The 2024 Paris Olympic Games rugby sevens events have been concluded, with the women’s tournament coming to a close yesterday. The Black Ferns of New Zealand took home the gold medals for a second consecutive Olympic Games, as iconic players Tyla King and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe hung up their boots on the Test match stage.
New Zealand took on a gutsy Canadian side, who battled valiantly to surpass Australia in the semi-finals for the Gold Medal match. In what is being regarded as the shock of the tournament, the star-studded Wallaroos were unable to get on the medal podium, as the likes of the Maddison sisters and skipper Charlotte Caslick were left stunned by the United States in the Bronze Medal match.
We have already compiled our picks for the Men’s team of the Games, as the likes of Antoine Dupont and two Ireland stars feature in our dream team. Now we look back upon the past three days of women’s rugby sevens action, and compile our squad from the top performers across all 12 teams. Here is RUCK’s Team of the Games, from the Women’s rugby sevens at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
1. Ilona Maher (United States)
We kick off with one of the most talked about athletes from any sport, as Ilona Maher has taken social media by storm since Team USA arrived at the Olympics. The most followed rugby player on social media, Maher has accrued an additional 400,000 followers to her Instagram account, that now sits around the 1.4m mark. Regardless of her off-field status, Maher is a fearsome competitor on the pitch, and instills her mantra of ‘Beast, Beaty, Brains’ upon the battlefield. A key contributor to the United States bronze medal campaign, Maher scored three tries and left her mark on every opponent in her wake.
2. Eve Higgins (Ireland)
The evergreen of the Ireland squad, Eve Higgins is our next pick for this all-conquering sevens dream team. Ever at the epicentre of the Irish attack, Higgins could hardly be contained by her opposition, as she crossed over for four tries throughout the competition, and nailed an additional four shots at the sticks. Higgins was Ireland’s top scorer, and the Leinster star will be eager to roll this momentum into her 15s game, as she gets set to light up the Irish interprovincial championship next month.
3. Charity Williams (Canada)
One way to describe Canada’s Charity Williams is ‘flipping brilliant’, as the flyer was often seen capping off her tries with a rolling finish as she grounded the ball. Certainly a player who knows how to impose her own style upon the game of sevens, Williams’ individuality and work ethic shone bright for the Maple Leaves, as she swept up her opposition with five tries, as Canada claimed silver medals from Paris. The North American’s top try scorer, Charity Williams was the gift that kept giving at the Games, and was integral in the upset win over Australia.