The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games are just two years away and the dates for the Olympic 7s tournament have been confirmed by World Rugby.
Sevens made an impressive Olympic Games debut at Rio 2016 with Australia’s women claiming the first rugby gold medal since the 1924 Games and Fiji’s men claiming their nation’s first-ever Olympic medal, with an historic gold.
The International Olympic Committee has approved the competition schedule for all 33 sports at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and rugby sevens will again feature in the first week of competition with matches being played across six days of two sessions per day from 27 July to 1 August, 2020.
In a reverse of the Rio 2016 format, the men’s competition will be played over the first three days, while the women’s competition will take place over the final three days, with the medals day being played on the iconic ‘Super Saturday’.
World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said: “This is the moment that the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games comes alive for our players and fans around the world. With two years to go, the competition dates are set, excitement is building, and I am anticipating an outstanding sevens and Games.
“By alternating the schedule, the world’s top women’s teams have the opportunity to shine on ‘Super Saturday’, the biggest moment of the Games, which is extremely exciting for the advancement and popularity of women’s sevens.”
Additional reporting and images: World Rugby
