The rugby sevens teams prepare to storm the Stade de France this summer, and British fans have their eyes set on one goal: an elusive Olympic medal. The Paris 2024 Olympics will see rugby sevens make its third appearance, with Team GB’s women determined to improve on their previous fourth-place finishes.
For the rugby stars, the tournament represents a chance at redemption, led by three-time Olympian Jasmine Joyce and a squad blending experience with fresh talent.
While the absence of the British men’s team is a bittersweet note to the competition, it heightens the focus on the women’s side as they face off against strong teams like Australia and tricky opponents like Ireland and South Africa.
Let’s break down the essentials of the Olympics 2024 rugby sevens competition and take a look at Team GB’s hopes to finally step onto the podium.
Olympics 2024 Rugby Sevens: Match Schedule
The women’s team’s journey begins on 28 July.
Sunday, 28 July
14:30 | Great Britain vs Ireland
18:30 | Great Britain vs Australia
Monday, 29 July
13:00 | Great Britain vs South Africa
Unfortunately, the British men’s team won’t be competing in Paris. They narrowly missed qualification after a 14-5 loss to South Africa in the Monaco repechage final. This is the first absence of a GB men’s team since rugby sevens joined the Olympic programme in 2016.
British Women’s Team: Third Time’s the Charm?
The British women’s rugby sevens team is on a mission. After fourth-place finishes in both Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, they’re determined to climb onto the podium in Paris.
Leading the charge is Jasmine Joyce, set to become the first British rugby player to appear in three Olympic Games. “To go to two Olympics and both times finish fourth is pretty heart-sinking,” Joyce told the Independent. “No one remembers fourth place, do they? You may as well have come last… that’s how I feel.”
But Joyce sees a silver lining in their underdog status this time around. “We are under the radar — no one expects us to medal,” she added. “The pressure is off, so we can enjoy and embrace the moment a bit more; the more you enjoy it, the more success comes with that.”
Joining Joyce are fellow Tokyo 2020 Olympians Lisa Thomson, Emma Uren, and Meg Jones. The rest of the squad comprises Olympic debutants, including Six Nations leading try-scorer Ellie Kildunne, creating a mix of experience and fresh talent that head coach Ciaran Beattie believes could be the recipe for success.
“We want to be competitive in Paris and approach each match as one that can be won, with the ultimate aim of medalling, at the same time being respectful of the huge quality of other teams,” Beattie stated.
Stade de France: The Chosen Venue for Rugby Sevens
The Paris 2024 rugby sevens matches will take place in the legendary Stade de France. The venue, which first opened its doors for the 1998 Football World Cup, has been at the heart of French sports for over two decades.
Designed by the architectural team of Macary, Zublena, Regembal and Costantini, the Stade de France has hosted the 2003 World Athletics Championships, the 2007 and 2023 Rugby World Cups, and the Euro 2016 Football Championship.
Each year, it serves as the home ground for French national football and rugby teams, as well as hosting major concerts by French and international artists. Post-Games, the Stade de France will continue this tradition.
Rugby Sevens: A Scottish Invention Turned Olympic Sport
While rugby itself can trace its origins back to medieval times in Europe, the sevens variant was born in 1883 in the Scottish town of Melrose. Two local butchers, Ned Haig and David Sanderson, conceived the idea of a shortened version of rugby as a fundraising event. Little did they know that their innovation would evolve into an Olympic discipline.
The basic rules of rugby sevens mirror those of the 15-player version, with tackles, backward passes, and scrums all part of the game. However, the reduced number of players and shorter match duration create an intense and fast-paced match.
A rugby sevens match lasts just 14 minutes (two 7-minute halves), compared to the 80 minutes of a traditional rugby union game. This condensed format leads to more sprints, more tries, and a game where every second counts. Points work the same way: 5 points for a try, 2 points for a conversion, and 3 points for a drop goal or penalty.
Rugby’s Olympic history has been an on-again, off-again affair. The 15-player version featured in four early Olympics from 1900 to 1924. After a long hiatus, the sport returned to the Olympic programme in its sevens format at Rio 2016, following an IOC vote in 2009.
Note: Betting is only available to participants above 18 years old. Please bet responsibly. BeGambleAware.org