We take a closer look at the 12 men's teams who will be battling it out for Olympic medals at Rio 2016 from 9-11 August, including Fiji who won the 2015-16HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
Argentina
Coach: Santiago Gomez Cora
2015-16 series placing: Fifth
2015-16 titles: 0
2015-16 top point / try scorer: Axel Muller (132 points, 26 tries)
Did you know...? Head coach Santiago Gomez Cora was sevens’ all-time leading try scorer with 230 tries until the London Sevens where Collins Injera overtook him.
Player to watch: Juan Imhoff
Imhoff only played one tournament for Los Pumas last season, famously dislocating his finger before running the length of the field to score a try at Twickenham. Having been a success at RWC 2015, Imhoff brings versatility to Santiago Gomez Cora’s side.
Australia
Coach: Andy Friend
2015-16 series placing: Fourth
2015-16 titles: 0
2015-16 top point / try scorer: James Stannard (218 points) and Henry Hutchison (27 tries)
Did you know...? Jesse Parahi switched back to sevens in April after a short stint in NRL with West Tigers. The Olympic dream was obviously too big to give up.
Player to watch: Cameron Clark (pictured below)
Clark just gets better and better and has risen to prominence in the last two seasons. His play-making skills have been integral to Australia’s success but his speed, try-scoring ability and kicking leaves him as one of the first names on the team sheet.
Brazil
Coach: Andres Romagnoli
2015-16 series placing: 17th
2015-16 titles: 0
2015-16 top point / try scorer: Daniel Sancery (20 points, four tries)
Did you know...? Brazil's Daniel and Felipe Sancery are one of seven sets of twins to compete in rugby sevens at the Olympics.
Player to watch: Lucas Duque
The captain of Brazil. He may be shorter than most of the other sevens players but as we’ve seen with the likes of Terry Bouhraoua, height isn't everything, and in Duque you have a fearless tackler with bags of pace, commitment, passion and desire. Expect him to shine in the home environment.
Fiji
Coach: Ben Ryan
2015-16 series placing: First
2015-16 titles: Three (Dubai, Las Vegas and Hong Kong)
2015-16 top point / try scorer: Vatemo Ravouvou (287 points) and Savenaca Rawaca (24 tries)
Did you know...? If you’re on social media you’ll have probably seen Fiji training in the sand dunes, and it looks tough! All that will be worth it, however, if the side pick up their country’s first-ever Olympic medal of any colour.
Player to watch: Josua Tuisova
One only needed to watch Tuisova in action in Paris to see what he is capable of. Toulon’s winger impressed all season in the Top 14 and swooped in and powered his way to a number of scintillating tries at Stade Jean Bouin. Tuisova will display power more akin to that normally seen with the weightlifters.
France
Coach: Frederic Pomarel
2015-16 series placing: 11th
2015-16 titles: 0
2015-16 top point / try scorer: Terry Bouhraoua (209 points) and Virimi Vakatawa (24 tries)
Did you know? Virimi Vakatawa was chosen to play in the Six Nations with France this year before returning to finish off the world series.
Player to watch: Terry Bouhraoua
Already mentioned above, Bouhraoua is the lynchpin behind all that is good about France. Aided by Virimi Vakatawa, the two players provide consistent threats both in the middle of the pitch, and out wide. Experienced, a natural leader, and flamboyant, we can’t wait to see Terry in action in Rio.
Team GB
Coach: Simon Amor
2015-16 series placing: England (eighth)
2015-16 titles: 1 (Scotland in London)
2015-16 top point / try scorer: Tom Mitchell (135 points) and Dan Norton (22 tries)
Did you know...? Coach Simon Amor won World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year back in 2004 after helping England to second place in the world series
Player to watch: Tom Mitchell
The Team GB captain Tom Mitchell has led England from the front all season, but now has the added expectation from more than just the one country! Captaining a GB squad is something that he will cherish for a lifetime, but it will also up his game even more in Rio.
