He speaks with former coach Jérôme Daret, commentator Rupert Cox, psychologist Stephen McIvor, and ex-All Blacks Sevens captain Karl Te Nana about the key changes.

With stars like Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, Stephen Parez, and Jordan Sepho, plus the addition of 15s icon Antoine Dupont, France’s strategy—including Dupont’s game-changing halftime entry in the final—proved decisive.

The women’s rugby sevens competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics was nothing short of spectacular, culminating in New Zealand’s thrilling 19-12 victory over Canada to secure their second consecutive Olympic gold. This hard-fought win marked a glorious end to the careers of rugby legends Portia Woodman-Wickliffe and Tyla King, who retired with gold medals around their necks.

USA’s Historic Bronze Medal Win

The USA women’s team achieved a milestone by claiming their first-ever Olympic rugby sevens medal. In a nail-biting bronze medal match, they edged out Australia with a 14-12 win, thanks to a last-minute try. This victory not only brought the USA a historic medal but also showcased the growing prominence of women’s rugby in the country.

Maddison Levi’s Record-Breaking Performance

Despite Australia missing out on a medal, Maddison Levi set a new record for the most tries in a single Olympic Games, scoring an incredible 14 tries. This achievement placed her level with Woodman-Wickliffe on the all-time Olympic scoring chart with 17 tries, highlighting her exceptional talent and determination.

A Spectacular Tournament at Stade de France

Over 500,000 fans filled Stade de France, witnessing six days of breathtaking rugby sevens action. The event marked a significant milestone for the sport, showcasing its dynamic and fast-paced nature to a global audience. The tournament’s success was evident in the record-breaking attendance and the high level of competition displayed by all teams.

Ilona Maher of the USA became the most followed rugby player on social media, surpassing Siya Kolisi, the double men’s Rugby World Cup-winning captain. This reflects the rising profile of women’s rugby and its increasing influence both on and off the field.

Looking Ahead: The Road to LA 2028

The success of rugby sevens at Paris 2024 has set a solid foundation for the future. As the SVNS Series begins a new Olympic cycle, the sport aims to continue its growth and enhance its reputation on the world stage. The next chapter in Olympic rugby sevens will unfold at the LA 2028 Games, promising even more excitement and milestones.

The Paris 2024 women’s rugby sevens competition has undoubtedly left an indelible mark, showcasing the sport’s thrilling nature and the incredible talent of its players. As the curtains fall on this sensational tournament, the anticipation for the next Olympic cycle begins.

Rugby sevens lit up Stade de France again on Monday with more than 120,000 fans in awe of the incredible strength, speed and skill of the world’s best 12 women’s teams

• Semi-final line-up sees New Zealand v USA and Canada v Australia
• Heartbreak for hosts France as Canada win epic quarter-final 19-14
• Australia’s Maddison Levi scores a sensational quarter-final hattrick to take her Paris 2024 try tally to 11 and break the record for tries at a single Olympic Games
• Finals day on Tuesday begins at 14:30 local time (GMT+2) with the semi-finals from 15:30 and the gold medal match bringing down the curtain at 19:45

The best women’s rugby sevens players in the world dazzled more than 120,000 fans inside Stade de France across two competition sessions with their outstanding talent and athleticism as the Paris 2024 Olympic semi-final line-up was defined following an enthralling day of sevens action.

New Zealand will face USA, while Canada meet Australia in the semi-finals on Tuesday afternoon following a thrilling set of quarter-finals that resulted in heartbreak for hosts France.

Four New Zealand players scored twice as they beat China 55-5 to set a new points record for a women’s rugby sevens match at an Olympic Games, beating the 53 Australia had scored against Colombia at Rio 2016.

That record win set up a semi-final meeting with USA, who came back after conceding an early try to beat Great Britain 17-7 in an intensely competitive quarter-final.

Meanwhile, Canada broke French hearts with a 19-14 victory in a hugely physical encounter, and Maddison Levi scored a hattrick to take her Paris 2024 tally to 11 and break Portia Woodman-Wickliffe’s long-standing individual Olympic tournament try record as Australia convincingly beat Ireland 40-7 to make up the final four.

