Olympics has been sevens heavens for World Rugby but new changes threaten to undermine original mission

When rugby sevens was added to the Olympic programme it was partly to help develop the sport beyond its traditional hinterlands. That good work could be quickly undone by recent changes, critics warn

Few events at Paris 2024 caught the imagination in the way that rugby sevens did. There were huge crowds inside the Stade de France, thrilling matches, massive shocks and the crowing of Antoine Dupont as sportsman who transcended his sport, as well as producing France’s first gold medal of the Olympic Games.

The sport grasped the unique opportunity presented by starting two days before the Opening Ceremony to really ramp up the Olympic excitement. There were near-capacity 67,000 crowds for every session but you had to be there to really appreciate the unique atmosphere generated by the noisy crowds. Many of them followed sevens tradition by dressing up in fancy dress. Power rangers, Super Mario, Smurfs, kangaroos - you were never quite sure to whom you were going to be sat next.

“It’s been incredible, 550,000 spectators in six days,” World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin said at the conclusion of the competition. “We always said this was our chance to have a coming of age rugby sevens and it’s been amazing, everything we thought it could be.”