Rugby | Olympic Games Paris 2024: Men’s Sevens Session 1 Stats
A total of 35 tries and 221 points were scored in the first session of Paris 2024. This is slightly down on the 40 tries and 250 points scored in the first six matches at Tokyo 2020.
General Statistics
Fiji and New Zealand were the top try-scorers with six in their 40-12 defeats of Uruguay and Japan respectively.
Six players scored a brace of tries in the opening session – Henry Hutchison (Australia), Agustín Fraga (Argentina), Joji Nasovo (Fiji), Akuila Rokolisoa, Fehi Fineanganofo and Ngarohi McGarvey-Black (New Zealand)
Match 1 – Australia 21-14 Samoa – Pool B
Samoa’s Motu Opetai scored the first try of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 men’s rugby sevens competition after two minutes and 20 seconds at the Stade de France, the second-quickest behind the 19 seconds it took Jiuta Wainiqolo to open the scoring for Fiji against Japan in Tokyo.
This was Samoa’s first-ever Olympic try, the Pacific Islanders having failed to qualify for Rio 2016 or Tokyo 2020.
Henry Hutchison scored Australia’s first and third tries in the comeback victory, his first tries on the Olympic stage since opening the scoring in the seventh place play-off defeat to France at Rio 2016.
This was Australia’s first victory over Samoa in the French capital, having lost both SVNS series matches in Paris in 2016 and 2017.
Match 2 – Argentina 31-12 Kenya – Pool B
Marcos Moneta has now scored in four consecutive matches for Argentina at the Olympic Games, the former World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year last failing to score a try against South Africa in the Tokyo 2020 pool stage.
This was the first try he has scored against Kenya in his career, having failed to score against the Shujaa Sevens on the SVNS series.
Agustin Fraga became the second player to score a brace of tries at Paris 2024 with a try in each half.
Kenya are still searching for their first pool-stage victory at the Olympic Games.
Match 3 – France 12-12 Usa – Pool C
This is only the second draw in Olympic rugby sevens history and the first in the men’s competition. 12-12 was also the score when USA and Australia drew in the Rio 2016 women’s pool stage.
Jordan Sepho, France’s leading try-scorer on the SVNS 2024 series, opened the scoring at the Stade de France.
Match 4 – Fiji 40-12 Uruguay – Pool C
Juan González wrote his name into the history books as Uruguay’s first-ever Olympic try scorer.
Fiji have now conceded the first try in two of their three opening matches at an Olympic Games with hosts Brazil having opened the scoring through Felipe Claro at Rio 2016.
Fiji’s winning run on the Olympic stage now stretches to 13 matches.
Waisea Nacuqu, the scorer of Fiji’s fourth try, is one of three survivors of their Tokyo 2020 gold medal winning team.
Match 5 – Ireland 10-5 South Africa – Pool A
Ireland avenged their 33-14 defeat to South Africa on their Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020 with victory at Stade de France.
Terry Kennedy scored Ireland’s second try, just as he had done that day against South Africa in Tokyo.
South Africa’s Ryan Oosthuizen received the first yellow card of Paris 2024 during the second half.
Match 6 – New Zealand 40-12 Japan – Pool A
New Zealand account for half of the six players to score a brace in the opening session with Akuila Rokolisoa, Fehi Fineanganofo and Ngarohi McGarvey-Black all dotting down twice against Japan.
This victory avenged the shock 14-12 defeat New Zealand suffered against Japan in their first-ever Olympic match at Rio 2016.