On breaking the record Levi said: “Record try scorer sounds pretty good but Olympic gold medallist would sound even better so hopefully we’ll get that tomorrow. As I always say I would not be getting these accolades if it wasn’t for the team beside me and they put me in to the space to best utilise my skills.

Earlier in the day France’s Seraphine Okemba scored four tries as Les Bleues beat Brazil to maintain the host nation’s perfect start to the women’s competition, while Australia and New Zealand also completed a clean sweep of their respective pools on the second day of women’s competition at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Those results saw New Zealand play China, Great Britain take on USA, France meet Canada and Australia face Ireland in the last eight on Monday evening.

The women’s sevens comes to a climax on Tuesday with finals day beginning at 14:30 local time (GMT+2). The semi-finals kick off from 15:30 and the gold medal match will bring down the curtain on a truly unforgettable Olympic rugby sevens at 19:45.

China will meet Great Britain, while France will face Ireland in Tuesday’s fifth-place semi-finals. Japan will play Brazil for ninth-place, and South Africa will take on Fiji in the 11th-place play-off.

The women’s teams took center stage on Sunday, beginning the competition in style. The packed crowd marked a new high for a women’s rugby event, surpassing the previous record of 58,498 at Twickenham for England vs. France in 2023.

The Rio 2016 gold medalists and SVNS 2024 Grand Final champions, Australia, showcased their prowess on day one, defeating South Africa and Great Britain to top Pool B and secure a quarter-final spot. Australia scored 12 tries in total, with Maddison Levi alone scoring seven to bring her Olympic total to 10. The USA, France, and New Zealand also secured their spots in the knockouts, while China pulled off an upset by defeating the Tokyo 2020 bronze medalists, Fiji, 40-12.

Reigning Olympic champions New Zealand ended the day at the top of Pool A after a 33-7 win over Canada and a 43-5 victory against China. In the match against Canada, Jorja Miller scored twice in the first half, contributing to a 19-7 lead at the break. Jazmin Felix-Hotham and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe added tries, ensuring a strong finish for New Zealand.

Fiji faced a tough start, losing both of their matches—first narrowly to Canada 17-14, and then unexpectedly to China. Fiji led early against China but conceded six tries to suffer a significant defeat.

Australia’s opening match against South Africa saw Maddison Levi and Faith Nathan score within the first four minutes. Levi added three more tries before halftime, leading to a 24-0 advantage, and completed her fourth in the second half. Teagan Levi also contributed to a 34-5 victory. Against Great Britain, Maddison Levi scored three more tries in a 36-5 win, supported by tries from Bienne Terita, Teagan Levi, and Nathan.

Great Britain finished the day second in Pool B after a 21-12 victory over Ireland. Ireland rebounded with a 38-0 win against South Africa, keeping their quarter-final hopes alive with tries from Béibhinn Parsons, Stacey Flood, Vicki Elmes Kinlan, Eve Higgins, and Amee Leigh Murphy Crowe.

The USA began their Olympic campaign with a 36-7 win over Japan in Pool C. Despite Japan’s early lead, the USA took control, with Kristi Kirshe scoring twice in a six-try performance. A 24-5 win over Brazil secured their unbeaten status heading into a decisive match against France.

Hosts France thrilled the home crowd by ending the day unbeaten, winning against Brazil and Japan without conceding a point. They opened with a 26-0 victory over Brazil and followed with a dominant 49-0 win against Japan, scoring seven tries to lead Pool C.

The women’s sevens competition continues on Monday with the final round of pool matches starting at 14:00 local time (GMT+2), followed by the quarter-finals at 20:00. The finals will take place on Tuesday, 30 July.

