Global Partners
Global Partners
Rugby World Cup 7s 2022 - Logo Rugby World Cup 7s 2022 - Logo Rugby World Cup 7s 2022 - Logo
Listen Live
  • Video
  • Predictor
  • Format
  • Match Schedule
  • Video
  • Predictor
  • Format
  • Match Schedule
  • Where to Watch
  • Teams
  • News
  • Stats
  • Get Tickets
  • Fan Village
  • Venue
  • Newsletter
  • Childfund
  • FAQ Tickets
  • About RWC Sevens
  • Media
  • Contact Us
World Rugby
Website language
English
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • 日本語
Website language
English
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • 日本語
  • About RWC Sevens
  • Media
  • Contact Us
Latest News
Rugby World Cup Sevens - South Africa 2022
3 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

“You only live once”: History maker Sharni Williams targets 15s challenge after RWC Sevens 2022 success

Williams will join up with the Wallaroos squad for Rugby World Cup 2021 having completed a unique quadruple with Australia in Cape Town.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Tue 13 September, 2022
3 min read
Rugby World Cup Sevens - South Africa 2022
2 min read

RWC Sevens 2022

Angelo Davids pays emotional tribute to Neil Powell

Blitzboks star says his departing coach, who presided over the most successful period in South Africa sevens history, is like a father figure to him.

RWC Sevens 2022

Tue 13 September, 2022
2 min read
Rugby World Cup Sevens - South Africa 2022
5 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: How an “incredible” weekend unfolded

Following the conclusion of RWC Sevens 2022 in Cape Town, we recap some of the highlights from a truly special weekend.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Mon 12 September, 2022
5 min read
Rugby World Cup Sevens - South Africa 2022
9 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Fiji and Australia crowned Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 champions in Cape Town

Fiji claimed their third men’s Rugby World Cup Sevens title by beating defending champions New Zealand, while Australia’s women took down New Zealand to win the title for the first time since 2009 in Cape Town.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Sun 11 September, 2022
9 min read
Rugby World Cup Sevens - South Africa 2022
7 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Ireland stun hosts South Africa as semi-finals confirmed at Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Ireland earned a superb win over the Blitzboks in the final game of an intense day of quarter-final action that also saw defending champions New Zealand remain on course to defend their title in the men’s and women’s events

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Sat 10 September, 2022
7 min read
Latest Videos
Perry Time | Episode 2
09:58 mins

Perry Time | Episode 2

Thu 15 September, 2022
09:58 mins
Seven of the Best | Rugby World Cup 7s | Men's Tries
04:17 mins

Seven of the Best | Rugby World Cup 7s | Men's Tries

Thu 15 September, 2022
04:17 mins
Seven of the Best | Rugby World Cup 7s | Women's Tries
03:24 mins

Seven of the Best | Rugby World Cup 7s | Women's Tries

Thu 15 September, 2022
03:24 mins
TUDOR presents every Daring Play of the Day from Rugby World Cup 7s: Women's
01:05 mins

TUDOR presents every Daring Play of the Day from Rugby World Cup 7s: Women's

Catch up on all the Daring Plays of the Day from the women’s competition at #RWC7s
Tue 13 September, 2022
01:05 mins
TUDOR presents every Daring Play of the Day: Men's Rugby World Cup 7s
01:09 mins

TUDOR presents every Daring Play of the Day from Rugby World Cup 7s: Men's

Relive all the best Daring Plays of the Day from the men's tournament at #RWC7s
Mon 12 September, 2022
01:09 mins
Olympics
Saturday 22 May, 2021
4 min read

Olympic Repechage: Both France sides 'craving' Tokyo qualification

With less than a month to go before the start of the World Rugby Sevens Repechage in Monaco, France's men and women are preparing for a final push to make Tokyo.
  • label.share.via_facebook_messenger
  • label.share.via_whatsapp
  • label.share.via_facebook
  • label.share.via_twitter
  • label.share.via_copy
    URL Copied

With its women's side narrowly failing to make it via the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series despite a fine fourth place last season (10 points behind qualifiers Canada), and its men finishing in sixth place just nine points behind third-placed Fiji, the French rugby sevens teams are yet to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. The World Rugby Sevens Repechage tournament in Monaco will be the last chance to qualify for both sides.

