From some of the best players in the business, here are seven players to watch for in the Paris 2024 Olympic Rugby Sevens, which starts on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
The Olympic Games Paris 2024 officially kicks off on Friday, July 26 with the Opening Ceremony on the River Seine. But the first event, the Rugby Sevens, will kick off on Wednesday, July 24.
The men’s and women’s competitions will take place at the Stade de France from Wednesday the 24th to Tuesday the 30th, with the latter half of the tournament switching to track and field.
Twenty-four teams (12 men’s and 12 women’s) will compete for gold, with the first medals awarded in the men’s competition at Paris 2024. This will be the third edition of the tournament to feature rugby sevens, having debuted at Rio 2016.
Fiji are currently defending their men’s title, having defended their Rio title at Tokyo 2020. On the women’s side, New Zealand are the current gold medallists, while Australia won the inaugural title at Rio 2016.
Related: Who are the top candidates to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympic Rugby Sevens?
Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Rugby Sevens
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, home team France are favourites to win the men’s event thanks to their recent victory in the HSBC SVNS Grand Final in Madrid. They will face fierce competition from Argentina, who have won three consecutive HSBC SVNS series, and Fiji, who have a perfect record at the Olympics so far.
In the women’s competition, all signs point to a penalty shootout between New Zealand and Australia, but Ireland, France and the United States are all looking good for medals and a place in the final.
Related: How to watch Olympic Rugby Sevens live
Whenever he takes the field, all eyes will be on Toulouse and France’s star scrum-half Antoine Dupont, who will be looking to win gold in the men’s game and spark competition. But there is plenty of talent involved in the sevens system, and some of the best in rugby will be in the spotlight next week.
With this, we take a look at seven superstar athletes to watch at the 2024 Paris Olympics…
7 Rugby Players to Watch at the 2024 Paris Olympics Rugby Sevens
1. Madison Levy, Australia
Madison Levy at HSBC SVNS Madrid (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP via Getty Images)
The most lethal try scorer in rugby, regardless of format or code. Australia’s Madison Levy is a phenomenon and should be a household name to every rugby fan.
This season she has scored a record 65 tries on the HSBC SVNS circuit, a record she set the previous season. Tall, strong and fast, Levi often bursts out of the third or fourth phase to exploit a stretched and tired defence. Once she gets through the half gap, she is rarely caught.
At just 22 years old, there is no doubt that he will continue to score goals, so if you want to see him score in Paris, don’t forget to watch Levy.
2. Terry Kennedy, Ireland
Terry Kennedy announces Team Ireland Paris 2024 team. (Photo: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Ireland’s Terry Kennedy is probably one of the smartest rugby sevens players in the world. He’s not the fastest or strongest player, nor does he have a killer side step that can beat any defender.
Instead, Kennedy relies on pitch-perfect game management and leading to being in the right position almost every time, which is why he is the HSBC SVNS’s top try scorer this season and the World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year.
Kennedy, who often captains a team that is so solid it seems unbeatable, will be hoping to outwit his opponents and lead Ireland into medal contention.
3. Ilona Maher (USA)
Ilona Maher at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. (Photo: Dan Mullen/Getty Images)
When Ilona Maher is on the field, she generates huge box office revenue both on and off the field, and matches often revolve around her influence.
On both offense and defense, Maher is known for her devastating hits that can change the entire momentum of a game. Her teammates are empowered by her ability to make contact with multiple defenders, and her aggressive defense forces turnovers.
The United States is one of several women’s teams hoping to win a medal, following New Zealand and Australia, and if they do, you can count on Maher to play a big part in making that happen.
4. Marcos Moneta (Argentina)
Marcos Moneta at HSBC SVNS Perth. (Photo: Will Russell/Getty Images)
Former World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year Marcos Moneta is a piece of the Argentina Rugby Sevens puzzle that has shined in this year’s HSBC SVNS Series. For three games in a row, Argentina have looked an unstoppable force at times.
Moneta is a dangerous player for Argentina, roaming the outside edges and wings, exploiting defensive mistakes with his electric pace. Often when the game looks moribund, Moneta bursts out on a half-break to bring the game back to life.
Also to watch if they avoid a suspension are Rodrigo Isgro, the World Rugby Player of the Year, and Lucho Gonzalez, dubbed the Puma of Nightmare by fans. Both players are fan favorites.
5. Portia Woodman-Wycliffe, New Zealand
Portia Woodman-Wycliffe at HSBC SVNS Madrid (Getty Images)
One of the greatest players of all time, Portia Woodman-Wycliffe is a legend not only in New Zealand rugby but in world rugby.
The cross-format star is an Olympic gold medallist, a two-time winner of the Rugby 15-a-side World Cup and Rugby 7-a-side World Cup, is the top try scorer in both competitions and holds the record for tries in Sevens Series history with 256. The most lethal finisher in the SVNS is the straight shootout between Woodman-Wickliffe and Levi.
Woodman-Wycliffe announced her retirement at the end of this tournament and she will be expected to do her best to show her best performance.
6. Rosko Specman, South Africa
Roscoe Specman after his win at the HSBC SVNS Dubai. (Photo: Martin Dokoupil/Getty Images)
If you imagine a typical sevens player, you might come across someone like South Africa’s Roscoe Specman: quick hands, incredible acceleration, the ability to beat opponents out of phone boxes.
At 35, Specman’s best days may seem behind him, but he returned to the Blitzbock Sevens in 2024 and helped South Africa win in Dubai last month and qualify for the Olympics.
If you like fun rugby, watch a man named Specmagic play in Paris this summer.
7. Megan Jones, Team GB
Megan Jones at the HSBC Canada Rugby Sevens (Photo: Don MacKinnon/AFP) (Photo: DON MACKINNON/AFP via Getty Images)
For England fans, the men’s team’s participation in Paris will likely be a bigger boost for the women’s team after they failed to qualify after losing to South Africa in the repechage last month.
Like the USA, Ireland and France, Team GB women are among the outsiders hoping to win a medal against Australia and New Zealand. The team has been bolstered by the return of Ellie Kildunne and Meg Jones, who dominated the Six Nations.
Jones is a great baseball player who is competing in his third Olympics and is hopeful that he can finally win a medal.
Which rugby player would you like to see in the Rugby Sevens at the 2024 Paris Olympics?
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