Fijiana 7s coach Saiasi Fuli is anticipated to announce his 15-member team for the Paris Olympics this week. Fuli stated that the team is scheduled to depart for France on Monday, July 15.
“We will be at the HFC Bank stadium tomorrow,” Fuli mentioned on Tuesday.
The men’s sevens team, coached by Osea Kolisau, already flew out on Monday.
The men’s sevens competition will take place from July 24 to 27, followed by the women’s tournament from July 28 to 30. The men’s gold medal match on July 27 will award the first team sport gold medal of the Games.
The women’s competition features three highly competitive pools. Reigning Olympic champions and SVNS League winners New Zealand will compete against Fiji, Canada, and newly qualified China in Pool A.
In Pool B, Rio 2016 Olympic gold medalists and SVNS 2024 champions Australia will face Ireland, Great Britain, and debutants South Africa. Hosts France, who secured a silver medal at Tokyo 2020, are placed in Pool C alongside the USA, Japan, and Brazil.
The men’s pools are as follows: Pool A – New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, and Japan; Pool B – Argentina, Australia, Samoa, and Kenya; Pool C – Fiji, France, USA, and Uruguay.
World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont commented, “The rugby sevens Olympic pools promise to be an epic, coming-of-age tournament for our sport in the French capital. Our sport will kick off Paris 2024 in style with an exciting and spectacular brand of rugby that will captivate fans at Stade de France and millions more worldwide.
“Rugby sevens is a fantastic engine to grow our sport, and on its third Olympic appearance, it is already proving to be one of the attractions of the Games with record enthusiasm for tickets, mouthwatering rivalries, and two strong French national teams hoping to achieve their Olympic dreams on home soil.
“We know from Rugby World Cup 2023 what an amazing rugby show Paris can put on, and the Olympic Games will be no different. Knowledgeable and passionate fans are expected to fill the stadium and create an incredible atmosphere for players and teams to showcase their unique combination of speed, strength, and sensational skills.”
All the action will take place at the refurbished Stade de France, which seats 69,000 spectators.