France's women, who recently won an international warm-up tournament at St George's Park in England, head into the final qualifier in form.

“It’s always good to win and it’s good for everyone, especially when you’re up against really tough opposition like we had. We had incredibly good teams which presented us with enormous challenges and difficulties,” admits France 7 Women's coach David Courteix, reacting to his side's record of four wins in six games at St George's Park.

"But the content mattered more to us, by offering more people playing time, trying to build complicity between girls who had the least time playing together, of shaking up habits a little by challenging our female players in positions in which they played rarely. Still, that was the focus of the weekend.

“What interested me above all was the experience itself. We had loaded well in training, we were tired, and despite everything, the idea was to perform with that, to stay focused, masters of our nerves, to fully engage, to play with collective behaviour. We will have lots of lessons to learn from this weekend.

“You know, rugby is first and foremost an adaptation sport. Winning games is good, but the adaptation challenge is huge too. Sometimes we were successful and sometimes we got shaken up. I find that being shaken is important because it is an opportunity to learn a lot of things, to progress and to be even more successful to adapt in the future.”

A strengthened status as favourites

The victory reinforces the favourites status placed on the side in Monaco, who will have two chances to qualify for the Olympic Games with two places still to be claimed for the women's Olympic tournament in Tokyo and Russia, others are eyeing it too.

However, as the old wolf of the sevens stage that he is, David Courteix knows only too well the cost of too much confidence. “We will go to Monaco to have a performance and this will allow us, I hope, to qualify for the Games. But everyone will want it too!” warns the coach. “Nobody thinks that it will be a secured qualification.”

The first difficulty for the France team will be the teams they play in their pool. Because, apart from Hong Kong, the French have never played Colombia or Madagascar. “Even if we don't have images on them, we know the basics: they will come very motivated with the desire to bring down the team that is seen as the seed and the favourite and it is normal,” he admits.

“Their desire to go to the Games will be the same as ours. Behind rugby, and the sevens in particular, there is an extraordinarily strong culture, and these teams are fully imbued with it. Here too, we will have to adapt.”

Keeping their competitive spirit

For the men too, the tournament is not going to be any easier, especially since there will be only one place to be won for the Tokyo Olympics. The repechage ranks include big contenders such as Ireland, Samoa, other World Series regulars, but also Uganda, Jamaica, and Tonga, among others.

Unfortunately for France, the great rise in power observed in recent years under the rule of Jérôme Daret has been stopped dead by the pandemic: their last real tournament dates to Vancouver on 7-8 March, 2020, where France finished 10th. “We had the green lights on the World Series; the France team is progressing,” assures Jérôme Daret.

During this pandemic, his project became part of that undertaken by the nation's 15s setup, where the staff of Fabien Galthié found with the sevens players quality sparring partners to train with. Not forgetting the three players from the sevens squad who found game time in the Top 14: Jean-Pascal Barraque and Tavite Vederamu for Clermont, and Pierre Mignot in Bordeaux, which allowed them to keep their competitive spirit intact.

“Nothing beats competition to enhance players; it was a breath of fresh air for these youngsters,” insists the coach. “We had the chance to work with the XV de France, which kept this competitive adrenaline. This has allowed most players to continue training with an extremely high level of demand.”

Strength in state of mind

This mentality will need to be on show when the squad returns to competition. After two good tournaments in Dubai at the beginning of April – they finished second in the first leg and third in the return – Les Bleus had to cancel their participation in the Madrid Sevens because of restrictions, but are preparing to play in Valladolid, Spain, from 26-28 May, before leaving for a training camp in Aix-en-Provence and then heading for Monaco.

Their repechage pool, which also contains Hong Kong, Chile, Uganda, and Jamaica, will be difficult to navigate. “The asset we have is that we know all these teams from having played them before; we know what to expect,” states Daret.

“We will have to be very vigilant, fully accurate on what we want to put in place and ensure that we gain momentum, but do not crash. That will mean being very opportunistic and overly optimistic, because if we win this tournament, we will have the green lights to challenge the teams at the Olympics and we will arrive in full confidence with a huge craving. It will be even more beneficial since we have played a very high-level competition a month before, we will have had the necessary preparation to be able to be ready in Tokyo.”

