News As Rio de Janeiro prepares to welcome rugby back to the Olympic Games after a break of 92 years, the groups for the men's and women's tournaments were announced at the headquarters of the Rio 2016 organising committee on Tuesday (28 June) Twelve teams of each gender will compete for the medals in rugby sevens in Rio In the first stage of competition, they have been put into three groups of four teams, based on a ranking drawn up by World Rugby Each group is headed by one of the top three seeds The top two in each group will qualify for the quarter-finals, plus the two best third-placed teams, based on competition points and then points difference In the men's event, the top three seeds are favourites Fiji in pool A, South Africa in pool B and New Zealand in pool C Joining Fiji in pool A will be the USA, Argentina and host nation Brazil, the lowest ranked side in the competition In pool B South Africa will take on Australia, France and Spain, who claimed the last qualifying place earlier this month The major clash in pool C will be between Great Britain and the intimidating All Blacks of New Zealand; Japan and Kenya are the two other teams In women's rugby, the top seeds in pools A, B and C respectively are Australia, New Zealand and Canada The USA, Fiji and Colombia join Australia in pool A France, Spain and Kenya will compete in pool B with New Zealand In pool C, Canada will play against host nation Brazil, Great Britain and Japan The match schedule will be announced in mid-July Brazil's star player Edna Santini said she was pleased to be avoiding rugby superpowers New Zealand and Australia in the pool stages "It's a good group for us  We have already drawn with Canada and we have played well against Great Britain," she said "Japan play at the same level as Brazil " "Finishing above eighth will be a good result for us " South American rivalry Daniel Gregg, technical manager of the Brazilian men's side, said the match against Argentina will be key to the home team's hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals "Argentina play in a similar way to Brazil and the games between us are always close," said Gregg, who was born in Rio de Janeiro "It will be a big advantage to be playing at home  The Brazilian fans and their energy will be a defining part of the Games in Rio " In the women's game, the tiny Santini, who will turn 24 in July, has turned heads around the world with her try-scoring brilliance Only 1 53m high and weighing just 54kg, Brazil's 'pocket rocket' has emerged as one of world rugby's most exciting young talents   "It's massive for rugby to be back in the Olympic Games," she said on a visit to the rugby stadium on Tuesday "We don't have the rugby culture of some other countries, but we are closing the gap Rugby is growing very fast in Brazil now, there are more schools playing and more rugby clubs " The design of the Deodoro Stadium could spur on the Brazilian women's team, who go into the Olympic Games seeded ninth The stands are located very close to the pitch, bringing passionate home support close to the action Home advantage "It's really cool and looks really nice I am getting butterflies in my stomach just being here," Santini said "The crowd will be behind us and that will lift us There will be a real party atmosphere " "It will be a dream come true to take part in rugby's return to the Olympics, especially in front of our own fans Home support will be like having an extra player on the pitch "  Spectators at Deodoro Stadium will be right up close to the action during the Olympic rugby sevens matches (Photo: Rio 2016/Daniel Ramalho) Bernard Lapasset, the chairman of World Rugby, was also in the party that visited the Olympic venue on Tuesday "The magic of rugby sevens is the combination of the on-field action with the off-field atmosphere," said the Frenchman   "I'm sure there will be a great atmosphere in Rio, with bands playing and the crowd getting behind the Brazilian teams  Being close to the pitch will bring the spectators close to the players, and help build the atmosphere It is going to be a lot of fun " Finishing touches The stadium is now receiving its finishing touches The rugby posts will be put into position on 18 July and the pitch markings will be painted onto the grass on 3 August   Rugby will begin its return to the Olympic Games on 6 August with the start of the women's event, which ends on 8 August The men's competition will run from 9 August to 11 August "It's a fantastic moment for rugby," Lapasset said "It's amazing to be part of the world's biggest festival of sport I am very proud to be here  The dream has become reality "