France beat Fiji 28-7 to win Olympic Games Paris 2024 men’s rugby sevens gold, while South Africa overcome Australia to secure bronze in front of 69,000 fervent fans at Stade de France

Rugby Sevens has ignited the Olympic Games Paris 2024 with a record breaking 550,000 fans creating an incredible atmosphere across six days of competition

The three-day women’s competition kicks off at 15:30 (GMT+2) on Sunday, culminating in the finals on Tuesday 30 July

At the end of three scintillating days of Olympic men’s rugby sevens action, played out in front of captivated, capacity crowds of 69,000 at the iconic Stade de France, it was hosts France who took Paris 2024 gold amid euphoric scenes of celebration.

A sensational Antoine Dupont scored twice and set up another as he inspired France to claim the first team gold medal of the Paris Games with a 28-7 defeat of Fiji in the final.

Beating the two-time defending champions, who had never before lost a game of Olympic rugby sevens, the host nation dominated the second half as they scored three unanswered tries to claim their place on top of the podium.

Dupont entered the fray after the break and made an immediate impact, setting up a score for Aaron Grandidier Nkanang to nudge France ahead before scoring a brace of his own to secure gold and consign Fiji to silver.

South Africa joined France and Fiji on the podium, beating Australia 26-19 in a thrilling bronze medal match to repeat their finish at Rio 2016. South Africa were the last team to qualify for the 2024 Games, making their journey to the podium in Paris all the more impressive.

France reached the final with a 19-5 win over South Africa in the semi-final while Rio and Tokyo gold medallists Fiji turned on the style to beat Australia 31-7 to reach their third consecutive gold medal match.

New Zealand, Argentina, Kenya and Uruguay all ended their Olympic campaigns with wins in their respective play-offs. Uruguay claimed 11th spot with a 21-10 win over Japan, Kenya edged ninth place with a 10-5 victory over Samoa, Argentina clinched seventh as they cruised to a 19-0 win over the USA, and New Zealand beat Ireland 17-7 in the fifth place play-off.

The final was attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, Fiji President Wiliame Katonivere and IOC President Thomas Bach among a host of other dignitaries and famous fames inside Stade de France to witness the epic encounter between the SVNS 2024 champions France, and double Olympic champions Fiji who had never lost an Olympic match.

The gold medal match was refereed by Australia’s Jordan Way, while Jérémy Rozier from France took charge of the bronze medal match.

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont Beaumont hailed ‘perfect’ Paris as men’s rugby sevens enjoys golden moment with record crowds, huge audiences and spectacular sevens. Rugby’s energetic Olympic format has come of age, and World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont believes that Paris has been ‘perfect’ hosts with more to come.

The women’s teams takes centre stage on Sunday as the three-day competition gets under way at 15:30 local time (GMT+2) with pool phase matches followed by quarter-finals on Monday evening and finals day on Tuesday 30 July to bring down the curtain on a spectacular Olympic rugby sevens event.

The Olympic Games Paris 2024 men’s rugby sevens semi-final line-up was completed following a pulsating day that saw a record 130,000 spectators create an incredible atmosphere inside Stade de France

It was another seismic and record-breaking day for rugby sevens at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 as a single-day attendance record of more than 130,000 fans was set at a packed Stade de France across two competition sessions to witness the speed, skill and all action entertainment of sevens at its best as the men’s semi-finalists were decided.

South Africa, France, Fiji and Australia won through to Saturday’s semi-finals on a thrilling night of knockout rugby at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

South Africa’s Blitzboks ended New Zealand’s medal hopes with a defensive masterclass in the opening quarter-final, before hosts France played their best rugby at Paris 2024 to get the better of Argentina.

Ireland threatened to spring a major shock against reigning double Olympic champions Fiji, before Australia eased past USA to reach their first Olympic semi-final.

Hosts France will play South Africa in the last four, after they overcame rivals Argentina 26-14 in thrilling fashion in the most anticipated quarter-final of the evening.

With a packed Stade de France creating a epic atmosphere, France played their best rugby of the tournament so far, racing into a 21-0 first-half lead. Andy Timo scored their first try after four minutes, finishing a long period in attack in exultant fashion.

