medal at Rio 2016, while Russia ended the Black Fern’s record-equalling 37-match winning run on the Series with a 17-17 draw in Kitakyushu in April 2019. The Russian team secured their Olympic debut via this month’s Repechage.
The top four placed teams in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2019 qualified directly for Tokyo while Japan were awarded their place as host nation. The remaining seven teams qualified via regional tournaments and the World Rugby Sevens Repechage in Monaco.
Following a successful test event involving members of the Japan national teams in April, preparations are on track for a world-class tournament at Tokyo Stadium, which proved to be an excellent host venue during Rugby World Cup 2019.
To ensure teams are as best prepared as possible to perform on the greatest sporting stage of all, World Rugby has invested US$4 million into Olympic qualified unions’ sevens programmes and towards the costs of hosting a number of high-performance preparation events, the last of which took place in Los Angeles, USA, and Townsville, Australia, over the past weekend.
World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin said: “Today’s announcement marks a very exciting step on the road to Tokyo with less than a month to go until the players run out in Tokyo Stadium to compete on the Olympic stage.
“These will certainly be unique Olympic Games and we have been working very closely with the IOC, Tokyo 2020 and all other stakeholders towards delivering a safe, secure and highly impactful rugby sevens competition in Tokyo.
“Rugby sevens is a key priority for World Rugby and the inclusion of the sport for the first time in the Games at Rio 2016 had a profound effect, attracting an estimated 30 million new fans globally. With the recent launch of our new ‘This Is How We Sevens’ campaign we are confident millions more fans will engage with the thrilling, fast-paced and action-packed spectacle that is rugby sevens.
“As always, player welfare is at the heart of all our planning and we are confident that as it proved during Rugby World Cup 2019, Tokyo Stadium will be an excellent venue for the teams to inspire the world with their skill, athleticism, determination and the core rugby values of solidarity, integrity and respect.
“With the pools decided, we can now countdown the days and look forward what promises to be another memorable edition of Olympic rugby sevens.”
Mikako Kotani, Sports Director for Tokyo 2020, said: “Today, rugby sevens’ pool allocations for Tokyo 2020 are announced. This year, rugby sevens will return to the Olympic Games for the second time after its inclusion at the Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro 2016 for the first time.
“We had a successful test event at Tokyo Stadium in April and we are confident that we have an excellent venue for the players so that they will be able to show their best performances to inspire the world and connect the world together once more.
“We are excited to welcome an international rugby tournament back to Japan and we hope rugby’s One Team Spirit will touch the hearts of people in Japan and in the world. I wish the very best of luck to all the 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams. Good luck to all the athletes and look forward to welcoming you all soon.”
Rugby sevens is expected to be one of the most highly anticipated events of the Tokyo Games, following the outstanding success of Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, which captured the nation’s imagination with record-breaking broadcast audiences and huge numbers of new rugby fans across Japan and Asia.
The men’s competition will take place from 26-28 July, with the women’s tournament following on 29-31 July with the gold medal match happening on ‘Super Saturday’. All the action will take place at Tokyo Stadium, which was the venue for the opening match of Rugby World Cup 2019.
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WSOP Online Returns to GGPoker This August with 33 Gold Bracelets and $5,000,000 in Special Promotions!
Play for millions in prizes from August 17 through September 30
GGPoker, the World’s Biggest Poker Room, is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated return of WSOP Online this August, bringing the thrill and prestige of the World Series of Poker® directly to players’ screens. The six-week festival will run from August 17 to September 30, featuring 33 official WSOP Gold Bracelet events, tens of millions in guaranteed prizes, and a gigantic $5,000,000 in special promotions designed to reward players across the globe.
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The wider poker community can follow the WSOP Online action live at GGPoker.tv, with the final table of the $5K Main Event broadcast on September 23 at 18:45 UTC (hosted by Jeff Gross & special guest) and the final table of the $10K GGMillion$ High Rollers broadcast on September 30 at 18:45 UTC (hosted by Jeff Gross & Daniel Negreanu).
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The post WSOP Online Returns to GGPoker This August with 33 Gold Bracelets and $5,000,000 in Special Promotions! appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by European Gaming
Spinomenal has released 4 Horsemen III: Inferno to complement the wildly popular Mythology series. 4 Horsemen III: Inferno invites players into an apocalyptic hellscape where the reels are engulfed by a scorched wasteland under burning skies. A relentlessly surging and dark soundtrack creates an atmosphere thick with tension. The Horsemen return, Conquest, War, Famine, and Death, each carrying their own Free Spins feature, which is triggered with three or more full-sized Scattered Free Spins symbols.
Following the success of Money Coming and Money Coming – Expanded Bets, leading content provider TaDa Gaming has released Money Coming 2. A straightforward 3×1 grid with a bonus reel for Multipliers and a single payline means Money Coming 2 is all about the numbers. With no symbols, just numbers or blank positions on the first three reels, when the numbers land they are added sequentially to make the payout.
