Every tournament is defined by various events that happen around them. And Rio 2016 is no different, and it hasn’t even started yet. Most of the talk is around the Zika virus, which has seen participants pull out of the tournament. It’s mostly golfers, including world number 1 Jason Day and South Africans Charl Schwartzel and Braden Grace, but other notables include cyclist Tejay van Garderen and NBA star Stephen Curry. But this Olympics will also be known for the sports that made a comeback. The golfer exodus is a bummer, seeing as the sport is making a return after 112 years. The other big sport for South Africans is rugby, which is back as a new-format after 92 years. The 15-man game is being replaced by the very popular sevens. The South African sevens team, known as the Blitzbokke, will fancy their chances having finished second in this year’s standings. They have also been given a favourable pool, with Australia, France and Spain drawn alongside them. The action kicks off in August. – Stuart Lowman
RIO DE JANEIRO, June 28 (Reuters) – Top-ranked side Fiji were drawn against the United States, Argentina and host nation Brazil in Pool A in the draw for the Olympic rugby sevens tournament made on Tuesday.
Rugby is returning to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro after 92 years in its sevens format, a smaller and faster version of the 15-man game.
#Rugby7s Men's Pool B @Rio2016_en = 🇿🇦🇦🇺🇫🇷🇪🇸 #AreYouReady? @Blitzboks @Aussie7s @FFRugby @Spain7s pic.twitter.com/1MZdhQCG3c
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) June 28, 2016
Twelve teams will compete for gold in both the men’s and women’s events.
In addition to the tough Pool A, seeds South Africa will play Australia, France and Spain in Pool B. Britain are in the same group as New Zealand, Japan and Kenya.
In the women’s event, hosts Brazil were drawn in Pool C with Canada, Britain and Japan. Pool A features Australia, the U.S., Fiji and Colombia, while Pool B includes New Zealand, France, Spain and Kenya.
