All Blacks and Black Ferns Sevens matchups finalised for Olympics

World Rugby and Paris 2024 have announced the pools for the rugby sevens Olympic tournament to take place between 24-30 July.

New Zealand have been placed in Pool A for both the men and women’s tournaments - the All Blacks Sevens will play Ireland, South Africa, and Japan. While the Black Ferns Sevens face Fiji, Canada, and China.

The Black Ferns Sevens will look to defend their gold medal status from Tokyo 2020, and the All Blacks Sevens are aiming to go one better than they did at the previous Olympic Games, where they lost 27-12 to Fiji to settle for silver.

Both programs will feature twelve teams playing in three groups of four - China and South Africa were the last nations to quality in the women's and men's tournaments respectively, after qualifying through the World Rugby Sevens Repechage in Monaco.

On the Men’s side, Pool B will feature Argentina, Australia, Samoa, and Kenya. With Fiji, France, USA, and Uruguay rounding out Pool C.

Pool B on the women’s side is made up of Australia, Ireland, Great Britain, and South Africa. While Pool C consists of France, USA, Japan, and Brazil.

The best two teams in each pool and the two best third-placed teams overall go through to the knockout stage. Teams are seeded based on their performances in the SVNS league and the Challenger series.

The men’s tournament will run from the 24-27 July while the women’s will run from the 28-30 July. The men’s gold medal match will be the first team sport of the games to be handed out.

“We are thrilled to unveil the rugby sevens Olympic pools for what promises to be an epic, coming-of-age tournament for our sport in the French capital," World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said.

“Rugby sevens is a fantastic engine to grow our sport and on its third Olympic appearance is already proving to be one of the attractions of the Games with record enthusiasm for tickets, mouthwatering rivalries and two strong French national teams hoping to achieve their Olympic dreams on home soil.

“We know from Rugby World Cup 2023 what an amazing rugby show Paris can put on and the Olympic Games will be no different with knowledgeable and passionate fans expected to fill the stadium and create an incredible atmosphere for the players and teams to showcase their unique combination of speed, strength and sensational skills.”

The rugby sevens tournament will kick off two days before the opening ceremony.

The tournament will be held at Stade de France the same stadium which held the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final.

All Blacks Sevens: Leroy Carter, Dylan Collier, Tepaea Cook-Savage, Scott Curry, Fehi Fineanganofo, Andrew Knewstubb, Moses Leo, Ngarohi McGarvey-Black Tone Ng Shiu, Akuila Rokolisoa, Brady Rush, Regan Ware. Travelling reserves: Sione Molia, Joe Webber, Tim Mikkelson.

Black Ferns Sevens: Michaela Blyde, Jazmin Felix-Hotham, Sarah Hirini, Tyla King, Jorja Miller, Manaia Nuku, Mahina Paul, Risaleeana Pouri-Lane, Alena Saili, Theresa Setefano, Stacey Waaka, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe. Traveling reserves: Tyhsa Ikenasio, Tenika Willison, Kelsey Teneti.