Fiji and Japan kick off Tokyo 2020 Olympics Rugby Sevens tournament

Reigning champions Fiji face the home nation Japan in the opening round of the men’s rugby sevens tournament at the Tokyo Stadium on 26 July 2021.

The women’s competition kicks off with France v Fiji on 29 July.

In a change to the schedule for the Rio 2016 Olympics, the men’s competition will be held first, across three days until 28 July, with the women’s tournament taking place from 29 - 31 July.

Rio 2016 silver medallists Great Britain face debutantes Canada in their opening match also on 26 July.

Ireland also make their rugby sevens debut in what is likely to be a hotly contested group, Pool C, against the Rio 2016 bronze medallists, South Africa.

Great Britain and Fiji will go head-to-head on 27 July in a repeat of the Rio 2016 men's final, but the match to watch, also on 27 July, will be the Southern Hemisphere clash between New Zealand and Australia.

In the women’s tournament, the medallists from the Rio 2016 Olympic Games begin their quest for gold on 29 July, with defending champions Australia starting their campaign against Japan. The silver medallists, New Zealand take on Kenya, while third-placed Canada face Brazil.

The rugby sevens features for the second time in the Olympic Games. It became a highlight of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as it made its debut, with Australia’s women and Fiji’s men winning gold medals – the first Olympic rugby medals since 1924, and the first Olympic medal in Fiji’s history.

The Tokyo 2020 rugby sevens tournament takes place between 26 July and 31 July 2021.

*The competition schedule may be subject to change.