Relax Gaming, the award-winning iGaming aggregator and supplier of unique content, has launched Conquer Babylon, a bold release inspired by the ancient wonders of Mesopotamia. Set amidst the towering structures of Babylon, the high-volatility 6×8 slot offers up to 262,144 ways to win, combining immersive visuals with powerful bonus features and a maximum win of 15,000 times the stake.
Get your mops out, this ship is one big floating mess! Only the dirtiest of sailors can sail the seven seas aboard Nolimit City’s latest release, Seamen. If you’re 6ft tall, love the open sea and have a taste for working with seamen, then join the White Pearl today! This ship is used to carrying some big loads.
Gaming Corps – a publicly-listed game development company based in Sweden, has unveiled its latest instant win title: Bass Rewards. Packed with colourful fish and serious prize potential, the game takes players on the fishing trip of a lifetime. In Bass Rewards, every catch counts – inviting players to bait their hook and fish for fortune across a grid swimming with characterful catch.
Amusnet has released its latest video slot game, Tiki Tiki Boo Boo. With a colourful theme and invigorating soundtrack, Tiki Tiki Boo Boo is the perfect summer adventure, complemented by a bunch of special features to guarantee an unforgettable experience. The video slot’s toppling reels mechanics and its 243 ways to pay make the game a fun alternative to slots with standard paylines.
Blueprint Gaming™ has strengthened its long-term partnership with globally renowned operator bet365 through the exclusive release of bet365 Kong 3 Even Bigger Bonus. The 6×4, 4,096-way to win slot provides an intriguing update to the beloved Kong series, with revamped cash harvests and a new-look bonus trail.
Spinomenal has launched its mythology-themed Majestic Zeus slot. Set at the foothills of Mount Olympus, Majestic Zeus welcomes players to a Grecian world where the rewards are potentially as large as the mountains themselves. The 5×3 frame is nestled between two towering columns adorned with Grecian goddesses. A thunderous, powerful musical score evokes the might of Zeus and heightens the entertainment.
Just Slots has announced the launch of its latest title, ‘Unholy Mystery’. Building on strong momentum, this marks Just Slots’ fifth release since the breakout success of their debut game, Sugar Heaven. Following the ominous world of their last release, Book of Arcane 100, Unholy Mystery gives the theme a playful twist by blending dark undertones with a party-like atmosphere and a bold visual style that feels like a monster birthday jamboree.
TaDa Gaming has released Fortune Gems 500, a thrilling 3+1 reel video slot that dazzles with elegant visuals and dynamic rewards. Its core innovation lies in the special fourth reel, which randomly displays multiplier values up to 500x or a powerful Ex NUDGE symbol.
Playson welcomes the return of its lucky leprechaun in the charming new release, 4 Pots Riches: Hold and Win, with the mischievous figure on hand to elevate wins with a host of enriched features. The highlight is the Super Pot Bonus Game, which is triggered by the Super Clover Bonus Symbol.
BGaming puts a fresh spin on the popular fishing genre with the launch of Big Tuna Bonanza. This charming adventure pulls inspiration from some of the most popular titles in the category, inviting players to cast their lines and reel in big wins. Big Tuna Bonanza is bigger and bolder than the fishing games that have come before it.
Play’n GO revives one of its earliest icons with Lady of Fortune Destiny Spins. The Lady steps back into the spotlight with a refreshed presence, ushering in a wave of unpredictability that rewards attention and patience in equal measure. With a glowing crystal ball at her side, the Lady of Fortune transforms missed chances into charged potential.
The post Week 32/2025 slot games releases appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
GeoLocs, the specialist geolocation platform for the iGaming, Sports Betting and iLottery industries, has partnered with identity verification provider Shufti to deliver a seamless and secure user experience for both operators and players in regulated markets worldwide.
The integration of GeoLocs’ precise geolocation technology with Shufti’s robust identity verification solutions allows operators to onboard players faster while maintaining full compliance with local regulations. The partnership reduces friction in the registration and verification process, enabling a smoother journey from sign-up to gameplay.
Will Whitehead, Commercial Director at GeoLocs, commented: “We’re excited to be working with Shufti to bring a more seamless, secure experience to clients and players alike. Both of our technologies have been built with compliance and UX at their core, and this partnership allows us to combine strengths—making onboarding and verification faster, smoother, and more robust for operators in regulated markets.”
With regulatory frameworks tightening in both emerging and established jurisdictions, the collaboration ensures that operators have access to integrated tools that deliver high standards of security, compliance, and user experience.
Roger Redfearn-Tyrzyk, SVP of Sales at Shufti, added: “We’re proud to be teaming up with GeoLocs to support operators in delivering frictionless onboarding and a high level of regulatory compliance. Our joint capabilities mean operators can verify users quickly and accurately while GeoLocs ensures they are playing from permitted locations—creating an end-to-end experience that puts both security and user satisfaction first.”
This partnership underscores both companies’ commitment to innovation and player-centric technology in the fast-evolving iGaming space.
The post GeoLocs and Shufti Join Forces to Streamline Player Onboarding and Compliance appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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