The men’s Olympics Rugby 7s competition will be held from July 24-27, featuring the top 12 teams vying for the Gold medal.
For the first time, the rugby sevens matches will commence two days before the opening ceremony, with the men’s preliminary and quarterfinal stages taking place.
Olympics Rugby 7s
The competition will pause for the opening ceremony on July 26, resuming the next day when the medal-winning teams will be officially unveiled.
Vancouver Champions New Zealand 7s and Argentina. PHOTO/World Rugby
All participating teams have confirmed their squads, with several notable players returning for their third Olympic Games.
Veterans Scott Curry and Regan Ware, along with Dylan Collier, lead the experienced players. Six players from the Tokyo squad that won silver, including Leroy Carter, Tepaea Cook-Savage, Fehi Fineanganofo, Moses Leo, and Akuila Rokolisoa, are also returning.
The Ireland squad features Harry McNulty, Terry Kennedy, Jordan Conroy, Hugo Lennox, Jack Kelly, Gavin Mullin, and Mark Roche, all representing Ireland for the second consecutive Games.
Nick Malouf and Vice-Captain Henry Hutchison are set to become three-time Olympians.
Nathan Lawson, Dietrich Roache, and James Turner also return for their second Olympic Games after competing with Australia in Tokyo, where the team finished seventh.
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The two-time holders, Fiji men’s team, are led by 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games gold medalist Jerry Tuwai. The squad includes experienced players such as Waisea Nacuqu, Joseva Talacolo, Iosefo Masi, and Sevuloni Mocenacagi.
Olympics Rugby 7s chances for Moneta
Argentina’s squad includes speedster Marcos Moneta, Matías Osadczuk, Santiago Álvarez, Santiago Mare, Tobías Wade, Gastón Revol, Luciano González, and Agustín Fraga.
Six players with previous Olympic Games experience, including 2016 bronze medalist Rosko Specman, have been named in the 14-man South Africa Sevens squad for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Specman, who was capped by the Springboks in 2021, will partake in his second Olympic Games, alongside Impi Visser, Zain Davids, Selvyn Davids, Ronald Brown, and Siviwe Soyizwapi, who were part of the squad that placed fifth in 2021 in Tokyo.
Kenya’s 7s squad includes Co-captain Vincent Onyala, who will be making his second Olympic appearance. Onyala was picked for the 2020 Olympics at 24 years old.
Herman Humwa, another player from the 2020 squad, will also be heading to France. The Kenya Harlequin captain represented the side in the Tokyo Olympics alongside Onyala.
Hosts France are joined by New Zealand, Argentina, Fiji, and Australia, who secured their spots by ranking in the top four positions of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2023.
Fijian Players at the Commonwealth Games. Photo Courtesy/World Rugby.
Regional qualifiers include Uruguay (South America), Ireland (Europe), USA (North America), Kenya (Africa), Samoa (Oceania), and Japan (Asia), with South Africa securing a spot through the Repechage.
Olympics Rugby 7s squads
Pool A
New Zealand
Head coach: Junior Tomasi Cama
Leroy Carter
Dylan Collier (c)
Tepaea Cook-Savage
Scott Curry
Fehi Fineanganofo
Andrew Knewstubb
Moses Leo
Ngarohi McGarvey-Black
Tone Ng Shiu
Akuila Rokolisoa
Brady Rush
Regan Ware
Reserves:Tim Mikkelson, Sione Molia and Joe Webber
Ireland
Head coach: James Topping
Niall Comerford
Jordan Conroy
Hugo Keenan
Jack Kelly
Terry Kennedy
Hugo Lennox
Harry McNulty (c)
Gavin Mullin
Chay Mullins
Mark Roche
Andrew Smith
Zac Ward
Reserves: Sean Cribbin and Bryan Mollen
South Africa:
Head coach: Philip Snyman
Christie Grobbelaar
Ryan Oosthuizen
Impi Visser
Zain Davids
Quewin Nortje
Tiaan Pretorius
Shaun Williams
Selvyn Davids (c)
Tristan Leyds
Rosko Specman
Siviwe Soyizwapi
Shilton van Wyk
Reserves: Ronald Brown and Katlego Letebele
Japan
Head coach: Simon Amor
Kippei Ishida (c)
Taiga Ishida
Kazuma Ueda
Yu Okudaira
Josua Karevi
Yoshiyuki Koga
Kippei Taninaka
Shotaro Tsuoka
Yoshihiro Noguchi
Moeki Fukushi
Junya Matsumoto
Takamasa Maruo
Pool B
Argentina
Head coach: Santiago Gómez Cora
Santiago Álvarez (c)
Tomás Elizalde
Agustín Fraga
Luciano González
Matteo Graziano
Santiago Mare
Marcos Moneta
Matías Osadczuk
Joaquín Pellandini
Gastón Revol
Germán Schulz
Tobías Wade
Reserves: Rodrigo Isgró and Santiago Vera Feld
Australia
Head coach: John Manenti
Henry Hutchison
Ben Dowling
Corey Toole
Dietrich Roache
Mark Nawaqanitawase
Henry Paterson
Hayden Sargeant
James Turner
Matt Gonzalez
Nick Malouf (c)
Maurice Longbottom
Nathan Lawson
Reserves: Michael Icely and Josh Turner
Samoa
Head coach: Brian Lima
Paul Scanlan
Neueli Leitufia
Vaa Apelu Maliko (c)
Faafoi Falaniko
Vaovasa Afa
Motu Opetai
Tom Maiava
BJ Telefoni Lima
Steve Onosai
Alamanda Motuga
Taunuu Niulevaea
Faamaoni Jnr Lalomilo
Reserves Paul Eti Slater and Malakesi Masefau
Kenya 7s
Head coach: Kevin Wambua
Vincent Onyala (cc)
Tony Omondi (cc)
John Okoth
Kevin Wekesa
George Ooro
Samuel Asati
Nigel Amaitsa
Brian Tanga
Patrick Odongo
Lamech Ambetsa
Chrisant Ojwang
Herman Humwa
Reserve Festus Shiasi and Dennis Abukuse
Fiji
Head coach: Osea Kolinisau
Joseva Talacolo
Iosefo Masi
Iowane Teba
Sevuloni Mocenacagi
Josaia Raisuqe
Jeremia Matana
Terio Tamani
Ponepati Loganimasi
Selestino Ravutaumada
Jerry Tuwai
Kaminieli Rasaku
Waisea Nacuqu
Reserves: Joji Nasova and Filipe Sauturaga
France
Head coach: Jérôme Daret
Jean-Pascal Barraque
Antoine Dupont
Théo Forner
Aaron Grandidier Nkanang
Jefferson Lee Joseph
Stephen Parez
Varian Pasquet
Rayan Rebbadj
Paulin Riva (c)
Jordan Sepho
Andy Timo
Antoine Zeghdar
Nelson Epee and William Iraguha
USA
Head coach: Mike Friday
Aaron Cummings
Maka Unufe
Orrin Bizer
Matai Leuta
Marcus Tupuola
Kevon Williams (c)
Naima Fuala’au
Malacchi Esdale
Stephen Tomasin
Madison Hughes
Perry Baker
Lucas Lacamp
Adam Channel and Pita Vi
Uruguay
Head coach: Ivo Dugonjic
Baltazar Amaya
Felipe Arcos Pérez
Diego Ardao (c)
Bautista Basso
Tomás Etcheverry
Ignacio Facciolo
Juan González
Valentín Grille
Guillermo Lijtenstein
James McCubbin
Juan Manuel Tafernaberry
Mateo Viñals
Reserves :Koba Brazionis and Dante Soto
