France rugby à 7 denied automatic qualification for LA 2028

France’s men’s and women’s rugby sevens teams will not receive automatic places at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, despite France’s men winning the Olympic title in Paris. The United States, as host nation, is the only country guaranteed a place, leaving 11 Olympic berths to be decided through qualification.

World Rugby has set the same route for both competitions. The clearest path will be a top-four finish in the 2027 SVNS World Championship. That season will begin with six stages between November 2026 and March 2027, before the eight leading teams move into a three-stage finals series. The final event will be held in Bordeaux in May 2027, giving France a home venue during the decisive part of the campaign.

France’s latest standings show the challenge ahead. The men finished seventh this season, while the women placed fifth, or fourth when the United States is excluded. Teams that miss the main route will have another chance through regional tournaments in the second half of 2027, which will award six places with one available to each continent. The last Olympic ticket will go through a repechage tournament in June 2028.

Los Angeles will host rugby sevens at the Olympics for the fourth time. France has already won two medals in the sport: men’s gold at Paris 2024 and women’s silver at Tokyo 2021. Louis Bielle-Biarrey has expressed his desire to join the next Olympic campaign after Antoine Dupont helped the men claim victory in Paris.