Rugby to Make Olympic Return in 2016

The inclusion of Rugby Sevens in the 2016 Olympics has come as exciting news to players and fans across the globe. While some traditional (15-a-side) rugby fans see the acceptance of the sevens game as an insupportable compromise, many others see this new Olympic addition as a long overdue step forward towards mainstream acceptance of this often misunderstood sport. Even though the Rugby World Cup is the third most popular sporting event on earth, the game (in any form) has not been played as an Olympic sport sine the 1920s.

Seven a side rugby is a faster and more wide-open game than it's more traditional 15-a-side counterpart. Basic rugby laws remain in place for sevens, aside from a few minor changes; the most significant being an obvious reduction in the number of participants in general play. Halves are also significantly shorter than a traditional match (either 7 or 10 minutes depending on the tournament) and tries must be converted by drop kick as opposed to setting the ball on a tee.

This form of rugby has been widely embraced in recent years, mainly because matches are completed in less than one half hour, which allows for the completion of entire tournaments in as little as one day. According to the International Olympic Committee, the tournament format that will be adopted for the 2016 games will include 12 men's and 12 women's teams competing over the course of 4 days.

As one might expect, the traditionally dominant 15-a-side rugby nations tend to be in command of the sevens game as well. South Africa, England and New Zealand regularly find themselves atop the standings in both forms of the sport, while countries such as Fiji and Kenya tend to focus more exclusively on 7-a-side.

With rugby's inclusion into the summer games, various countries with a lack of previous Olympic success see an opportunity for international recognition. The small country of Fiji is a prime example as it may finally have an opportunity to win its first Olympic Medal. If all goes well for the rugby crazed island nation, that medal has a very good chance of being gold.

While fans still have to wait another few years to see this game played as an official Olympic sport, fans can catch international tournaments throughout the year. The International Rugby Board holds an annual "Sevens World Series" that includes eight tournaments taking place from December to May. Locations for these competitions include the traditional rugby hotbeds of South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, England and Scotland, as well as not-so-customary venues in Dubai, USA and Hong Kong. More information about this series can be found on the IRB Sevens website.

"International Olympic Committee" Olympic.org