There is plenty of excitement entering the Summer Olympic Games and even the best offshore sportsbooks sites are dealing odds on which nation will prevail in both the men’s and women’s teams. Below we can see which countries comprise which groups, as well as the corresponding odds to win the gold medal in the men’s and women’s Rugby seven tournaments.
Without further ado, let’s get to it!
Men’s Brackets (Odds to Win Gold)
Group A
- New Zealand (+250)
- Australia (+1300)
- Argentina (+3300)
- South Korea (+50,000)
Group B
- Fiji (+275)
- Great Britain (+1100)
- Canada (+6600)
- Japan (Host: +6600)
Group C
- South Africa (+300)
- United States (+700)
- Kenya (+8000)
- Ireland (+6600)
Meet the Aussie Men’s Team
The Australian Men’s sevens team will be captained by Nick Malouf and he will be accompanied by his teammate from the 2016 Games, Henry Hutchison. However, the remaining 10 players will all make their Olympic debuts, and the list includes, Samu Kerevi, Lachlan Anderson, Joe Pincus, Dylan Pietsch, Henry Paterson, Maurice Longbottom, Joshua Coward, Joshua Turner, Lachlan Miller, and Dietrich Roache.
As you may recall, the Australian Men’s sevens were bounced in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Olympics when they bowed, 22-5, to South Africa. But the outlook is bright for this edition as noted by the following announcement.
“It is fantastic to announce these 24 athletes to the Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo,” Chef de Mission Ian Chesterman said.
“Rugby Sevens debut in 2016 and that historic women’s gold is one of the standout memories from Rio and we are thrilled to have such strong squads named for Tokyo.”
“COVID and the postponement has made this a tough campaign, and today’s selection is testament to the extraordinary determination of these athletes to be at their best and to represent their country despite those difficulties.
“Thank you to Rugby Australia for developing a great sevens program and helping take athletes from their first game of rugby to competing on the world’s biggest sporting stage and to the players’ families, friends, teammates and supporters who have been their every step of the way.”
“On behalf of the entire Rugby community, I’d like to congratulate every athlete on their selection,” RA CEO Andy Marinos added.
“It is one of the world’s premier sporting events and I have no doubt every individual will represent their clubs, friends, families and country to the best of their ability.
“I speak on behalf of everyone in the Rugby family in wishing you good luck, we’ll be right behind you the whole way and can’t wait to welcome you home.”
Women’s Brackets (Odds to Win Gold)
Group A
- New Zealand (-265)
- ROC (+4500)
- Great Britain (+2000)
- Kenya (+35,000)
Group B
- Canada (+750)
- France (+2500)
- Fiji (+6600)
- Brazil (+35,000)
Group C
- Australia (+600)
- United States (+900)
- China (+12,500)
- Japan (Host: +12,500)
Australian Women Defend Gold Without Green
Australia struck gold in the rugby sevens in 2016, and based on what the oddsmakers are dealing, it appears as though they have an excellent chance of repeating. Of course, the New Zealand women are the odds-on-favorites and will be a force of nature in this Olympic tournament but Australia is fielding an excellent team as well that will put the Kiwis to the test if, and when, they meet.
The Australian Women’s Rugby Seven team will be comprised of captain Sharni Williams, Shannon Parry, Faith Nathan, Dominique Du Toit, Emma Tonegato, Evania Pelite, Charlotte Caslick, Madison Ashby, Tia Hinds, Sariah Paki, Demi Hayes, and Maddison Levi.
One noticeable omission is that of Ellia Green who has been synonymous with Australian women’s rugby but was the last, and most painful, roster cut made by coach, John Manenti.
Green took to Instagram to express her feelings about not making the Tokyo lineup, “The past few days have been pretty long and dark since being told I haven’t been selected for the Tokyo Olympics,” she wrote. “This is the reality of sport; it can make you feel like you’re on top of the world and it can also make you feel lower than the ground. Thank you for the messages and support from everyone. I am not currently injured; I just didn’t get selected and I accept that.”
Manenti explained his rationale for not selecting Green, “Ultimately she’s not in the form that we all know [she can be],” Manenti said. “I wanted to give her every chance to produce that form. She has come off a long lay-off with the knee that we tried to get right. She’s effectively fit to play in the sense it’s not an injury that has ruled her out but she isn’t where she needs to be. We had to have form dominate the selection criteria.
“It’s the hardest conversation I’ve had to have around selections. It was really a difficult conversation because I’m really close with her and obviously, I would have loved nothing more than to select her. Her form just [was] letting her down.
“She just can’t run as quick as she can. She just wasn’t producing that with any consistency.”
