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Rugby Sevens at the Olympics: Dates, events, schedule, history and Team GB prospects

Everything you need to know about Rugby Sevens at the Olympics in Paris.

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Olympic Rugby Sevens Dates

The men's Rugby Sevens take place on Wednesday 24th, Thursday 25th and Saturday 27th July. The tournament will not be played on Friday 26th July due to the opening ceremony.

The women's competition will be held on Sunday 28th, Monday 29th and Tuesday 30th July.

Olympic Rugby Sevens Teams

Men's 

Pool A

Pool B

Pool C

New Zealand

Australia

Fiji

Ireland

Argentina

France

South Africa

Samoa

United States

Japan

Kenya

Uruguay

Women's

Pool A

Pool B

Pool C

New Zealand

Australia

France

Fiji

Ireland

United States

Canada

Great Britain

Japan

China

South Africa

Brazil

Olympic Rugby Sevens Format

  • Wednesday 24th - Men's Pool matches
  • Thursday 25th - Men's Pool matches (afternoon) and Men's Placing 9-12 and Men's Quarter-Finals (Evening) 
  • Saturday 27th - Men's Placing and Medal matches
  • Sunday 28th - Women's Pool matches
  • Monday 29th - Women's Pool matches (afternoon) and Women's Placing 9-12 and Women's Quarter-finals (Evening) 
  • Tuesday 30th - Women's Placing and Medal matches

Both the men's and women's rugby sevens follow a 12-team format spread over three days, all featuring afternoon and evening sessions, as is often the case during the annual SVNS seasons.

The first three sessions involve the pool matches before the placing matches for the teams that fail to qualify for the last eight, as well as the quarter-finals, take place on the second evening.

The teams that lost in the last eight will then play their placing matches to establish their final position in the standings. The winners advance to the semi-finals, before the bronze medal match and the final.

Before those medal matches, there will also be further placing fixtures for those who do not make the final four.

Olympic Rugby Sevens Venue

A key to rugby sevens' success has been its ability to draw big crowds by playing in significant arenas.

It is, therefore, fitting that all of the action in Paris will be staged at the Games' primary venue, the Stade de France in Saint-Denis.

The stadium has previously hosted both the finals of the football and rugby World Cups, as well as the Euros final in 2016 and 2003 World Athletics Championships.

Olympic Rugby Sevens History

When was Rugby Sevens introduced to the Olympics?

Rugby Union was included in the 1900 Paris Games and was also featured in 1908 and 1920, before being dropped after the 1924 Olympics, again in the French capital.

Rugby Sevens was voted into the Olympics in 2009, making its debut in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and was again in the 2020 Games, with men's and women's events taking place on both occasions.

Fiji have won the gold medal in both men's competitions, while Australia won the women's in 2016, before New Zealand made amends for their silver in Rio by taking the top prize in Tokyo. 

Team GB's Olympic Rugby Sevens Prospects

Team GB are still to win a rugby sevens gold medal. The men lost the 2016 final to Fiji, before losing to Argentina in the bronze medal match three years ago and will not be improving on that record after failing to qualify.

Their female counterparts have also experienced near misses, being beaten in the bronze medal match on both occasions it has been played. 

Team GB's Olympic Rugby Sevens Record

Men's record

Year

Result

2016

2nd

2020

4th

Women's record

Year

Result

2016

4th

2020

4th

How many medals have Team GB captured in Olympic Rugby Sevens history?

The silver won by the men in Rio remains Team GB's sole Olympic prize in rugby sevens.

Olympic Rugby Sevens Favourites

Who are the favourites to win Rugby Sevens golds in Paris 2024?

Argentina topped the men's Rugby Sevens standings after the original seven rounds and are 10/3 for Olympic gold. However, France won the Grand Final in Madrid and are the 9/4 favourites for home glory.

A feature of the men's sevens is the influx of stars from the XVs, with 2021 Men's World Player of the Year Antoine Dupont turbocharging France's play.

After missing out on World Cup glory on home soil last year, he will be desperate for gold after a trophy-laden season with Toulouse.

New Zealand are 7/2, with Fiji 5/1 and Ireland, who can call on Hugo Keenan and the top points scorer in this season's SVNS, Terry Kennedy, available at 10/1.

The Kiwis' women's team are 21/20 to retain their title and are probably good for it after winning the global series in the last two years.

Australia are 13/8, with hosts France 11/2 and Great Britain 33/1.

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