Finals day is here as the medal positions will be decided for the men’s Rugby Sevens at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Australia are fighting for gold as they take on Fiji (12:00 am) in the semi-finals after cruising through the quarter-finals.
Hosts France will contest the other semi-final as they face South Africa, the final qualifiers for the Olympics.
The bronze medal match will happen at 3:00 am, with the gold medal decided at 3:45 am
Follow a recap of all the action game by game:
1:20 am – Samoa 5 v 10 Kenya
John Okeyo got Kenya on the board in the third minute for the lone points of the half.
Okeyo crossed for his second to extend the lead, with Motu Opetai getting Samoa on the board.
As Samoa pressed, Kenya remained calm and found a way to secure the win
12:51 am – Uruguay 21 v 10 Japan
Uruguay started fast with three quick tries against the Japanese, with Juan Gonzalez getting a double
It gave them a 21-5 lead at the break, with Japan fighting back in the second half.
However, Uruguay held strong in defence to claim 11th
12:30 am – France and Fiji battle for gold
So the semi-finals are in the book and hosts France will take on Fiji for the gold medal.
The Australians will have to regroup for the bronze medal match (3:00 am) against South Africa to end their campaign on a high.
Uruguay v Japan (11th Place) – 12:30 am
Samoa v Kenya (9th Place) – 1:00 am
Argentina v USA (7th Place Playoff) – 2:00 am
New Zealand v Ireland (5th Place Playoff) – 2:30 am
South Africa v Australia (Bronze Medal Match) – 3:00 am
France v Fiji (Gold Medal Match) – 3:45 am
12:00 am – Australia 7 v Fiji 31
Fiji are into the Final after a 31-7 win over Australia.
Australia fought hard to go into the break tied 7-all. However, their restart game was the difference as Fiji camped in their half for the second half.
They scored four unanswered tries to book their place in another gold medal match against France
14′: FIJI TRY: Selestino Ravutaumada dives over to seal the win Fiji 31-7
13′: FIJI PENALTY GOAL: Terio Tamani kicks a penalty to seal the win Fiji 24-7
11′: FIJI TRY: Fiji extended the lead through Kaminieli Rasaku Fiji 21-7
8′: FIJI TRY: Iosefo Masi finishes off a nice break to score under the posts Fiji 14-7
7′: FIJI TRY: Fiji run the length of the field and score via Joji Nasova 7-all
5′: AUSTRALIA TRY: Ben Dowling gets the loose ball and chips ahead, with the bounce of the ball going his way and placing it down Australia 7-0
4′: Fiji respond but drop the ball on the 22
3′: Australia go on the attack but Fiji wrap it up and get the turnover
11:50 pm – France 19 v South Africa 5
It’s a tense battle between two teams in red-hot form as the scoring dries up as fast as the rain pours with a scoreless half
Tristan Leyds broke the deadlock in the tenth minute in the corner, but France hit the front through Rayan Rebbadj
Rebbadj sealed the win with his second right under the posts, with Jordan Sepho’s try after the siren adding to the celebrations
11:20 pm – Ireland 17 v USA 14
Ireland have scored after the siren for a 17-14 win over the USA
Hugo Lennox raised away for the opening try in the first two minutes of the game.
Aaron Cummins answered back for the Americans, with the conversion slotted from the sidelines to level it up.
Perry Baker put the USA in front with three minutes left, with Zac Ward getting Ireland back in the contest with 50 seconds.
Ireland won a penalty just before the full-time siren, allowing Terry Kennedy to power over for the winner
11:05 pm – Aussies unchanged for semi-finals
John Manenti is keeping the faith with his starting side, unchanged from the past two games.
Starting 7: Hutchison, Dowling, Roache, Turner, Gonzalez, Malouf, Lawson
Reserves: Toole, Nawaqanitawase, Paterson, Sargeant, Longbottom
10:30 pm – New Zealand 17 v Argentina 12 (After extra time)
New Zealand have pulled off a classic 17-12 extra-time win over Argentina
Akila Rokosolia burst away for the opening try for the Kiwis as the rain pelted down, with Argentina answering through Tobias Wade to level the scores at half-time.
Both teams are firing shots but can’t find a way through as defence dominates the contest.
Argentina hit the front eventually as Luciano Gonzalez backs up for the try, with Moses Leo’s try with 20 seconds to go levelling the score as it heads to extra time!
NZ getting through their fair share of attacking but Argentina hold strong, only for Andrew Knewstubb to throw an unreal dummy to score
9:20 pm – Australian vibe right now
The Australians need all the fight they can get so surely former UFC champ Alex Volkanovski is the man to make the difference?
In all seriousness, I’m sure ‘Volk’ would answer the late call-up if John Manenti needed it.
9:00 pm – Fixtures
The day will kick off with the fifth-place semis in just under hours time, with the schedule below:
Fifth Place Semi Final: New Zealand v Argentina, 10:30 pm
Fifth Place Semi Final: Ireland v USA, 11:00 pm
Semi Final One: South Africa v France, 11:30 pm
Sunday July 28
Semi Final Two: Fiji v Australia, 12:00 pm
FINALS
Uruguay v Japan – 12:30 am
Samoa v Kenya – 1:00 am
7th Place Playoff – 2:00 am
5th Place Playoff – 2:30 am
Bronze Medal Match – 3:00 am
Gold Medal Match – 3:45 am
8:00 pm – Welcome
The deciding day is here for the men’s Rugby Sevens competition as the medals are up for grabs.
All eyes are on Australia as they take on two-time Olympic gold medalists Fiji in the second semi-final.
The hosts eyes will on the first semi-final as France take on South Africa
HOW TO WATCH AUSTRALIA’S RUGBY SEVENS SEMI-FINALS
The Men’s semi-final against Fiji will be shown LIVE on Stan Sport and the Nine Network from midnight on July 28.
Coverage on Channel 9, Gem and 9Now will continue throughout the night as the opening day of action officially gets underway, with the Rugby set to commence from 10:30 pm with the fifth place semi-finals.
The France-South Africa semi final will start at 11:30 pm and will be followed by Australia taking on Fiji
WHAT CHANNEL IS AUSTRALIA’S RUGBY SEVENS OLYMPIC GAMES ON?
Australia’s Rugby Sevens campaign will be shown LIVE on Stan Sport and the Nine Network.
Every Rugby Sevens match from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be shown ad-free, live and on-demand in 4K on Stan Sport.
Along with this, the Nine Network will have two dedicated free-to-air channels that will show several Olympic sports, including the Rugby Sevens, along with on 9Now
HOW TO WATCH THE PARIS OLYMPICS RUGBY SEVENS?
The Nine Network and Stan Sport has exclusive rights to broadcast every event of the Paris Olympics in Australia.
Every Rugby Sevens match from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be shown ad-free, live and on-demand in 4K on Stan Sport.
Along with this, the Nine Network will have two dedicated free-to-air channels that will show several Olympic sports, including the Rugby Sevens, along with on 9Now.
