The Rugby Sevens events at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games kick off today, with no delaying the high-octane version of the sport. Rugby Sevens is set to take centre stage at the Stade de France two days before the 2024 Paris Olympics official opening ceremony, with Australia and Samoa’s men’s teams kicking off the action today at 14:30.
The host nation and recent SVNS Grand Final champions France, will get their campaign under away the USA at 16:30. This will commence Antoine Dupont’s quest for gold, as the Toulouse scrum half has swapped rugby union for sevens for the upcoming Games. This match is then followed by the double Olympic gold medallists Fiji, with the reigning champions taking on Olympic Sevens debutants Uruguay at 17:00.
The women’s side of the competition gets underway on Sunday 28th July, with Great Britain and Ireland fans seeing their teams go head to head in the opening round of action. The reigning gold medal holders New Zealand then face SVNS Women’s Challenger champions China, before SVNS Women’s Grand Final champions Australia take on South Africa to cap off the first day of women’s sevens action.
The competition format sees all teams play three pool matches, with eight teams qualifying for the quarter-finals in the evening session of the second day of competition. The third day will then see the semi-finals and the all-important medal matches, as the first gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded in Paris.
World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “We anticipate a ‘coming of age’ event as rugby sevens kicks off the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France on Wednesday.
“The Paris Games is the jewel in the crown of the biggest-ever sevens season. The stage is set for what will be a spectacular celebration of our sport at its breathtaking best.
“Over six days of highly competitive and compelling action, the stars of sevens will shine brightly in front of what promises to be a record crowd for sevens at these ‘Games wide open’, taking our sport, its values and the joy of the Olympic Games to record audiences around the world. Paris is ready. Rugby is ready. Let’s kick these Games off in style!”
