Fiji will need to nullify Dupont to defend Olympic 'legacy'

French rugby star Antoine Dupont kicks off the action at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday in a move that could not have been better scripted.

Rugby sevens will be held from July 24-30, with three days apiece for the men's and women's tournaments at the Stade de France.

Dupont, the captain of Toulouse and France in the 15-a-side format, has become one of the faces of the Games after his successful switch to the abbreviated game.

His absence from last season's Six Nations did not sit right with many France fans, still in shock at the team's quarterfinal exit from the Rugby World Cup on French soil.

But, for all the criticism, his absence, and Olympic presence, has been two years in the making.

World Rugby boss Alan Gilpin said the inclusion of Dupont in the Olympics was essential to keep growing the sport.

"The Dupont impact is incredible," Gilpin said. "It's provided a profile that we need to keep building."

Dupont's impact as a player in sevens has been striking.

The combative scrum-half helped France to a first tournament win in the world sevens series in 19 years, before steering the team to victory in the season-ending championship finale in Madrid.

"For any sports fan, the Olympics are still mythical, the Holy Grail of sport, and to be in with a chance of winning an Olympic medal is a highly motivating challenge," Dupont said.

Fiji, kings of sevens

While Dupont might grab the headlines, it is Fiji who is the undisputed king of Olympic sevens.

The Fijians come into the tournament as double defending champions after winning gold in Rio in 2016 and at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games in 2021.

Fiji, drawn in Pool C alongside France, Uruguay and the United States, has a new coach in former player Osea Kolinisau — skipper of the team that won in Rio.

"Our biggest rivals, we talked about this in training, is ourselves," said Kolinisau, who replaced Englishman Ben Gollings as coach in March.

"When we get it right (mentally) people will be catching shadows on the ground."

Gollings was sacked after a poor run of results, and under Kolinisau the team has failed to get to the semifinals in either of the last two series events.

But, captain Jerry Tuwai, a two-time gold medalist, said that "a lot of things have changed since Osea came back", with the team focused on defending its Olympic "legacy".

"How we play the game is one thing. Our style of play has been opened up, and our teamwork and communication. And our decision-making, that is another thing that has been opened up, too."

At the sevens series Grand Final in Madrid, won by France, Fiji reeled off victories over Ireland, South Africa and New Zealand in the style Kolinisau wanted.

"I was asked before, 'what would success look like to you?' And I said, 'I just want the boys to play the Fijian way and play together as a team'," he said.

Argentina was the surprise package of the regular season, topping the standings thanks to three wins in the first four tournaments.

Los Pumas are drawn in Pool B alongside Australia, Samoa and Kenya.

Pool A features Rio 2016 silver medalist New Zealand, world No 2-ranked side Ireland, South Africa and Japan.

There is no British men's team, after South Africa sealed the final spot through a repechage tournament in Monaco.

Pool A: Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa

Pool B: Argentina, Australia, Kenya, Samoa

Pool C: Fiji, France, Uruguay, United States

AFP