From Antoine Dupont to Sonny Bill Williams: Rugby's top code crossovers
Ahead of Antoine Dupont's rugby sevens debut in Vancouver, we take a look at the top 15-a-side rugby players who have also played the shorter code at the Olympic Games.
Antoine Dupont is set to make his rugby sevens debut for France on the World Rugby Sevens Series - also known as SVNS - this season.
Just like former Australia 15s captain Michael Hooper, who signed a contract with his nation’s sevens team in November 2023, the Frenchman's goal is to play at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
For Dupont, this is also, perhaps, an opportunity to banish memories of an agonising 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final exit to New Zealand on home soil.
Given the Stade Toulousain scrum-half’s red-hot form over the past few seasons for club and country, he is arguably the most high-profile player ever to switch formats since rugby sevens made its Olympic debut at Rio 2016.
However, he is by no means the only 15s superstar to cross-over.
Below, we take a look at other renowned rugby 15s players who have also competed in sevens at the Olympic Games.
Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand)
After switching from rugby league, Sonny Bill Williams spent eight successful years as a rugby 15s player, which included Rugby World Cup victories in 2011 and 2015 with the All Blacks.
The uber-gifted New Zealander then switched to his nation’s men’s sevens ahead of Rio 2016, and found things slightly tougher in his new sport.
After a mixed debut on the rugby sevens series that included plenty of tries and injuries, Williams was picked to play at the Olympics.
In New Zealand's first game of the tournament against Japan, Williams partially ruptured his Achilles tendon early in the second half, which ended Williams' Olympic campaign, while the All Blacks Sevens went on to finish in fifth place.
Williams then returned to rugby 15s and professional boxing.
Samu Kerevi (Australia)
Samu Kerevi, renowned as one of the most powerful ball-carrying centres in 15s at the time of his switch to Australia’s men’s sevens team ahead of Tokyo 2020, added plenty of extra interest to the tournament.
Unlike Williams, the 33-cap Wallaby didn’t play a single World Rugby Sevens Series tournament in the lead-up, before showing some promise in the Oceania Sevens, and being selected for the Olympics.
In Japan, Kerevi scored twice in the pool stages before suffering a hamstring injury. Australia were eventually eliminated in the quarter-finals and finished seventh overall.
Samu Kerevi of Team Australia takes on Gwong Min Kim and Hyunsoo Kim of Team South Korea during the Men's Pool A Rugby Sevens match between Australia and South Korea on day three of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Stadium on July 26, 2021 in Chofu, Tokyo, Japan.
Kelly Brazier (New Zealand)
Kelly Brazier is one of those rare rugby players that has a full set of gold medals.
The first came when the 15-a-side utility back helped the Black Ferns win the Rugby World Cup in 2010.
She switched to sevens in 2013, helping New Zealand win the Rugby Sevens World Cup, Olympic silver at Rio 2016, and in 2018 she helped her nation to another Rugby Sevens World Cup title in addition to Commonwealth Games gold.
Brazier then returned to the Olympics at Tokyo 2020, upgrading her silver medal to gold, and completing the set.
She then won her second Rugby World Cup (15s) with New Zealand in 2017, in Ireland.
Semi Radradra (Fiji)
After playing for Fiji at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2018, Semi Radradra became one of the best 15s players in the world, and thrilled fans at the Rugby World Cup 2019 with his explosive power in attack.
The Flying Fijians’ 15s captain switched back to sevens in 2021 in an attempt to help Fiji retain their Olympic gold medal, and did just that!
The centre-cum-winger mostly featured as an impact player in what was a well-established team, and got on the score sheet in the semi-finals, before helping the team to gold, and returning to 15s.
Semi Radradra of Team Fiji makes a break to score a try during the Rugby Sevens Men's Semi-final match between Argentina and Fiji on day five of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Stadium on July 28, 2021 in Chofu, Tokyo, Japan.
Caroline Drouin (France)
Caroline Drouin’s potential as a sevens player was spotted when she helped France win bronze at the Rugby World Cup 2017.
She scored a try and kicked seven conversions in the Olympic Sevens repechage, where France secured a quota at Tokyo 2020.
The fly-half was pivotal in Japan, where France’s brilliant run was eventually ended by New Zealand in the final, earning the team a silver medal.
Sharni Williams (Australia)
New South Wales native Sharni Williams first represented Australia in 15s in 2008, and scored a try at the 2010 Rugby World Cup.
Williams transitioned to rugby sevens in 2011 and it wasn’t long before she was a mainstay of a series-winning team. In 2016, she co-captained the team to Olympic gold at Rio 2016.
The qualified mechanic went on to be named final MVP as Australia beat New Zealand to win the 2022 Rugby World Cup, before helping her nation to Commonwealth Games gold later that year.
There have also been players who went in the other direction, making their names as sevens players and representing their nations at the Olympics, before becoming household names in the game of 15s.
Cheslin Kolbe and Kwagga Smith (South Africa)
Cheslin Kolbe first made his name as one of sevens’ most devastating finishers, and helped South Africa to bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
He then transferred his skills to 15s seamlessly, and became one of the best players in the world, helping the Springboks win Rugby World Cups in 2019 and 2023.
His teammate from the Rio Games, Kwagga Smith, also made the transition to 15s, and was a key part of South Africa’s back row unit in both World Cup triumphs.
Portia Woodman (New Zealand)
After making her sevens debut in 2012, Portia Woodman became one of women’s rugby’s finest ever wingers, and was voted the Women’s Sevens Player of the Decade, having helped the Black Ferns to silver in Rio, gold in Tokyo, and Commonwealth gold in 2018.
She made her 15s debut in 2013, and completed her medal collection when New Zealand lifted the 2021 Rugby World Cup, where she was the top try-scorer with seven.
Rieko Ioane (New Zealand)
Another New Zealander to have made his name in international colours on the sevens circuit is Rieko Ioane.
The free-scoring winger played for the All Blacks at the Rio 2016 Olympics alongside Williams, before switching his focus to 15s, where he has amassed 65 caps and scored 180 points to date.