And Aaron Grandidier Nkanang scored twice in two minutes to get a partisan Stade de France party crowd on their feet.

Rodrigo Isgró pulled one back for Argentina early in the second half, and Marcos Moneta added a second with two minutes left on the clock, after Jordan Sepho was sin-binned to set French nerves tingling. But Les Bleus Sevens kept hold of the ball for the closing moments – and Antoine Dupont ghosted through a gap for the final word.

South Africa – the lowest-ranked team in the quarter-finals – pulled off a surprise 14-7 win over Tokyo Olympic finalists New Zealand to book their place in the last four in Paris.

The Blitzboks raced into a 14-0 first-half lead, courtesy of tries from captain Selvyn Davids and Tristan Leyds – the latter a remarkable length-of-the-field affair as Davids turned defence into attack in a flash.

Moses Leo pulled New Zealand back into contention with a try deep into added time at the end of the first period. But they could not break down a remarkable South African defence that was repeatedly stretched but scrambled and battled for phase after phase to keep them at bay.

Defending champions Fiji made it 16 wins from 16 Olympic matches – but only after Ireland had given them an almighty scare in the third quarter-final on a dramatic evening of rugby sevens at Stade de France.

A first-half double from Chay Mullins and Zac Ward’s superb run-in early in the second period looked to have set Ireland well on the way to the shock of the tournament, after Iosefo Baleiwairiki had scored the game’s opening try.

But Joji Nasova and Waisea Nacuqu touched down in quick succession to overturn an eight-point deficit – by far the biggest Fiji have had to overcome in a knockout match at the Games and book a place in their third successive Olympic semi-final.

Tries from James Turner and Corey Toole were enough for Australia to book their place in the last four in the final match of quarter-finals night at Stade de France.

The Australians were just too organised for Mike Friday’s USA, and thought they had gone further ahead midway through the second period, but Toole was adjudged to have been forced into touch as he dived over in the corner.

As the seconds ticked down, Maurice Longbottom kicked a rare penalty – only the third in Olympic history – to confirm Australia’s place in the medal semi-finals. And there was still time for him to round off the scoring with a late try.

Earlier in the day the USA’s Perry Baker drew level with Carlin Isles on the all-time Olympic try-scorers’ list after becoming the first man to score four tries in a single match and bring his Olympic tally to nine.

Rugby sevens takes a day break for the Opening Ceremony on 26 July before returning with the men’s finals on 27 July when the action will begin at 14:30 local time (GMT+2).

New Zealand will play Argentina and Ireland will face USA as Saturday’s action kicks off with the fifth-place semi-finals.

The highly anticipated women’s competition follows on 28-30 July.

Rugby sevens kicked off the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in front of a record-breaking crowd of 69,000 fans at Stade de France

Rugby sevens ignited the Olympic Games Paris 2024 with a spectacular first day of action in front of the largest single-day crowd in rugby sevens history with 69,000 fans packed into Stade de France and millions more watching around the world.

SVNS league winners Argentina, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and double Olympic champions Fiji secured their places in Thursday’s quarter-finals with pair of opening day wins.

Meanwhile, France superstar Antoine Dupont scored a vital try to help the hosts beat Uruguay after they began their campaign with a tense draw against the USA earlier in the day.

Paris 2024 Organising Committee President Tony Estanguet and New Zealand’s Rugby World Cup winner Dan Carter were among a host of famous faces present at Stade de France to witness the start of the sporting action at these Olympic Games.

The men’s sevens continue on Thursday with the final round of pool matches from 14:00 local time (GMT+2) before the quarter-finals begin at 20:00. Teams then take a rest on 26 July as the Games Opening Ceremony takes place before finals day on 27 July. The highly anticipated women’s competition runs from 28-30 July.

Reigning Olympic champions Fiji reminded everyone exactly why they have two golds to their name on the opening day of the men’s rugby sevens competition at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, beating Uruguay and USA to book their place in the medal quarter-finals.

New Zealand, Ireland, Argentina and Australia have also secured their passage to the knockout phase with perfect starts on day one – but hosts France still have work to do to make sure of a place in the last eight, with USA chasing hard in a wide open Pool C.

