In a city where romance and rugby collide, the much-anticipated schedule for the rugby sevens tournament at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 has been unveiled.
With just 16 days until the action begins, the sport is set to kick off the Games on July 24, two days ahead of the Opening Ceremony.
This edition promises to be a spectacular coming-of-age moment for rugby sevens on the Olympic stage.
Key Highlights and Match Dates
The men’s competition runs on July 24, 25, and culminates on July 27 with the awarding of the first team sport gold medal of the Games.
The women’s tournament follows from July 28 to 30, showcasing some of the fiercest talent in the sport.
All matches will take place at the historic Stade de France, which is expected to be packed to its 69,000-seat capacity for every session, echoing the recent success of the Rugby World Cup 2023 hosted at the same venue.
Rugby Sevens Match Schedule Highlights:
- Men’s Competition: July 24, 25, 27
- Women’s Competition: July 28-30
- Venue: Stade de France, Paris
The Kickoff Matches
The tournament opens with Australia versus Samoa at 15:30 CET on July 24. Hosts France, buoyed by their recent SVNS Grand Final win and led by the charismatic Antoine Dupont, will face off against the USA at 16:30.
Meanwhile, double Olympic champions Fiji will challenge newcomers Uruguay at 17:00.
For the women, Ireland and Great Britain kick things off at 15:30 on July 28, followed by reigning champions New Zealand against Challenger champions China, and SVNS Grand Final winners Australia against South Africa.
The Road to the Olympics
Teams were placed into pools based on their Olympic seedings, determined by performances in the HSBC SVNS Series over the last two years.
The 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams were divided into three pools of four, with each team playing three pool matches.
The top eight teams advance to the quarter-finals on the second evening, leading to the semi-finals and medal matches on the third day.
Anticipation Builds
The rugby sevens event at Paris 2024 is poised to be a highlight, drawing from the momentum of the Rugby World Cup 2023.
Rugby enthusiasts from all corners of the globe are expected to flock to Stade de France, making it a truly international celebration of the sport.
World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin shared his excitement: “The unveiling of the match schedule is another exciting step on the road to Paris with just 16 days to go until rugby sevens kicks off the Olympic Games.
The players, teams and fans can now mark their calendars and fine-tune their preparations for what promises to be an incredible six days of fast-paced, all-action drama as some of the best athletes in the world showcase the speed, strength and skill of rugby sevens to a huge worldwide audience.”
Paris 2024 Executive Director of Sport Competitions Aurélie Merle added, “Rugby sevens has the honour of kicking off the Olympic Games Paris 2024, and we know the atmosphere will be electric inside the Stade de France, with full and passionate crowds for every session in a country that truly loves rugby.”
Get Ready for the Action
Rugby sevens at the Paris 2024 Olympics is set to deliver an exhilarating display of athleticism and strategy, with six days of unmissable matches that will define careers and create new legends.
Fans are encouraged to visit tickets.paris2024.org for ticket information and to secure their seats at what promises to be a historic event.