Renowned 15s players who competed in sevens at the Olympic Games.

July 18, 2024
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Ultimate Rugby

The world’s best 288 men’s and women’s rugby sevens players will compete at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, from 24-30 July.

Twenty-four teams will lock horns in the iconic Stade de France in their respective tournaments, 12 each for the men's and women's competitions.

For the first time, rugby sevens will commence two days before the Opening Ceremony with the men's preliminary and quarter-final stages.

Fiji**,** who have won both men's Olympic titles since the sport made its debut at Rio 2016, will be going for a golden hat-trick, but will have to be at their best to stop hosts France, who won the 2024 World Rugby Sevens Series Grand Final in June.

On the women's side, reigning Olympic champions New Zealand will be desperate to settle a score with Rio 2016 champs Australia, who won the world series in June, beating hosts France in the final.

Below, we take a look at other renowned rugby 15s players who have also competed in sevens at the Olympic Games.

SONNY BILL WILLIAMS (NEW ZEALAND)

After switching from rugby league, Sonny Bill Williams spent eight successful years as a rugby 15s player, which included Rugby World Cup victories in 2011 and 2015 with the All Blacks.

The uber-gifted New Zealander then switched to his nation’s men’s sevens ahead of Rio 2016, and found things slightly tougher in his new sport.

After a mixed debut on the rugby sevens series that included plenty of tries and injuries, Williams was picked to play at the Olympics.

In New Zealand's first game of the tournament against Japan, Williams partially ruptured his Achilles tendon early in the second half, which ended Williams' Olympic campaign, while the All Blacks Sevens went on to finish in fifth place.

Williams then returned to rugby 15s and professional boxing.

SAMU KEREVI (AUSTRALIA)

Samu Kerevi, renowned as one of the most powerful ball-carrying centres in 15s at the time of his switch to Australia’s men’s sevens team ahead of Tokyo 2020, added plenty of extra interest to the tournament.

Unlike Williams, the 33-cap Wallaby didn’t play a single World Rugby Sevens Series tournament in the lead-up, before showing some promise in the Oceania Sevens, and being selected for the Olympics.

In Japan, Kerevi scored twice in the pool stages before suffering a hamstring injury. Australia were eventually eliminated in the quarter-finals and finished seventh overall.

KELLY BRAZIER (NEW ZEALAND)

Kelly Brazier is one of those rare rugby players that has a full set of gold medals.

The first came when the 15-a-side utility back helped the Black Ferns win the Rugby World Cup in 2010.

She switched to sevens in 2013, helping New Zealand win the Rugby Sevens World Cup, Olympic silver at Rio 2016, and in 2018 she helped her nation to another Rugby Sevens World Cup title in addition to Commonwealth Games gold.

Brazier then returned to the Olympics at Tokyo 2020, upgrading her silver medal to gold, and completing the set.

She then won her second Rugby World Cup (15s) with New Zealand in 2017, in Ireland.

SEMI RADRADRA (FIJI)

After playing for Fiji at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2018, Semi Radradra became one of the best 15s players in the world, and thrilled fans at the Rugby World Cup 2019 with his explosive power in attack.

The Flying Fijians’ 15s captain switched back to sevens in 2021 in an attempt to help Fiji retain their Olympic gold medal, and did just that!

The centre-cum-winger mostly featured as an impact player in what was a well-established team, and got on the score sheet in the semi-finals, before helping the team to gold, and returning to 15s.

CAROLINE DROUIN (FRANCE)

Caroline Drouin's potential as a sevens player was spotted when she helped France win bronze at the Rugby World Cup 2017.

She scored a try and kicked seven conversions in the Olympic Sevens repechage, where France secured a quota at Tokyo 2020.

The fly-half was pivotal in Japan, where France’s brilliant run was eventually ended by New Zealand in the final, earning the team a silver medal.

SHARNI WILLIAMS (AUSTRALIA)

New South Wales native Sharni Williams first represented Australia in 15s in 2008, and scored a try at the 2010 Rugby World Cup.

Williams transitioned to rugby sevens in 2011 and it wasn’t long before she was a mainstay of a series-winning team. In 2016, she co-captained the team to Olympic gold at Rio 2016.

The qualified mechanic went on to be named final MVP as Australia beat New Zealand to win the 2022 Rugby World Cup, before helping her nation to Commonwealth Games gold later that year.

There have also been players who went in the other direction, making their names as sevens players and representing their nations at the Olympics, before becoming household names in the game of 15s.

CHESLIN KOLBE AND KWAGGA SMITH (SOUTH AFRICA)

Chrislin Kolbe first made his name as one of sevens’ most devastating finishers, and helped South Africa to bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

He then transferred his skills to 15s seamlessly, and became one of the best players in the world, helping the Springboks win Rugby World Cups in 2019 and 2023.

His teammate from the Rio Games, Kwagga Smith, also made the transition to 15s, and was a key part of South Africa’s back row unit in both World Cup triumphs.

PORTIA WOODMAN (NEW ZEALAND)

After making her sevens debut in 2012, Portia Woodman became one of women’s rugby’s finest ever wingers, and was voted the Women’s Sevens Player of the Decade, having helped the Black Ferns to silver in Rio, gold in Tokyo, and Commonwealth gold in 2018.

She made her 15s debut in 2013, and completed her medal collection when New Zealand lifted the 2021 Rugby World Cup, where she was the top try-scorer with seven.

RIEKO IOANE (NEW ZEALAND)

Another New Zealander to have made his name in international colours on the sevens circuit is Rieko Ioane.

The free-scoring winger played for the All Blacks at the Rio 2016 Olympics alongside Williams, before switching his focus to 15s, where he has amassed 65 caps and scored 180 points to date.