POOL A

Ireland and New Zealand set up a Pool A decider on Thursday, with two wins apiece.

Terry Kennedy maintained his try-scoring record for Ireland, as they beat South Africa 10-5 in a tense affair to kick-off Pool A. Jordan Conroy also scored, while Selvyn Davids answered for the Blitzboks.

Kennedy, inevitably, got his second – a 75-metre solo run-in – to kick-start the Irish scoring against Japan late in the day. He turned provider for the first of Chay Mullins’ double with another lonely, long distance run. Captain Harry McNulty, Niall Comerford, Mark Roche and Zac Ward all contributed points to a 40-5 win.

Meanwhile, Akuila Rokolisoa, Fehi Fineanganofo and Ngarohi McGarvey-Black scored two each as New Zealand cruised to a 40-12 win over a hard-working Japan in their opener.

Shotaro Tsuoka scored a stunner in response – overtaking two New Zealand defenders to chase down a beautifully weighted kick, but their chances were few and far between. Taiga Ishida repeated the kick-chase trick for a late consolation.

Moses Leo finished off arguably the try of the day in Wednesday’s final match, a 100-metre, multi-pass, coast-to-coast affair as New Zealand beat South Africa 17-5 in a physical encounter. He raced in a second time midway through the second half, while McGarvey-Black also scored.

POOL B

Australia and Argentina won both their matches to set themselves en route to the knockout phase.

A Henry Hutchison brace and one for Nathan Lawson helped Australia to a 21-14 victory over Samoa in the tournament’s opening match. But it was the Pacific Islanders who had the Stade de France crowd on their side, as Motu Opetai intercepted a pass to run in the competition’s first try from 50 metres.

After Hutchison and Lawson had put Australia clear, Faafoi Falaniko had the last word for Samoa, finishing a sweeping move to get the crowd on their feet again.

Australia later eased to a 21-7 win over a spirited Kenya – James Turner getting the scoreboard moving on the opening attack, with Lawson and Corey Toole also crossing.

Kenya had earlier lost 31-12 to Argentina, after taking the lead thanks to the pace of Chrisant Ojwang. Two Agustin Fraga tries either side of half-time handed the advantage to the South Americans, which they pushed home with three late touchdowns.

Argentina went two for two with a comfortable 28-12 win over Samoa. Matías Osadczuk scored twice, while Matteo Graziano, and Joaquin Pellandini also touched down.

POOL C

Fiji showed why they are double Olympic champions, while hosts France made hard work of the opening day.

Cheered on in a packed Stade de France, the hosts could not turn pressure into points against USA as the sides shared four tries in a hard-fought 12-12 draw, only the second in Olympic history after USA and Australia finished all-square in the women’s competition in Rio.

Les Bleus beat Uruguay 19-12 in their second and final outing of day one, but again made hard work of it – twice conceding the lead and surviving a nervy finish, as Ignacio Facciolo and Juan Gonzalez cancelled out tries from Antoine Zeghdar and Antoine Dupont, who showed tremendous strength to finish off a 75-metre move. Jefferson-Lee Joseph raced through the defence to put France into a winning lead.

Fiji kicked off their title defence with a statement 40-12 win over Uruguay. Joji Nasova scored twice, while Waisea Nacuqu, Iowane Teba, Ponepati Loganimasi, and Selesitino Ravutaumada got one apiece as they ran South American defenders ragged.

A second command performance followed as the sun went down, as Fiji staged a festival of attacking, offloading rugby to beat USA 38-12.

After Orrin Bizer put the Eagles ahead, Teba, Ravutaumada and Nacuqu all got their second tries of the day, while Kaminieli Rasaku, Josaia Raisuqe and Iosefo Masi got their names on the scoresheet, before Perry Baker scored a consolation try.

In the UK, significant attention will be directed towards the Rugby Sevens players during the Olympics. This year, only the women’s national team has qualified for the Olympics in France.

