Colomiers (AFP)

Two stadiums, same atmosphere: France's men's and women's rugby sevens teams failed on Sunday to qualify directly for the 2020 Olympic Games, beaten by England in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (TQO), and will have to go through the tournament repechage to hope to see Tokyo.

This is a stop for this discipline, emerging in France. Admittedly, Bleus and Bleues will have in June 2020 a last chance to participate in their second consecutive Games, four years after Rio where rugby VII had appeared. The boys will have to win the repechage tournament, the girls finish in one of the first two places.

A more accessible task for them, especially as the level is lower than men: only Russia appears at their level, and the two nations should not meet before the final.

Heads of series N.1, Blues and Blue however envisaged this Sunday, with Colomiers (Haute-Garonne) and Kazan (Russia), that the direct qualification, which passed by the gain of their TQO.

They missed their goal, beaten in the boys' home final (31-7), in the semifinals for girls (14-12), and with this failure flew off a season of preparation.

"Yes, the disappointment is great because we had come for something we do not have, but I want to remember that we are still alive, which is not the case of Spain and the United States. Ireland, two big nations, "told AFP David Courteix, coach of women.

"There is still a chance to see the Olympics, it's really frustrating to finish like this, but we need to get back in. We, like the girls, will come back determined and do everything to qualify," said Jean-Pascal. Barraque, captain of the Blues.

- "Below our level" -

Lacking last season and the first part of it on the world circuit, Barraque and his teammates were ramped up in the second part, finalists for the first time twice consecutively, in Vancouver in March and Hong Kong in April, "Mecca" of sevens.

They looked in the eyes of those Englishmen whom they had beaten three weeks earlier in Moscow.

But who, more experienced, were able to play at their level, when the French went through their final. They were led 21-7 at half-time after conceding three tries by English star Dan Norton.

"We had to win but we were below our level We did not play our game We were late We did not play this game like that and we can only blame ourselves We have not been precise, "acknowledged Jonathan Laugel.

The Blues have competed to the end with the English, but paid their defensive errors and lack of realism.

"They were able to prevent us from playing, the game never really took rhythm, even if it was intense in terms of the fight," said Courteix.

- "With the guts" -

And so escapes for his team a second way of qualifying for the Games, after that of the world circuit, where the French, vice-world champions in 2018, finished in first place non-qualifying (5th).

In Russia, however, they managed to remobilize to win the small final against Spain (17-5) and thus qualify for the repechage tournament.

"We've been very good at recovering from such disillusionment, and I'm very proud of this 3rd place finish with the guts and, really, talent," said Courteix.

Remobilise, Blue and Blue will have to do it again next season to see Japan in 2020.

"We have the weapons to get this goal, said the coach Jerome Daret Blue We must bounce back, continue to work.Nothing is over.This game (against England) should allow us to grow.

© 2019 AFP