Fijiana 7s coach, Saiasi Fuli is expected to name his 15 member team to the Paris Olympics this week.

Fuli said the team will fly out to France on Monday, July 15.

“We will be at the HFC Bank stadium tomorrow (today), Fuli said yesterday.

The Osea Kolisau coached 15-member men’s sevens side flew out on Monday.

Meanwhile the men’s sevens competition is from July 24-27, with the women’s tournament from July 28-30.

The men’s gold medal match on July 27 will see the first team sport gold medal of the Games awarded.

The fierce women’s competition, features three very competitive pools. Reigning Olympic champions and SVNS League winners New Zealand face Fiji, Canada and freshly qualified China in Pool A.

Pool B will also provide fascinating competition with Rio 2016 Olympic and SVNS 2024 gold medalists Australia facing Ireland, Great Britain and debutants South Africa.

Hosts France have been placed in Pool C as one of three top ranked teams with silver medal at Tokyo 2020 with pool matches against the USA, Japan and Brazil.

Men’s pools: Pool A – New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, Japan; Pool B – Argentina, Australia, Samoa, Kenya; Pool C – Fiji, France, USA, Uruguay,

World Rugby Chairman, Sir Bill Beaumont said: “The rugby sevens Olympic pools promises to be an epic, coming-of-age tournament for our sport in the French capital.

“Our sport will have the honour of kicking-off Paris 2024 in style with an exciting and spectacular brand of rugby that will excite the hundreds of thousands of fans in Stade de France and capture millions more hearts and minds of those watching around the world.

“Rugby sevens is a fantastic engine to grow our sport and on its third Olympic appearance is already proving to be one of the attractions of the Games with record enthusiasm for tickets, mouthwatering rivalries and two strong French national teams hoping to achieve their Olympic dreams on home soil.

“We know from Rugby World Cup 2023 what an amazing rugby show Paris can put on and the Olympic Games will be no different with knowledgeable and passionate fans expected to fill the stadium and create an incredible atmosphere for the players and teams to showcase their unique combination of speed, strength and sensational skills.”

All the action will take place at a refurbished and packed Stade de France of 69,000 seats.

Feedback: ioane.asioli@fijisun.com.fj