Rugby sevens is officially admitted, for the first time, to the 13th edition of the African Games which are held from March 8 to 23 in Accra, Ghana.
The addition of rugby sevens to the African Games aims to promote the development of the sport and regional participation.
"It is with great pride that I see rugby taking its rightful place in the African Games for the very first time. This is a historic moment for our sport and for the continent as a whole,” says Herbert Mensah. And the president of Rugby Africa added: "the African Games demonstrate our continent’s commitment to sport. It is a platform where our athletes can shine, our nations can unite and where our shared passion for this sport can be celebrated on a grand scale.”
In rugby sevens, a variation of rugby union, teams are made up of seven players and compete for two seven-minute halves, unlike the traditional format of 15 players per team and 40-minute halves. Its governance falls under World Rugby, the global authority on rugby union.
All rugby sevens matches take place in the new Borteman sports complex.
Taking place from March 8 to 23, the African Games bring together around 5,000 high-level athletes, 3,000 experienced representatives and thousands of supporters in the country. It is the largest multidisciplinary sporting event on the continent.
The objective is to promote high-level African sport and encourage cultural exchanges between the Member States of the African Union.
This edition will qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.