Olympic Sevens Lead Up Thread

[Burgs]

Australia's Rugby Sevens Pools announced for Paris Olympics

Mon, Jun 24, 2024, 6:29 AM
Nathan Williamson

The Paris 2024 Olympic pools for Rugby Sevens have been confirmed with both Australian sides drawn into Pool B.

It comes following the World Rugby Sevens Repechage competition in Monaco, with South Africa (men) and China (women) booking their spot as the final qualifiers.

Watch every Wallabies Test live and on-demand via Stan Sport.

The men will face SVNS League winners Argentina, Samoa, and Kenya in their pool.

John Manenti's side went down 14-5 against Los Pumas in Madrid at the start of the month.

The Aussies defeated Samoa in two out of their three clashes on the SVNS circuit, whilst Kenya won their way back onto the series through the Challenger series.

“There’s no easy games,” Manenti reflected to Rugby.com.au.

“Samoa have had a tough season but can still beat anyone on their day and will have players coming in from around the world.

“Kenya is Kenya and have 12 blokes that are six foot five and built like outhouses, play good foot and had a good weekend on the recent tour.

“We’re also playing Argentina who have been a top team for the last few years on the World Series so it’s going to be tough.”

Defending Olympic champions Fiji are drawn alongside SVNS champions Fiji, USA and Uruguay in Pool C whilst top-ranked New Zealand take on Ireland, South Africa and Japan in Pool A.

As for the Women, it's a familiar Pool as they face Ireland, Great Britain and debutants South Africa.

Tim Walsh's side have built a rivalry with the Irish since the start of the year when Ireland upset Australia on home soil in Perth.

Since then, they are undefeated against them, including a 33-14 win in Madrid.

Likewise, GB took down Australia in the group stages of Perth, but were hammered 44-0 in their last encounter in Singapore.

As for South Africa, they did not score against the Australians in the 2023-24 SVNS series, eventually eliminated from the world series.

Reigning Olympic Champions and SVNS League Winners New Zealand face Fiji, Canada and freshly qualified China in Pool A with hosts France, USA, Japan and Brazil rounding our Pool C.

[Burgs]

Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea ruled out of Paris Olympics

Mon, Jun 2o4, 2024, 12:29 PM
Nathan Williamson

World SVNS champions Australia have been handed a major setback with Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea ruled out of the Paris Olympics after suffering an ACL injury.

Lefau-Fakaosilea picked up the knee injury in their Brisbane camp as they prepared for a warm-up tournament against Fiji, Japan and Australia A.

The 23-year-old was on the mend after a shoulder sub-laxation before the Vancouver leg of the world series.

It was expected that Lefau-Fakaosilea would return for the warm-up event in Brisbane, only for the latest setback to end her Olympic dream.

The former Wallaroo will head for surgery in the coming days as she eyes a return in 2025.

Lefau-Fakaosilea was nominated for the Shawn McKay Medal in 2023 after an excellent season on the world series alongside Charlotte Caslick and Maddison Levi.

The setback adds to the injury woes for Tim Walsh’s side after an eventful world series.

Madison Ashby and Lily Dick both suffered ACL injuries in their second-place finish in Singapore.

It came after Demi Hayes picked up the same injury in Cape Town in December.

Kiwi star Sarah Hirini also did her ACL in South Africa, however, stunned plenty after being named in the Black Ferns Olympic squad on Thursday.

The Australians will name their squads towards the start of July before heading over to France for pre-Olympic camps.

The Women have been drawn into Pool B alongside Ireland, Great Britain and South Africa

The men kick off the action on July 24 before the women feature from July 28-30.

[Sheikh]

https://www.theroar.com.au/2024/06/2...ead-to-darwin/

The Roar piece is about the Sevens squads heading to Darwin for a final training camp before the squads for Paris are announced, but it includes this line:

Western Force utility back Max Burey is also with the group.

I hadn't realised Burey was with the sevens squad (Hooper and Nawaqanitawase presumably taking all the media attention). Hope he gets taken as I think he could be an excellent playmaker and as we saw when he did get on the field this year, he's got some wheels.

[tjs10]

https://www.theroar.com.au/2024/06/2...ead-to-darwin/

The Roar piece is about the Sevens squads heading to Darwin for a final training camp before the squads for Paris are announced, but it includes this line:


I hadn't realised Burey was with the sevens squad (Hooper and Nawaqanitawase presumably taking all the media attention). Hope he gets taken as I think he could be an excellent playmaker and as we saw when he did get on the field this year, he's got some wheels.

https://twf.com.au/showthread.php?t=44919

[Burgs]

https://www.theroar.com.au/2024/06/2...ead-to-darwin/

The Roar piece is

Laughable in an Olympic year, where Gold is Gold regardless of gender, that they have a big article about fringe selection "big name" Men's players and an afterthought mention, mainly due to an injury, about the Women's. Says a lot about the media and particularly Doran's focus.