Japan
Coach: Tomohiro Segawa
2015-16 series placing: 15th
2015-16 titles: 0
2015-16 top point / try scorer: Katsuyuki Sakai (89 points) and Kameli Soejima (15 tries)
Did you know...? Kenki Fukuoka is the only member of their historic Rugby World Cup squad heading to Rio, but in players like Lemeki, Tuqiri and Sakai you have bags of experience that could ruffle a few feathers as we’ve seen on the series recently
Player to watch: Lomano Lemeki
Lemeki shot to fame in the Asian Sevens Series a few years ago and has helped guide Japan to their new heights of late. Back on the series next season having qualified in Hong Kong, Lemeki is another man who punches well above his weight. Powerful, quick, and understands the game impeccably, Lemeki would probably get into most other teams if they had the choice.
Kenya
Coach: Benjamin Ayimba
2015-16 series placing: Seventh
2015-16 titles: 1 (Singapore)
2015-16 top point / try scorer: Collins Injera (172 points, 32 tries)
Did you know...? Collins Injera is the all-time leading try-scorer in sevens history, and is in the squad with brother Humphrey Kayange who was part of the sport’s successful Olympic bid back in 2009. Kenya also won their first-ever Cup title this year in Singapore
Player to watch: Oscar Ayodi
Household names Injera and Kayange are givens, but Oscar Ayodi is a player who has impressed all season. Famous for his blooper in Singapore where he was selflessly trying to help team-mate Injera get closer to the try-scoring record, he bounced back to help his side win the tournament, including scoring a wonderful try in the final.
New Zealand
Coach: Gordon Tietjens
2015-16 series placing: Third
2015-16 titles: 3 (Wellington, Sydney and Vancouver)
2015-16 top point / try scorer: Gillies Kaka (172 points) and Rieko Ioane (28 tries)
Did you know? New Zealand have won four Commonwealth gold medals, and also 12 of the 16 world series titles on offer since the series began back in 1999. In Gordon Tietjens, Sir Gordon Tietjens, you have the longest serving coach, and the most experienced man in the sport, bar none.
Player to watch: Sonny Bill Williams
Not many people won’t be already keeping an eye on what Sonny Bill Williams gets up to in Rio. He has had a steady start in sevens and really found his place in Gordon Tietjens’ side. While many will be stopping Usain Bolt for selfies in the Olympic village, in Williams, rugby has its own celebrity heading to Rio.
South Africa
Coach: Neil Powell
2015-16 series placing: Second
2015-16 titles: 1 (Cape Town)
2015-16 top point / try scorer: Seabelo Senatla (330 points, 66 tries)
Did you know...? South Africa have finished runner-up in the world series for the past four years, unable to clinch their second series title since 2008/09. But is a gold medal within their grasp at the Olympics?
Player to watch: Cheslin Kolbe
Probably one of THE best steppers in the game, Kolbe has been switching sevens for the DHL Stormers all season. At his best, however, when he’s with his sevens brothers and he brings a different dimension to their game, alongside Juan de Jongh who also returns for the Olympic Games.
Spain
Coach: Jose Ignacio Inchausti
2015-16 series placing: N/A
2015-16 titles: N/A
2015-16 top point / try scorer: N/A
Did you know...? Spain were the last men’s side to qualify for Rio, and the emotions seen from Pablo Feijoo will go down in rugby and Olympic folklore. For those who missed it, it’s worth another watch.
Player to watch: Ignacio Martin
Spain’s pace man is lethal when given an inch of space. Defences will be looking to keep him under wraps in the early stages of the match.
USA
Coach: Mike Friday
2015-16 series placing: Sixth
2015-16 titles: 0
2015-16 top point / try scorer: Madison Hughes (331 points) and Perry Baker (48 tries)
Did you know...? The USA won their first-ever Cup title at the 2015 London Sevens and went on to beat New Zealand three successive times this season. But they’ve not made a final all year and coach Friday will need to find that extra gear again if they are to defend their rugby gold medal.
Player to watch: Nate Ebner
The only NFL player heading to Rio, in Nate Ebner the USA have a Super Bowl winner, and someone experienced with sevens. Many headlines will be taken by Carlin Isles and Perry Baker, but in Ebner, Mike Friday has a secret weapon that could make a difference once the Games begin.
Who do you think will win the first ever rugby sevens gold medal in Rio? Join the conversation @WorldRugby7s using #Rugby7s
