World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper, meanwhile, revealed there had been strong ticket sales for the Olympic sevens, which suggests there is little chance of a repeat of the sparse crowds in early football fixtures in Rio.
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They hope to be able to say the same thing at the end of their three-day tournament in Rio.
The All Blacks knew that they will be in for a tough match against competitors such as teams from Fiji, South Africa, Great Britain and Australia.
Spain’s Patricia Garcia had the honour of taking the first kickoff in a women’s rugby match at the Olympic Games but thereafter the French dominated, running in four tries to open their Pool B campaign with a convincing 24-7 win.
World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper looked on the bright side, as he is entitled to on such a historic day, telling insidethegeames; “Today is a historic moment for rugby and for the Olympic Games and we are excited and proud to be back on sport’s greatest stage”. But the New Zealanders said the Olympics is the biggest prize of the year and their preparations were geared toward it.
New Zealand advanced by knocking the USA out of medal contention during the quarterfinals on Sunday.
Sonny Bill Williams warned Wednesday he had transitioned into a complete rugby sevens player, a move that has proven a step too far for many other 15s stars eyeing Olympic glory.
“You’re up against the best and you’ve got to be the best to go out and get that gold medal”. “It is always an obsession on the island to follow the team but it has gone to a new level with the Olympics”.
“I’m surprised, honoured, privileged and fortunate to get this opportunity, I never thought I’d go to the Olympics except to watch”, Kuklinski said.
“When he first came we didn’t know what to expect”, Mikkelson said. Already, World Rugby’s Get Into Rugby program, plus the Pacific in Union venture, a partnership between Oceania Rugby, the Australian Rugby Union and the Australian government, have drawn about 20,000 players each, but there’s plenty of room for more growth, Fiji Rugby Union women’s development officer Vela Naucukidi told the Fiji Sun. Most aren’t tall enough to play basketball, so no one is quite sure what to make of them. He topped the tackle count in the 2015-16 season and, when Fiji was still recovering from the devastating Cyclone Winston, Kolinisau dedicated the Las Vegas stop on the world series circuit in March to the people, delivering the title with a player-of-the-match performance in the final.
Veteran Kelly Russell kept her reply brief when asked what medal the Canadians should be targeting: “Gold”.
Lloyd Burnard is Sport24’s correspondent in Rio de Janeiro for the duration of the 2016 Olympics.
Welsh members of the GB Sevens men and women squad (L-R) Gareth Williams (mens assistant coach), Luke Treharne (travelling reserve), James Davies, Jasmine Joyce, Sam Cross and Richie Pugh (women assistant coach) at Trafalgar Square, London.
Emily Scarratt, who helped England win the 2014 World Cup in the 15-a-side format, said her squad is in Rio “with ambitions”.
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“We want to play with style”.
