Italy kicked off their quest to qualify for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009 in perfect fashion by beating Germany 28-14 in the final of the third of seven FIRA European events leading into the final regional qualifier in Hanover from 12-13 July.
Michele Sepe scored two of his side’s four tries in the final in Zagreb over the weekend, the Italians having finished top of Pool 2 after overcoming Austria 54-0, Serbia 45-0, Germany 21-7 and Hungary 47-0.
Italy then powered past the Netherlands 26-5 in the semi-final, while Germany beat Romania 19-5 in the other, handing the Pool 1 winners their first loss after victories over Bosnia & Herzegovina 40-0, Czech Republic 12-7, Croatia 12-5 and the Netherlands 35-10.
Romania bounced back well from that loss to beat the Netherlands 38-0 in the third place playoff, while hosts Croatia finished fifth after beating Serbia 45-10, Bosnia & Herzegovina edged Hungary 7-5 for seventh and Czech Republic beat Austria 73-0 to finish ninth.
The European Sevens Championship continues in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi this weekend with IRB Sevens World Series core members Wales in action, with further tournaments in Ostrava (14-15 June), Corfu (20-21 June) and Moscow (28-29 June).
Women's line up finalised for Limoges
Meanwhile, the second women's event to determine the final participants for the European Women's qualifying event in Limoges took place in Belgium over the weekend with Germany beating Moldova 43-0 in the final.
Andorra beat the Czech Republic 7-0 in the third place playoff to join Germany and Moldova in securing places in Limoges on 14-15 June, along with Romania, Finland and Israel from the first tournament in Bosnia & Herzegovina.
However the unexpected withdrawal of Scotland means that the Czech Republic take their place alongside hosts France, England, Spain, Wales, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Russia and Portugal.
The 16 teams have been split into four pools for day one with France, Russia, Portugal and the Czech Republic in Pool A, England, Germany, Sweden and Andorra in Pool B. Spain, Romania, Israel and the Netherlands in Pool C and Wales, Finland, Moldova and Italy in Pool D.
Six nations from the Limoges qualifier will join Brazil - winners of the South American qualifier in January - in Dubai with the other nine places to be filled by two qualifiers from Africa, two from North America, three from Asia and two from Oceania before the end of the year.
