Paris Olympics 2024: Rugby Sevens - history, rules, defending champions

Rugby as a sport goes back to medieval times in several European countries, but modern rules and codes were established between 1845 and 1848 by an English town of Rugby and the University of Cambridge. In 1871, the first national federation was formed. In 1873, Rugby Seven as a discipline was conceived by two butchers, Ned Haig and David Sanderson, as a fundraising event in Melrose, Scotland. In 1886, the International Rugby Board (now called World Rugby) was established.

What are the rules?

Multiple rugby variants have emerged over the years: Rugby League, Beach Rugby and Flag Rugby — the two main forms of the game remain 15-player Rugby Union and Rugby Sevens.

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All variants share the same basic rules for tackling, backward passes and scrums, which vary according to the number of players allowed on the pitch.

Rugby Sevens is fast-paced and intense with matches lasting 14 minutes - seven minutes of two halves. It is more physically demanding in the sense that players make more sprints and score more tries than in Rugby Union.

The point system is same as the traditional Rugby Union format: 5 points for a try, 2 points for a conversion from a kick, and 3 points for a drop goal or penalty.

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What is Rugby Sevens’ history at Olympics?

Rugby has a long history at the Olympic Games. A men’s Rugby Union event was first included at the 1900 Paris Games, and was repeated at the 1908, 1920 and 1924 Olympics. However, it was dropped from the Olympic programme after the 1924 Paris Games.

There was an attempt to get Rugby Sevens introduced at the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles. But it lost out in favour of US-friendly lacrosse and American Football.

There was another attempt to get it back for the 2012 Olympics in London. Golf, Karate, Roller Sports, Rugby Sevens, and Squash were all in consideration in 2005. Squash and Karate were included after votes.

It was reintroduced by the IOC in October 2009 for the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. It has since been part of the men’s and women’s programme.

Who are the reigning champions?

Fiji won their first-ever Olympic gold medal in Men’s Rugby Sevens at Rio in 2016. The sport is entwined in the social fabric in the country. Not surprisingly, the men’s team delivered another gold in Tokyo. A third straight Olympic title looks challenging though, with Fiji failing to win on this season’s world series tour.

Australia and New Zealand have split the women’s Rugby Sevens golds. They have been the teams to beat this year. Australia won the 2024 World Series. But the gap is closing between the two longtime leaders and a chasing group that includes France and the USA.

Which countries have qualified?

Men’s: France, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Uruguay, Ireland, United States, Kenya, Samoa, Japan and another place to be decided.

Women’s: France, Australia, New Zealand, United States, Ireland, Brazil, Great Britain, Canada, South Africa, Fiji, Japan and one more to be determined.

Who are the athletes to watch in Rugby Sevens?

Antoine Dupont (France): The 27-year-old scrumhalf is one of the world’s best rugby players. He has been turning his attention to the condensed sevens format of the sport this year with the aim of winning an Olympic gold medal on home soil.

Michael Hooper (Australia): He was the longest-serving captain of Australia’s Wallabies before converting to sevens after failing to make the cut for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. The 32-year-old forward has been taking a crash course in the finer arts of sevens in the world series.

Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (New Zealand): An Olympic champion and the all-time leading scorer in the women’s world sevens series — scoring a 250th career try during the Singapore Sevens in May. She won a gold medal in Tokyo, offsetting the bitter disappointment of a loss to Australia in 2016 when rugby sevens made its Olympic debut at Rio de Janeiro.

Ilona Maher (United States): She was one of TikTok’s breakout stars of the Tokyo Olympics, where she posted while wearing a red, white and blue bucket hat. Maher uses a #beastbeautybrains campaign and hopes her videos spread body image positivity and bring more attention to the sport.

When will Rugby Sevens take place at Paris Olympics?

The men’s tournament starts 24 July, two days before the opening ceremony, and concludes with the gold medal match on 27 July. The women’s tournament will be staged 28-30 July. There is one spot left to be filled in the 12-team pools and it will be filled between 21-23 June in Monaco.