The Schedule Overview

The Olympic Games officially open on July 26, 2024, and run until August 11. In Rugby Sevens, the men’s preliminary round kicks off today, July 24, while the women’s campaign starts on July 28 with an opening match between Team GB and Ireland. The women’s final is set for July 30, and the men’s final will conclude the events on July 27. Here’s the detailed schedule:

Men

• Pool Stage: July 24 – July 25
• Knock-Out Stage: July 25 & July 27
• Medal Matches:
  • Bronze Medal Match: July 27 at 18:00
  • Gold Medal Match: July 27 at 18:45

Women

• Pool Stage: July 28 – July 29
• Knock-Out Stage: July 29 & July 30
• Medal Matches:
  • Bronze Medal Match: July 30 at 18:00
  • Gold Medal Match: July 30 at 18:45

The Squads

20-year-old Talent Included: Coach Ciaran Beattie has named his squad for the Olympics.

Team GB Women’s Rugby Sevens Squad

• Amy Wilson Hardy
• Ellie Boatman
• Ellie Kildunne
• Emma Uren (C)
• Grace Crompton
• Heather Cowell
• Isla Norman-Bell
• Jade Shekells
• Jasmine Joyce
• Lauren Torley
• Lisa Thomson
• Meg Jones

The Groups at the Olympics

There are three pools for both the men’s and women’s tournaments, each consisting of four teams. The top two teams from each pool, along with the two best third-placed teams, advance to the quarterfinals.

Men

• Pool A: New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, Japan
• Pool B: Argentina, Australia, Samoa, Kenya
• Pool C: Fiji, France, USA, Uruguay

Women

• Pool A: New Zealand, Fiji, Canada, China
• Pool B: Australia, Ireland, Great Britain, South Africa
• Pool C: France, USA, Japan, Brazil

Where Will the Rugby Sevens Games Take Place?

All Rugby Sevens matches for both the men and women will be held at France’s national stadium, Stade de France, in Paris. This iconic stadium can accommodate about 80,000 spectators, providing a grand stage for the exciting Rugby Sevens action.

Who Will Broadcast Rugby Sevens at the Olympic Games?

In the UK, the BBC will cover all events of the Olympic Games, including Rugby Sevens. The BBC, known for its comprehensive sports coverage, will provide live broadcasts, extensive highlights, and in-depth analysis of every game.

BBC Coverage Overview

The BBC will broadcast live from Paris every competition day, ensuring fans do not miss any of the action. Coverage starts with the first competitions on July 24, including the opening matches of the men’s Rugby Sevens tournament.

The BBC will offer up to 15 hours of daily coverage, featuring live broadcasts on television and streaming options on BBC iPlayer. This extensive coverage ensures that every crucial decision is delivered to UK sports fans’ living rooms and mobile devices. The BBC will show every Great Britain Rugby Sevens match live, with full-length streams available online.

For everything about the Rugby Sevens competition at the Olympics, check out our guide here, and for the full schedule, visit this link.

In the presence of Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco, there were scenes of euphoria and heartbreak on Olympic Day at Stade Louis II as Olympic dreams were either realised or sadly crushed.

South Africa beat Great Britain 14-5 in a tense men’s final to claim the final men’s qualification spot at the Paris Olympics.

In a game where all the points were scored in the first half, the Blitzboks were resolute in defence, holding out a late Great Britain onslaught to book their place on the plane to Paris.

Canada and Spain missed out after falling at the semi-final stage, but Spain finished the weekend with some pride as they won 31-14 to finish third.

China clinched the final women’s spot in Paris as they beat Kenya 24-7 in the final to continue their recent outstanding run of results.

In an unbeaten weekend, China beat Paraguay 31-0 and Poland by 40-7 on finals day on their way to the last dance, with four tries that included a brace from Chen Keyi helping them to victory over Kenya and their 27th win on the bounce this season.

Kenya, who are the only side to have beaten China all season in the HSBC Challenger Series, had edged past both Argentina and Czechia before falling agonisingly short in the final, while Poland ended their weekend on a high as they won bronze with a 33-14 win over Czechia.

