(Photo by Getty Images) (Photo by Getty Images)

The Australian Thunderbolts have secured their trip to Rio De Janeiro for next year's Games, with the biggest sports carnival in the world preparing to host the abbreviated version of the game as an official Olympic sport for the first time.

Almost needless to say, after taking out last weekend's Oceania Championship, the Thunderbolts will now be aiming for Gold.

It was a dominant performance by the Thunderbolts in Auckland, with our blokes conceding just one try throughout the entire tournament. All told, they scored an impressive 297 points in total.

Topping off an excellent weekend of rugby sevens, the Thunderbolts trounced Tonga 50-0 in the final.

(Photo by Getty Images) (Photo by Getty Images)

Australia's regional rivals and international powerhouses, Fiji and New Zealand, were absent from the event, having already qualified for the Games.

Australia made it tough for themselves by finishing the season ranked fifth in world, which meant they missed out on one of the four automatic Rio qualifying places. South Africa and England secured the remaining two.

There will be a lot of work to do for the Thunderbolts in order for them to seriously challenge for Gold next year. However, with that vital qualification secured, a host of players from the 15-man code loom as attractive options ahead of the Games ... Israel Folau, Quade Cooper, Bernard Foley and Henry Speight will be facing the fight for selection.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60w9n-wNoTI