Two Cents Rugby’s Olympic sevens dream team picked from XVs stars

With the likes of Antoine Dupont and Michael Hooper making a switch to sevens in time for the Olympics, what could a global sevens team of XVs stars look like? Two Cents Rugby investigates.

*The chosen individuals below are XVs players who haven’t played international sevens.

Juan Martin Gonzalez (Argentina)

Although he has never played international sevens, the Pumas flanker does have a background in this form of the game, and it shows in his play. He was a part of the gold medal squad in the 2018 Youth Olympics. Quick around the park and mobile for a guy standing over 190cm tall, Gonzalez as a sevens front-rower, with his power and skill with ball in hand, would be a perfect fit.

Jac Morgan (Wales)

Morgan has been one of the best performers in Welsh rugby in 2023, and is one of those rare breeds who has a genuine all-round skill set. Whether he is busting tackles, setting up tries with offloads, pinching ball at the breakdown or kicking 50:22s, none are surprising from the flanker. Definitely mobile and with enough X-factor for sevens.

Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland)

Another XVs player with a background in sevens, Van der Merwe was a gold medal winner for South Africa in the 2013 Australian Youth Olympic Festival. It may be a decade since that time, but the powerhouse wing, with his insane ability to break a tackle and his deceptively nimble footwork, would be a hard man to stop if he got a head of steam up.

Antoine Dupont (France)

Dupont, who has arguably been the best XVs player in the world for several years now, will be a fascinating one to watch when he tries his hand at sevens in 2024. It’s hard to imagine Dupont being anything but incredible on the rugby pitch, but obviously it will be a new challenge for him. However, with his skill set, his pass, his ability to break tackles and make defensive reads, he should take to it like a duck to water.

Damian Willemse (South Africa)

Already a two-time World Cup winner and still only 25 years old, the lure of Olympic gold may be one that tempts the Springbok utility. One thing is for sure, Willemse has the attack minded temperament for sevens and all that extra space on the field would suit his running game down to the ground. Given his footwork in XVs is already tough enough for defenders to manage, you could see him having a great impact on the sevens scene.

Garry Ringrose (Ireland)

The Irish midfielder has become one of the world’s best 13s in the last few years. His ability to find a weak point in the opposition line and put team-mates through gaps would make him a real handful at sevens. He’s used to covering the wing for Ireland and has the wheels to make the most of the extra space as well, plus a passing game which is second to none.

Mark Telea (New Zealand)

The Breakthrough Player of the Year for 2023 must have played sevens at some point in his youth, such is his ability to beat defenders in one-on-one contests. Since his debut for the All Blacks, he’s scored six tries in nine Tests and for the Blues in 2023, a whopping 12 tries in 13 games. There are a lot of wingers who would do well at sevens, and Telea is most certainly one of them.

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