Team GB Women’s Rugby Sevens squad named for Paris 2024 Olympic Games
Jasmine Joyce is set to become the first British rugby player to appear at three Olympic Games after being named by the British Olympic Association (BOA) as part of the Team GB rugby sevens squad for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Welsh flyer Joyce, 28, who competed in both Rio and Tokyo, is joined by fellow Tokyo 2020 Olympian Scotland’s Lisa Thomson in Head Coach Ciaran Beattie’s squad.
Scotland’s Lisa Thomson is in line for a second Olympic Games after being named in the Team GB Women’s Rugby Sevens squad for next month’s event in Paris.
On her selection, Thomson told Scottish Rugby: “I’m absolutely buzzing to be heading to Paris, having experienced Tokyo, albeit with the Covid restrictions that we experienced.
“With it being a bit closer to home, family and friends can hopefully come and support and experience it for themselves. I just can’t wait for it to all get started.”
The remaining players have all played representative rugby for England with Emma Uren and Meg Jones set to compete at their second Olympic Games in the French capital. The duo are joined by Amy Wilson Hardy, Ellie Boatman, Grace Crompton, Heather Cowell, Isla Norman-Bell, Jade Shekells, Lauren Torley and 2024 Six Nations leading try scorer, Ellie Kildunne.
Team GB Chef de Mission, Mark England, said: “It was thrilling to watch the women’s team qualify for the Paris Games as Team GB at the Krakow European Games last summer. I know that the selection process for the squad was extremely competitive, and I am delighted to welcome back Olympians Jasmine, Lisa, Emma and Meg, along with eight Olympic debutants.
“We hope the women’s team will be joined in Paris by the men’s rugby sevens team and wish them well at the World Rugby Sevens Repechage tournament in Monaco this coming weekend.”
Head Coach Beattie, who will be supported by rugby sevens stalwart Scott Riddell as assistant coach, alongside a host of experienced staff, said of the announced squad: “As you might imagine, it was extremely difficult to name 14 at this stage, as there are so many excellent players who have performed on the World Rugby SVNS stage to secure qualification for these Olympic Games.
“We want to be competitive in Paris and approach each match as one that can be won, with the ultimate aim of medalling, at the same time being respectful of the huge quality of other teams.”
To secure Paris 2024 qualification, the GB men’s rugby sevens team need to win the Olympic repechage tournament in Monaco from 21 to 23 June.
Team GB Women’s Rugby Sevens Squad for 2024 Olympic Games:
Amy Wilson Hardy
Ellie Boatman
Ellie Kildunne
Emma Uren
Grace Crompton
Heather Cowell
Isla Norman-Bell
Jade Shekells
Jasmine Joyce
Lauren Torley
Lisa Thomson
Meg Jones
Reserves:
Abi Burton
Kayleigh Powell