IRB Sevens World Series regulars Portugal won the final FIRA heat in Russia at the weekend to proceed as top seeds to Europe's Rugby World Cup Sevens qualifying final in Hanover, Germay on 12-13 July.
Portugal overcame Moscow hosts Russia 21-19 in the final to finish ahead of Wales on points difference after the seven heats staged in Denmark, Poland, Croatia, Georgia, Czech Republic, Greece and Russia.
Each of the 35 teams aiming to qualify for the Peugeot Hanover Sevens played in two of those events with only Portugal and Wales managing to win both of their heats.
They now travel to Germany as number one and two seeds ahead of Ireland (3) and Spain (4), who each won one event and finished runners-up in another.
The other eight teams in Hanover will be Russia, Italy, Ukraine, the hosts Germany, Romania, Poland, Belgium and Georgia.
Of the 12 teams set to compete, only five will go on to compete in Sevens rugby's biggest event in Dubai next year on 5-7 March.
Those lucky five will join the three European sides who pre-qualifed courtesy of their 2005 Melrose Cup quarter final places in Hong Kong - England, France and Scotland.
In January Uruguay became the first men's team to qualify for the World Cup by beating Chile 31-19 in the South American final in Punta del Este.
Women's competition
For the first time, next year's Rugby World Cup Sevens will feature both men's and women's competitions and England's women won the FIRA European Sevens in Limoges, France earlier in June to qualify top from the region.
England, coached by former men's captain Simon Amor, are joined in the Dubai draw by the Netherlands, Russia, Spain, France and Italy. Elsewhere, Brazil have also already progressed from South America.
The remaining women's qualifiers will come from Oceania (two), Africa (two), North America (two) and Asia (three).
