Rugby & the Olympics

With the Olympics in full swing in London, we thought we would take a quick glance back.

Rugby Union, at least the Sevens version, will return as an Olympic sport in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.

However, the 15-a-side version of Rugby Union has been a men's medal sport at the modern Summer Olympic Games, being played at four of the first seven competitions.

The sport debuted at the 1900 Paris games where the gold medal was won by the host nation, France.

It was subsequently featured at the London games in 1908, the Antwerp games in 1920 and the Paris games in 1924.

The United States is the most successful nation in Olympic rugby tournaments, having won the gold medal in both 1920 and 1924; France has the most medals, one gold (in 1900) and two silvers (in 1920 and 1924).

Shortly after the 1924 games, the International Olympic Committee dropped Rugby Union as an Olympic sport.

Since then there have been numerous attempts to bring the sport back to the Olympic program.

The most recent effort has been to include the sevens version of the sport, which is played at similar competitions such as the Commonwealth Games, and in October 2009 the IOC voted at its session in Copenhagen to include sevens in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Rugby Olympic fact-file:

* Rugby 15s was played at four Olympic Games: 1900, 1908, 1920 and 1924

* The following countries became Olympic Champions at rugby: France in 1900, Australia in 1908, USA in 1920 and 1924.

* The following countries won medals in the Olympics rugby tournaments: France – three medals: one gold and two silvers, USA – two gold medals, Britain – one silver and one bronze, Australia – one gold medal, Germany – silver in 1900 and Romania – bronze in 1924.

* Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic movement, played, refereed and promoted Football Rugby as it was called in his days.