South Africa’s Tristan Leyds said: “It’s a pretty special group we have here, just to cherish the moment is what we’re living for. There was a lot of external pressure, the people back home get disappointed [when we don’t perform], but we kept the group tight and it paid off, we qualified for Paris.

“To the people back home, thank you for supporting us and believing in us, we are going to take this energy to Paris.”

“We have some pretty special youngsters in our team, they made us proud this week,” added Rosko Specman. “[The Olympics] is the biggest sporting event in the world. It’s pretty special to play in an Olympics.”

China’s brace-scorer Chen Keyi said: “We are feeling really good, we are so excited to go to Paris. I think we deserve it, we work so hard for each other, on and off the field.”

“We are so proud of ourselves; we are so proud of our teammates; and we are so proud of our coaches,” added Liu Xiaoqian.

“[Time for] a holiday for us I think,” added Keyi. “We want to go home and see our parents and friends. See you in Paris!”

Rugby Sevens is proving to be one of the most highly anticipated events of Paris 2024, following the outstanding success of Rugby World Cup 2023 in France, and the sport will have the honour of kicking off the Games in Paris on 24 July, two days ahead of the Opening Ceremony.

The men’s competition takes place from 24-27 July, followed by the women’s tournament on 28-30 July. With the Olympic line-ups now complete the Paris 2024 pools are set to be announced later on Sunday in Monaco.

In the men’s event, hosts France are joined by New Zealand, Argentina, Fiji and Australia who booked their places in Paris by ranking in the top four positions of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2023, along with six regional qualification tournament winners in Uruguay (South America), Ireland (Europe), USA (North America), Kenya (Africa), Samoa (Oceania) and Japan (Asia) and the Repechage winners South Africa.

The women’s Olympic competition sees New Zealand, Australia, Ireland and USA as the top four qualifiers through the 2023 World Series, along with hosts France. They have been joined by Brazil, Canada, Great Britain, South Africa, Fiji and Japan as regional qualification tournament winners and they are now joined by Repechage champions China.

Fiji’s men have dominated the Olympic competition to date with double gold medal success on debut at Rio 2016 and again in Tokyo five years later. New Zealand are the reigning women’s Olympic champions and Australia won the inaugural women’s Olympic gold medal in Rio.

The inclusion of rugby sevens for the in the Olympic Games at Rio 2016 had a profound effect on the sport, attracting an estimated 30 million new fans globally.

The Olympics form part of a hugely exciting year for rugby sevens with the reinvigorated HSBC SVNS providing an incredible spectacle with a Series of seven combined men’s and women’s events around the globe leading to a thrilling Grand Final in Madrid where France men and Australia women were crowned the inaugural SVNS champions, while Argentina men and New Zealand women were the League Winners having proved to be the most consistent across the seven regular season rounds.

World Rugby Chief Competitions & Performance Officer Nigel Cass said:

“Congratulations to China women and South Africa men on booking their tickets to the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at the end of an intensely competitive and highly entertaining World Rugby Sevens Repechage event in Monaco.

“Our deep thanks and gratitude to Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco and the Fédération Monégasque de Rugby for such excellent hosting of this important Olympic qualification event for the third time in succession.

“Rugby sevens is set to bring a party atmosphere to the start of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 with a vibrant and passionate crowd alongside the incredible skill, speed and strength on show on the pitch from some of the most impressive athletes in the world.

“The spotlight will be on rugby sevens like never before as our sport will have the honour to kick off the Olympic Games two days ahead of the Opening Ceremony, and men’s rugby sevens will be the first team sport gold medal of the Games on 27 July. Like the players, teams and fans, we can’t wait for the Games to begin and see rugby sevens take centre stage in Stade de France.”

After the conclusion of the Repechage tournament, the Paris 2024 Olympic pools for rugby sevens will be announced alongside the pools for the wheelchair rugby competition at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Register to watch the announcement at 20:00 (GMT+2) here.

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