Suffice to say that Daret does not doubt the ability of his team to move mountains. The stakes are high, and the symbolism is beautiful. These Olympics will potentially be the last appearance of the serial sevens scorer for France, Terry Bouhraoua, and he intends to make it an additional source of motivation. Even if it will not be the only weapon of the French.

“The first is our ability to play as a team and the second is our game plan in which the players find themselves. But the most important strength the France team can have today is its state of mind,” says Daret.

As a good connoisseur of sevens and French gastronomy, he warns all the same: “We can put all the ingredients in there, but what is important is to make the recipe on the day.”

Read more: Pools confirmed for rugby sevens final Olympic qualification event >>

Trending News Show all
2023 Sydney Sevens - Day 3
4 min read

World Rugby Sevens Series

New Zealand tighten grip on top spots, race to Paris 2024

Following an exhilarating three days at Allianz Stadium, we take a look at what the results mean for the men’s and women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2023.

World Rugby Sevens Series

Mon 30 January, 2023
4 min read
HSBC Sydney Sevens winners
10 min read

HSBC Sydney Sevens

Double glory for New Zealand at HSBC Sydney Sevens

The Black Ferns Sevens and All Blacks Sevens increase their leads at the top of the standings with emphatic victories, against France and South Africa respectively.

HSBC Sydney Sevens

Sun 29 January, 2023
10 min read
2023 Sydney Sevens - Day 2
5 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

France men and women shock hosts at HSBC Sydney Sevens

Cup semi-finalists in the men's and women's tournaments have been decided after a brilliant day two in Australia.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Sat 28 January, 2023
5 min read
2023 Sydney Sevens - Day 1
7 min read

HSBC Sydney Sevens

Big comebacks and top tries as the HSBC Sydney Sevens returns in style

We review the opening day’s play from Australia where New Zealand, leaders in both of the Series, maintained their winning momentum.

HSBC Sydney Sevens

Fri 27 January, 2023
7 min read
Dubai Emirates Airline Rugby Sevens
6 min read

HSBC Sydney Sevens

Big names and new faces – your HSBC Sydney Sevens squads

On a weekend when Gastón Revol will equal James Rodwell's record for most HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series tournament appearances, we take a look at the key squad news in both the men’s and women’s events.

HSBC Sydney Sevens

Thu 26 January, 2023
6 min read
Gaston Revol and Santiago Gomez Cora
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Gastón Revol constantly renewing goals as he approaches Series record

Argentina's Gastón Revol will equal James Rodwell's record for most HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series tournament appearances when he plays in Sydney this weekend.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Wed 25 January, 2023
4 min read
HSBC Sydney Sevens
2 min read

Rugby sevens

HSBC Sydney Sevens ready for action

The world-famous Sydney Harbour Bridge provided the backdrop as captains of the 28 men’s and women’s teams gathered ahead of the HSBC Sydney Sevens which kicks off on Friday, 27 January.

Rugby sevens

Wed 25 January, 2023
2 min read
HSBC New Zealand Sevens 2020 - Men's
3 min read

World Rugby Sevens Series

Kenya legend Collins Injera calls time on illustrious playing career

The second highest try scorer in HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series history said that “after 17 years of literal blood, sweat and tears, it’s time to step away”.

World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 24 January, 2023
3 min read
HSBC New Zealand Sevens - Day 2
3 min read

World Rugby Sevens Series

Argentina, New Zealand and USA the big winners on road to Paris 2024

Following a pulsating HSBC New Zealand Sevens, we take a look at what the results mean for the standings and the race for Olympic qualification.

World Rugby Sevens Series

Mon 23 January, 2023
3 min read
HSBC New Zealand Sevens 2023 winners
6 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Argentina and New Zealand the winners in Hamilton

A dramatic day two of HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series action ends a breathless weekend.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Sun 22 January, 2023
6 min read
Global Partners
Rugby World Cup 7s 2022 - Logo
  • Rugby World Cup Limited © 2007 - 2023. All Rights Reserved.
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Cookies Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Rugby World Cup Sevens
  • World Rugby Media Zone
Website language
English
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • 日本語