Rugby sevens in spotlight as Team Ireland kick off Paris 2024

Team Ireland get their Olympic Games under way this afternoon and the Men's Sevens rugby side face off against South Africa (4.30pm) and Japan (8pm).

It’s just the team’s second time to qualify for the tournament and after barely making a mark in Tokyo three years ago – when they had less than a month to prepare – the panel are determined to make amends this time around.

And after a consistent run across the World Series, James Topping’s men finished in second place in the regular standings but never got to lift the top prize in any of the legs.

Their best finish came in Perth in January when they lost a final to Argentina, while they racked up three third-place finishes. They were the only side to finish in the top three who didn’t record a leg win.

While a first-place finish would have franked the team’s progress over the last few seasons their form still bodes well for the competition, which they’ve set their sights on from the outset.

"It’s been a breeze to be able to have all this time and space to prepare yourself, mentally and physically," winger Jordan Conroy, from Offaly, told RTÉ Sport when asked about the difference in preparation this time around.

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"It was such a short time in Tokyo, literally, two weeks to try and set yourself up to go for a gold medal. It was impossible.

"Being here in Paris after qualifying a year ago, it’s made so much difference to us as a team, to our rugby, and even having a whole season, it’s been a joy to be able to look forward to