Brazil casts global net to fund rugby players to fill Olympic sevens teams
2016 Olympic hosts looking for players to fill sevens teams for sport's games debut
Brazil is sending a message to everyone who plays rugby out there: You want to participate in the Rio Olympics? Come talk to us!
Hoping to put on a good show when rugby sevens debuts in the 2016 Games, the Brazilian federation has announced that it will go hunting for players abroad, looking for anyone with at least some experience in the game and a Brazilian link that would allow them to represent the country.
The federation this weekend is launching a worldwide campaign - entitled "Brazilian Rugby Players Wanted" - to spread the word, hoping to find at least a handful of players who can help turn the national team into a more competitive squad by the time the Olympics arrive.
Brazil has very little tradition in the sport and has never achieved significant results in top international competitions but both the men's and women's national teams automatically qualify for the 2016 Games as hosts.
Rugby officials sent a letter to international federations, international clubs and rugby publications to try to attract players who may not be able to play at the top level in their countries but who could be useful to the Brazilian team.
"If you fulfil the criteria [to become a Brazilian citizen] and believe you have the athleticism, skill, passion and drive to represent Brazil, then we want to hear from you," says the letter being distributed to those involved with rugby across the globe.