Australia’s Men’s Rugby Sevens side will be some of the very first athletes to compete at this year’s Olympic Games, with the Aussies opening match against Samoa set to kick off at 11:30pm (Sydney time) on Wednesday, just half an hour after the start of the very first event. 

Australia play Samoa, Kenya and World Champions Argentina in the pool stages, with our women’s side facing South Africa, Great Britain and Ireland from Monday morning onwards. 

The Olympics and Paris’ State de France might seem a long way from the Shute Shield. 

But that’s exactly where most of Australia’s mens team and a handful of our women’s side were playing not that long ago. 

Here are a few to keep an eye on in Paris. 

Henry Hutchison – Randwick

After playing Australian Schoolboys, Hutchison joined Randwick in 2014 and was signed by the Aussie 7s a year later. He’s returned to the Galloping Greens over the years before focussing his attention on the short-form of the game after a stint in Super Rugby.

Ben Dowling – Randwick 

Dowling started at fullback in last year’s grand final winning Randwick side after spending 2023 in the XV man game with the Waratahs. He returned to Sevens this year and has made every post a winner since.

Mark Nawaqanitawase – Eastwood 

Marky Mark was a late bloomer that really needed a few extra years to develop in the Shute Shield with Eastwood before he was picked up by the Waratahs. Nawaqanitawase played in Eastwood’s 2020 grand final side as well as the club’s 2022 preliminary final side.

Henry Paterson – Eastern Suburbs

Easts utility Henry Paterson got injured just days out from the Tokyo Olympics and was forced to withdraw from the Aussie Sevens squad. Fortunately, he’s back three years later. Paterson played both colts and grade at Easts and has been a standout for our men’s side in recent years.

James Turner – West Harbour 

Jimmy the Jet developed into one of the most explosive outside backs in the Shute Shield during his four seasons at West Harbour after finishing school at Newington. Turner then joined Norths in 2021 and was picked up by the Waratahs and then the Aussie 7s program shortly after.

Matt Gonzalez – Eastwood

One of the great stories of this squad, Matt Gonzalez toiled away in the Shute Shield, at times in second grade, for years before finally getting a crack at professional rugby at 27. Gonzalez won a Shute Shield premiership with Eastwood in 2015 and lost in a decider against Gordon in 2020.

Nathan Lawson – Southern Districts

One of two Olympians from Burraneer Rugby Club, just down the road from Southern Districts, Lawson was a standout for the Rebels in colts and was picked up by the Aussie 7s squad after making the shift from flanker to centre at Forshaw.

John Manenti (coach) – Eastwood

After playing with Western Suburbs (now West Harbour) and Sydney Uni in the 1990s, Manenti went on to coach Eastwood to Shute Shield premierships in 2011, 2013 and 2015.

Sharni Smale – Warringah

A popular figure at the Warringah Rugby Club on and off the field, Sharni Smale (nee Williams) will retire after the 2024 Olympics after a stellar career across Sevens and XVs rugby. Smale is also an ambassador of Waringah’s Rats Rising Program.

Bienne Terita – Randwick

Still only 21, Randwick junior Bienne Terita has starred for Australia across Sevens and XVs, following in the footsteps of Smale. Terita recovered from ankle surgery this year to earn her spot in the Aussie squad.

Sariah Paki – Manly

Manly Mermaid Sariah Paki debuted for Australian Sevens side as a 17-year old and returns for her second Olympics, at just 22.

Bridget Clark – Burraneer/Southern Districts

21-year old Bridget Clark, another Olympian from Burraneer, was star struck when Charlotte Caslick turned up at her school in 2017 fresh of winning an Olympic gold medal in Rio. Since then, Clark has dreamed of being an Olympian and has come from nowhere to earn a spot in the squad, after joining the Aussie girls as injury cover just three months ago.

Tom Carter (coach) – Sydney Uni

Anyone that has played or trained with or against former Sydney Uni centre Tom Carter will know his work ethic is border line crazy. Fortunately, Carter is now channelling his craziness to drive our Aussie 7s girls towards gold, as Head of Athletic Performance.