Faster, brighter: Olympics a ‘game changer’ for rugby sevens

BRISBANE, Australia — For six days, fit, strong Olympians hurled themselves at each other and at the try line in short, sharp bursts. The debut of rugby sevens at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro delivered what the sport’s world governing body had hoped to achieve: millions of new and a more diverse range of fans. World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont describes the Olympic inclusion as “a game-changer for our sport.” “Rugby sevens’ first appearance at Rio 2016 had a profound effect, attracting an estimated 30 million new fans globally, with the history-making story of Fiji’s first-ever Olympic medal one of the most memorable moments of the games,” he said in an email to The Associated Press. “The future of rugby sevens is bright as the short format game continues to grow, engaging and attracting ever greater global audiences, particularly in emerging nations,” Beaumont said. “Back then we were one of the only centralized professional teams, and now there’s eight or nine teams on the circuit that are fully professional.” World Rugby said sevens has continued to grow since Rio, attracting more participation and bigger audiences.