Women’s rugby will be represented in the Paris Olympics with the Olympic women’s rugby 7s tournament during the first full week of action at the games. Unlike the men’s rugby 7s tournament, there are a few clear favorites to win this event, including one team that has dominated in women’s rugby sevens for most of this year. Here, we break down the women’s rugby competition from Paris and make our pick to claim Olympic gold.
Olympic Women’s Rugby 7s Betting Odds
| Team | Gold Medal Odds |
| New Zealand | -110 |
| Australia | +160 |
| France | +500 |
| USA | +2500 |
| Canada | +2500 |
| Ireland | +3500 |
| Great Britain | +4000 |
| Fiji | +6500 |
| China | +15000 |
| Japan | +25000 |
| Brazil | +30000 |
| South Africa | +50000 |
Odds from DraftKings Sportsbook
The odds-on favorites to win the gold medal in the Olympic women’s rugby 7s competition are New Zealand. New Zealand crushed the competition in the Sevens World Series in women’s rugby this year, winning four of the final five events of the year. They finished in the top-three in all but one event on the schedule this year in the Sevens World Series, which means it would take a Herculean effort for any country to knock them off in this competition.
Olympic Women’s Rugby 7s Major Storylines
The battle between New Zealand and Australia will be the number one storyline in the Olympic women’s rugby 7s competition. Australia has also been dominant in women’s sevens this year, also finishing in the top-three in all but one event this campaign. While they did not win as many tournaments as New Zealand did this year, they were in the mix in nearly all of them and they should be in the mix for the gold this year.
Also worth monitoring is whether or not another country can step up to become a serious contender to the top-two in the chase for the gold medal in women’s rugby sevens. Ireland was the only other team to win a rugby 7s tournament during the Sevens World Series schedule on the women’s side this season, winning once in Perth. Ireland is at +3500 odds to win gold here, speaking to just how much better than usual any team will need to be to take gold away from New Zealand or Australia.
Olympic Women’s Rugby 7s Medal Contenders
Outside of Australia and New Zealand, the team with the best chance to win a medal at this event is France. France is playing on home soil, which should mean a crowd more than willing to support them. That could help them play more precise rugby than the rest of the teams in the field to help them get into the medal rounds.
But there are several other nations that will simply be happy to play for bronze at this tournament. The United States, Canada, and Ireland are among the nations that have a very tough climb ahead of them if they want any chance to win a medal. But it isn’t impossible, as someone needs to play for that third spot and it could very well be one of these teams from that second-tier of contenders.
Women’s Rugby 7s Betting Prediction: New Zealand (-110)
Our pick to win the Olympic women’s rugby 7s competition is New Zealand. While Australia does come at a better price and could be a value to get the job done, New Zealand’s performance in women’s sevens over the past year has been undeniable. Look for them to come away with the gold to close out what has been a spectacular run at the top of this sport.
