Australia’s men’s rugby sevens captain and three-time Olympian, Nick Malouf, has announced his retirement following the Paris Olympics. The 31-year-old athlete participated in 61 world series tournaments, scoring 82 tries and accumulating 410 points. Malouf shared the news in a statement released by Rugby Australia on Saturday.
Initially a flanker with the University of Queensland, Malouf joined the Australian sevens program in 2012, making his debut at the Dubai World Series tournament. He became a key player in the team over the next three years, overcoming a significant knee injury in 2015.
Malouf made his Olympic debut in 2016, with Australia reaching the quarterfinals in Rio. He then took one season to play with the Leicester Tigers in England before returning to the sevens team. He led Australia as captain during his second Olympics in Tokyo in 2021, where the team again fell short in the quarterfinals.
At his third Olympics in Paris, Malouf once more captained the Australian side, which advanced to the semifinals for the first time, only to lose 31-7 to two-time defending champion Fiji. Fiji ultimately lost the gold medal final to France.
Reflecting on his career, Malouf expressed his gratitude, stating, “I could never have believed I’d be so lucky to enjoy the last 12 years playing the game I love in the company of such great people. Rugby has given me so much and I am so thankful. What a privilege it’s been.”
Australia’s sevens coach, John Manenti, praised Malouf as an “amazing leader.” He noted that Malouf has been instrumental in driving the group forward, being the most successful captain in terms of World Series wins, tournament victories, and Olympic performances. Manenti wished him success in his future endeavors in the business world.