It has been a long journey back to the Games for rugby and it has been seven incredible years since the International Olympic Committee voted the sport back on to the programme in 2009.
Advertisement
And it was France’s Grassineau who was first on the scoreboard, crossing for a try in her team’s opening 24-7 victory over Spain.
Griffin packs down beside Potter in the scrums, so has a close view of the technical qualities and experience her teammate brings into the game.
Two tries by Luisa Tisolo and Timaima Ravisa either side of one from American Alev Kelter were enough to see the islanders home in a tight match brought to a juddering end with a memorable man-and-ball tackle by Lavenia Tinai on Jessica Javelet.
The U.S. women finished sixth in the World Series this season.
As the Rio Olympics burst into life with light, colour and the sound of the Samba beat in a dazzling display at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, the opening ceremony of the 31st Olympiad heralds a significant moment for Fiji.
“I’m just thankful that I sat down with (Tietjens) at the start of the year and we sussed out a plan to put myself forward all year to try and crack it”. 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.
Titmas says the quick turnaround in Sevens games helps. There were no worries in their second game as they dispatched Fiji by a 36-0 margin. When Paquin reached over to score in the corner just before halftime, the crowd reaction was more subdued. In other big matches before then, Canada and Britain ” both unbeaten ” will meet to determine the top spot in Pool C and New Zealand will play France in Pool B.
Other countries competing at Rio 2016 have been preparing their squads since a year ago, but Britain’s men’s and women’s coaches Simon Amor and Simon Middleton have only been able to work with their combined groups since the end of the respective 2015-16 Sevens World Series competitions.
“Everything is working very well”.
But now rugby is back – a fact that makes me feel happy for Bernard Lapasset, the affable, unfailingly courteous Frenchman who piloted its successful campaign for an Olympic return.
IOC President Thomas Bach enjoyed the game with two sporting legends – former England rugby captain and current chairman of World Rugby Bill Beaumont and world-famous test cricketer Sachin Tendulkar. It was 15-man-per-side rugby in 1924. The Colombian women’s team – who compete in the three-day women’s competition which starts on Saturday – have blazed a trail.
Advertisement
The men’s tournament, which begins on Tuesday with Team USA facing Argentina, features Carlin Isles, known as “the fastest man in rugby”, and New England Patriots safety Nate Ebner, the only active National Football League player to qualify for the Rio Games.
