Rugby Sevens
Olympic history (pre London 2012)
Founder of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Pierre de Coubertin, admired the spirit and values of Rugby Union and introduced Rugby in its traditional 15-man format for the Paris 1900 Olympic Games. It also appeared in the Olympic Games in London in 1908, Antwerp in 1920 and Paris in 1924. The request to stage Rugby at the 1928 Amsterdam Games was denied by the IOC.
At the 2009 IOC Session in Copenhagen, Rugby Sevens was elected to join the 2016 Olympic program after nearly a century off the Olympic program. The sevens concept was an attractive option for Olympic competition due to its speed, excitement and the number of countries competing around the world.
The readmission of Rugby to the Olympic program guarantees the growth of Rugby Sevens and gives nations such as Fiji, Samoa, Kenya, and Argentina the chance to win an Olympic medal in this sport.
After winning the 2009 International Rugby Board Women’s Rugby World Cup Sevens, Australia has been ranked the number one women’s side in the world. It is the goal of Australian Rugby Union to maintain that position through to, and beyond, the 2016 Olympic Games.
Coach Michael O’Connor’s Rugby Sevens squad broke a 12-year drought and achieved Australia’s best-ever result at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games when they claimed silver, after pushing four-time champions New Zealand all the way in the gold medal decider.
Sporting organisation
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| Australian Rugby Sevens |
