Match schedule for rugby sevens at Rio 2016 Olympic Games announced
The French and Spanish women's teams will become the first rugby Olympians since 1924 when they kick off the tournament next month
Fiji (in white) and South Africa (in green) will be among the medal contenders in Rio (Photo: Gallo Images/Getty Images/Roger Sedres)
Rugby fans around the world can start planning their Olympic viewing after the match schedule for their sport at the Rio 2016 Games was unveiled on Tuesday (5 July).
Following the definition of the groups last week, World Rugby confirmed that the French and Spanish women's teams will have the honour of playing the first Olympic rugby match for 92 years, when they face each other at 11am (Rio time) at Deodoro Stadium on Saturday 6 August, one day after the opening ceremony. After a full three days of competition, the women's gold medal will be decided in a march starting at 7pm on 8 August.
Sonny Bill Williams – and his sister – called up by All Blacks for Rio 2016
The men's tournament will begin at 11am the following day, 9 August, when Australia take on France at Deodoro Stadium, with the final to be contested at 7pm two days later on 11 August.
See the full match schedules for the men's and women's tournaments.
Spain (in red) will open the tournament while New Zealand (in black) will be among favourites for gold (Photo: Getty Images/Friedemann Vogel)
Each day’s action is split into two sessions with six matches involving all 12 teams taking place during each session of the earlier stages. The final session on day three will include four matches and the medal ceremony as the identity of rugby first Olympic champions in more than ninety years will be known.
In both competitions, the 12 teams are split into three pools of four. The top two teams from each pool, plus the two best third-placed sides, will progress to the quarter-finals.
Spain shock Samoa with try in last second to claim final men's rugby place
Spanish rugby does the double: 'Las Leonas' win final place at Rio 2016
New World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said: “We are almost there. Rugby is about to make Olympic history and, after a break of 92 years, the sport is ready to return to the programme at Rio 2016 for what we are hoping will be one of the highlights of these Games.”
The traditional 15-player version of rugby was played at the 1900, 1908, 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, but rugby will return in the exciting sevens format in Rio. Find out how to buy tickets.
