South Africa haven’t won a youth Olympics medal in rugby sevens before, but the next generation of Blitzboks will begin their two-day quest for history at the 2026 Dakar Games against host nation Senegal on Sunday morning.

The Blitzboks secured back-to-back HSBC SVNS World Championship crowns during a thrilling end to last season in Bordeaux. But it’s now time for some of the brightest rising stars in the sport to take centre stage from November 1 to 3 at CID Stadium.

Germany and Canada kick things off in the first men’s pool match at 10:30 am local time, before South Africa play Senegal in the first Youth Olympics sevens tournament held in Africa. Pool B action will follow, with eight teams in total competing for gold at these Games.

France and Japan both took their place on the men’s sevens podium at the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Japan defeated South Africa 28-5 to claim a historic bronze medal, while France renewed their rivalry with Argentina in the battle for gold.

Argentina lost the gold medal match at the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympics 45-22 but others went one better in a familiar matchup four years later, overcoming France 24-14 in front of a passionate home crowd in Buenos Aires.

The top three men’s teams from the last Youth Olympics have been drawn in Pool B, with Uganda rounding out the group. France and Japan will take the field for just the third match of the event, before Argentina takes on Uganda at 11:36 am.

Argentina and France will face off in the final match of the day, in what looms as a crucial clash for both sides ahead of the semi-finals. Playoff matches will be held on Monday afternoon, before the bronze and gold medal matches that evening.

The women’s competition gets underway on Monday too, with playoffs and medal matches set for Tuesday. Australia are the only nation competing that has won a women’s sevens gold medal before, with reigning champions New Zealand not involved.

Australia A Sevens representatives Darci Turinui, Cobi Ryan-Last and Layne Prince headline the Youth Olympics squad, with players earning selection after NextGen Sevens and other events in Australia throughout 2026.

The Aussies have been drawn in Pool A with China, Kenya and Senegal, with these teams set to play their first matches after 11:00 am on Monday morning. In Pool B, the United States of America will take on Spain, Czechia and Madagascar.

USA Rugby Sevens prospect Luisa Moala was announced this week as one of two flag bearers ahead of the Youth Olympics Opening Ceremony. Moala has been named as a sevens co-captain too, and has earned a place in the squad alongside sister Eseta.

“When I put on the USA jersey, I’m not just wearing it for me, but for my family, everyone who has supported me back home, girls who are growing the game of rugby across the United States,” Luisa Moala said.

“I’m representing my country and everything that comes with wearing that jersey. It’s an honour to represent the United States on an international stage. I hope to represent them with pride, gratitude, and humility and show other young girls that they can work toward opportunities like this too.”

The USA have Madagascar first up at 12:36 pm local time, before facing Czechia later in the day and then Spain in their final pool matches. That is actually the last pool match of the tournament, with playoff matches and semi-finals to follow that afternoon.

Watch all Rugby Sevens matches from the Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympic live and free here.

RUGBY SEVENS SCHEDULE, DAKAR 2026 SUMMER YOUTH OLYMPICS

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1 – MEN’S POOL MATCHES

10:30 – Germany vs Canada (Pool A)

10:52 – South Africa vs Senegal (Pool A)

11:14 – France vs Japan (Pool B)

11:36 – Argentina vs Uganda (Pool B)

13:14 – Germany vs Senegal (Pool A)

13:36 – South Africa vs Canada (Pool A)

13:58 – France vs Uganda (Pool B)

14:20 – Argentina vs Japan (Pool B)

15:58 – Canada vs Senegal (Pool A)

16:20 – South Africa vs Germany (Pool A)

16:42 – Japan vs Uganda (Pool B)

17:04 – Argentina vs France (Pool B)

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2 – WOMEN’S POOL MATCHES AND MEN’S FINALS

11:30 – Kenya vs China (Women’s Pool A)

11:52 – Australia vs Senegal (Women’s Pool A)

12:14 – Spain vs Czechia (Women’s Pool B)

12:36 – USA vs Madagascar (Women’s Pool B)

12:58 – 3rd Pool A vs 4th Pool B (Men’s 5–8 Playoff)

13:20 – 3rd Pool B vs 4th Pool A (Men’s 5–8 Playoff)

13:42 – 1st Pool A vs 2nd Pool B (Men’s Semi-final)

14:04 – 1st Pool B vs 2nd Pool A (Men’s Semi-final)

14:26 – Kenya vs Senegal (Women’s Pool A)

14:48 – Australia vs China (Women’s Pool A)

15:10 – Spain vs Madagascar (Women’s Pool B)

15:32 – USA vs Czechia (Women’s Pool B)

15:54 – Loser Match 13 vs Loser Match 14 (Men’s 7th-place Playoff)

16:16 – Winner Match 13 vs Winner Match 14 (Men’s 5th-place Playoff)

16:38 – Loser Match 15 vs Loser Match 16 (Men’s Bronze Medal Match)

17:05 – Winner Match 15 vs Winner Match 16 (Men’s Gold Medal Match)

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3 – WOMEN’S POOL MATCHES AND FINALS

09:40 – China vs Senegal (Women’s Pool A)

10:02 – Australia vs Kenya (Women’s Pool A)

10:24 – Czechia vs Madagascar (Women’s Pool B)

10:46 – USA vs Spain (Women’s Pool B)

13:08 – 3rd Pool A vs 4th Pool B (Women’s 5–8 Playoff)

13:30 – 3rd Pool B vs 4th Pool A (Women’s 5–8 Playoff)

13:52 – 1st Pool A vs 2nd Pool B (Women’s Semi-final)

14:14 – 1st Pool B vs 2nd Pool A (Women’s Semi-final)

15:52 – Loser Match 13 vs Loser Match 14 (Women’s 7th-place Playoff)

16:14 – Winner Match 13 vs Winner Match 14 (Women’s 5th-place Playoff)

16:36 – Loser Match 15 vs Loser Match 16 (Women’s Bronze Medal Match)

17:03 – Winner Match 15 vs Winner Match 16 (Women’s Gold Medal Match)