Sevens rugby is set to be part of the 2016 Olympic Games after the International Olympics Committee's Executive Board voted at its Berlin meeting to include the sport.

The recommendation must be rubber stamped by a full meeting of the IOC congress in October.

Rugby and Golf which is set to return after 112 year absence were given the green light in the IOC meeting.

Softball, squash, baseball, karate and roller sports were also hoping to be included, but all have all missed out.

The International Rugby Board would scrap its Sevens World Cup to ensure the Olympics is the sports top event.

Sevens rugby is already part of the Commonwealth Games.

Rugby was the clear winner overall during the voting times, getting seven votes in the first round and a majority of 9 in the second round.

In a separate ensuing vote golf needed four rounds to get through.