the Blues set off again in search of gold in Singapore, three months before the Paris 2024 Olympics

This is the penultimate tournament of the season before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. From Friday to Sunday, the rugby sevens Blues will compete in the seventh stage of the World Sevens Series in Singapore. After a historic gold medal in Los Angeles in March and a defeat in the final in Hong Kong at the beginning of April, Jérôme Daret’s men want to once again climb to the top of the podium. The French women must raise their heads after two tournaments without a medal.

Less than three months before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the French rugby sevens teams are in the final stretch of their international season. The twelve best nations in the world, women’s and men’s, will meet in Singapore from Friday to Sunday. Three days of tournament and one objective: to prove that France is indeed one of the big favorites for the Olympic tournament at the Stade de France at the end of July.

The French have had three podiums since Vancouver at the end of February: bronze in Canada, gold in Los Angeles and finally silver in Hong Kong on April 7. In China, Jérôme Daret’s men fell in the final against the New Zealanders (7-10). “We put a lot of content into this tournament in terms of building the game and versatility,” said the coach after the match. “This defeat will serve us well. We will analyze it to seek out the best of the metals.”

Dupont expected in Spain

“We are obviously disappointed,” continued captain Paulin Riva. “But we secured the Top 8. That will boost us for the final stages in Singapore and Madrid.” The Blues, currently fourth in the world rankings behind Argentina, Ireland and Fiji, are guaranteed to remain in this Top 8 qualifier for the final stage of the World Sevens Series. From May 31 to June 2, the eight best nations will compete in a final tournament which will award (a new format) the title to the winner. Winning in Madrid, “it would be a big blow to the heads of our opponents and arriving with confidence at the Olympics,” assured Paulin Riva in Hong Kong.

It is precisely in Spain that the Blues are waiting, if all goes well, for their superstar Antoine Dupont. The scrum-half is not traveling to Singapore as he will play in the Champions Cup semi-final with Stade Toulousain against Harlequins (Sunday at 4 p.m.). He who made his debut in Vancouver and Los Angeles crowned with a bronze medal and a gold this winter must participate in the Madrid stage before the Games. The Toulouse man continues his Olympic preparation. He was also on training with the Bleus du 7 in Capbreton in mid-April.

Careful frames

His absence in Hong Kong did not seem to disturb his teammates who played in a second final in a row. “We are a team, a united group,” Paulin Riva underlined. “Everyone brings their experience and their potential.”

Jérôme Daret and his staff decided to film in Singapore. Four changes should be noted in the group compared to Hong Kong. Captain Paulin Riva and iconic scrum half Stephen Parez-Edo are left to rest, as are Antoine Zeghdar, very prominent this season, and Varian Pasquet. They are replaced by the returning Jean-Pascal Barraque, by Esteban Capilla, Paul Leraître and Thomas Carol. It is Rayan Rebbadj who takes the armband in the absence of Riva.

Les Bleues on the relaunch

Change also among French women. Starting with the three septists who went to lend a hand to the French women’s XV for the last two matches of the Six Nations Tournament. Joanna Grisez (who also had to withdraw just before England for a calf injury), Anne-Cécile Ciofani and Chloé Jacquet are logically spared. Chloé Pelle and Jade Ulutule are also out of the group, replaced by Iän Jason, Yolaine Yengo, Shannon Izar, Cléo Hagel, and Alycia Christiaens.

Carla Neisen is traveling but will not play France’s first matches this Friday. The captain who has played 30 matches this season and scored 9 tries must manage her playing time. It is the serial scorer Séraphine Okemba who will lead the team in Singapore.

Les Bleues, third in the world behind New Zealand and Australia, are also guaranteed to participate in the Madrid tournament. But David Courteix’s players must get back on track after two tournaments finishing in fifth and fourth place in Los Angeles and Hong Kong. The reigning Olympic vice-champions still dream of the gold they never won.