2023-11-20 07:13:03
Antoine Dupont could be one of the stars of the Paris Olympic Games, organized from July 26 to August 11, 2024. The French Rugby Federation must formalize on Monday, November 20, the integration of the captain of the French XV into the French rugby sevens selection, from January, with a view to preparing for the Olympics.
The scrum half will devote himself entirely to this challenge and will therefore not play in the 2024 Six Nations Tournament with his usual teammates. But Antoine Dupont, elected best player in the world at XV in 2021, will have to earn his place and convince the management of the “sevenists” that he deserves to play in the Games.
Sevens rugby is included in the Olympic program in 2016. Like its big brother fifteen, it is played with an oval ball, tries are worth 5 points, conversions 2 and penalties 3. And the pitch is the same size. But the differences between the two forms of rugby do not stop at the number of players. Here are eight.
► 14 minute matches
The duration of a match is only 14 minutes, or two periods of 7 minutes separated by a half-time of 2 minutes, compared to two times 40 minutes for XV with a break of 15 minutes to recover. The final of a tournament is played over a 20-minute match (twice 10 minutes).
► Three-player scrums
A sevens rugby team consists of three three-quarters, a scrum-half and three forwards (two props and a hooker), with five substitutes. Given the space available for everyone, practice is less focused on the forward game than the XV and the sizes are more uniform.
But scrums are also contested. Only the three forwards participate, while this phase of play involves seven players in the XV. For throw-ins, at least two players from each team are required.
► Two in-goal judges
As in XV, the central referee is assisted by two linesmen. But he can also rely on two in-goal judges, one in each in-goal, to validate a try and a conversion or to sanction an unfair play action.
► 2 minute exclusions
The referee can also exclude a player temporarily by showing a yellow card. But this exclusion only lasts 2 minutes, compared to 10 minutes for XV.
► Drop transformations and penalties
As in XV, the tests are transformed. But the conversion is done in the form of a drop-goal, not as a kick with the ball placed on the ground. Penalties are also attempted as drops.
► Kick-off for those who score
Unlike rugby union, it is the team which scored which kicks off from midfield with a drop kick.
► Sudden death in overtime
In the event of a tie at the end of regulation time, overtime is played. The match ends as soon as one team scores. This extension can last as many 5-minute periods as necessary, with no rest time.
At XV, overtime lasts twice 10 minutes, with a 5-minute break. Sudden death only occurs in the event of a tie at the end of overtime.
► Three days of competition
At XV, we had to wait seven weeks between the opening match of the 2023 World Cup and the final. At the Paris Games, in a discipline where players can play several matches per day, it will take barely three days of competition to designate the Olympic sevens champions.
#differences #compared #Antoine #Dupont #discover