Paris 2024 Olympic Games – The players, the journey… Discover the New Zealand rugby sevens team ahead of the Olympics

When they're out on the meadow, whether it's herding sheep or playing rugby 15 or 7, New Zealanders are always good. This summer in ParisObviously, the men in black are coming to win a medal and the most precious metal possible.

After a more than successful 2022-2023 season, in which they finished in the championship, the country's long-cloud men this time finished fourth in the final event in Madrid, defeated by Fiji in the minor final. But third place in the general classification that takes into account the seven events before the Spanish final. Above all, the New Zealanders have won gold at the last two tournaments. In Hong Kong, by defeating the Blues in the final (10-7), then in Singapore, by defeating the surprising Irish team (17-14). They also won the silver medal in Vancouver after defeating the French in the semi-finals, in addition to third place during the first stage of the Dubai Circuit.

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In Paris, the Blacks will want to perform better than at the last Tokyo Olympics where they failed in the final. Therefore, in the most beautiful city in the world, they would only have one metal on their minds.

That's always true in rugby sevens, but perhaps even more so with this team, the danger comes from everywhere. Aquila Rukuliswa can score at any time, he was born in Fiji and you can feel it. Able to break tackles with his devastating support, he regularly crosses the pitch and causes huge damage to the French in Vancouver. He also knows how to make his teammates play and even play very well. Thanks to his always bold and often successful passes after contact, he has a habit of sending teammates behind the goal line.

Last season, he became one of only five players to score more than 400 points in a single practice. This year, he crossed the line no fewer than 12 times. In Paris, his opponents will inevitably follow him and he knows it. He will be one of New Zealand's main weapons in winning their first Olympic gold medal (men's).

It is clear that New Zealand will advance among the candidates in Paris. But in what position? National necessarily sticks behind the Blues, and certainly also in front of the Irish who are certainly second in the general classification but have never won an event and have only reached the final once. After a great season, Argentina are looking even better, so the New Zealanders can legitimately aim for third place. But it is clear that they will arrive in Paris with other ideas on their minds.