When to watch rugby during the 2024 Paris Olympics
Rugby starts two days prior to the Opening Ceremony for the 2024 Paris Olympics with 12 matches of men’s pool round action. The early start for rugby allows for medals to be awarded on Day 1 for the men’s tournament, one of eight sports to have the honor on Saturday, July 27.
Australia and Samoa will kick off the pool action at 9:30 a.m. ET. The U.S. men will face France at 10:30 a.m. ET. Tokyo gold medalist Fiji will play Uruguay at 11 a.m. ET. Thirty-four total matches will take place between July 24 and July 27, with no matches occurring on July 26, the day of the Opening Ceremony. Each team will play five or six matches depending on results.
The women begin their march toward the medal stand on Sunday, July 28 with pool play matches. The tournament concludes with the gold medal match two days later on Tuesday, July 30.
Venue
Rugby will be played inside the host nation’s largest stadium, Stade de France, which will also be the home of track and field events during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
What to expect
The fast-paced rugby sevens format which was introduced into the Olympic Games program at the 2016 Rio Olympics will once again be used in Paris. Each match has seven-minute halves with a two-minute halftime. For the men's tournament, 34 total matches will take place between July 24 and July 27, with no matches occurring on July 26, the day of the Opening Ceremony. Each team will play five or six matches depending on results.
Placement matches for the men will begin on July 25, highlighted by quarterfinals in the afternoon. The men's medal matches will take place on July 27.
Olympic rugby athletes to watch on Team USA
The men will have their hands full in Paris this summer. The team enters the tournament not as the favorites, but with a young squad led by rugby sevens legend Perry Baker, the U.S. is capable of pulling off a few upsets.
The women enter the tournament as one of the favorites for bronze and will need to take care of business against Oceania powerhouses New Zealand and Australia to win gold. Backed by a veteran group and social media sensation Ilona Maher, the team is expected to win a medal at the Paris Games.
| Date | Event | Time (ET) |
| July 24 | Men's Pool Round (12 matches) | 9:30a-4p |
| July 25 | Men's Pool Round (6 matches) Men's Placing 9-12 (2 matches) Men's Quarter-finals (4 matches) |
8a-11a 2p-5p |
| July 27 | Men's Placing 5-8 (2 matches) Men's Semi-finals Men's Placing 11-12 Men's Placing Match 9-10 Men's Placing Match 7-8 Men's Placing Match 5-6 Men's Bronze Medal Match Men's Gold Medal Match |
8:30a-2:45p |
| July 28 | Women's Pool Round (12 matches) | 9:30a-4p |
| July 29 | Women's Pool Round (6 matches) Women's Placing 9-12 (2 matches) Women's Quarter-finals (4 matches) |
8a-11a 2p-5p |
| July 30 | Women's Placing 5-8 (2 matches) Women's Semi-Finals Women's Placing 11-12 Women's Placing 9-10 Women's Placing 7-8 Women's Placing 5-6 Women's Bronze Medal Match Women's Gold Medal Match |
8:30a-2:45p |