USA Rugby understands and supports the decision of the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee to postpone the Games until 2021.
The union stands in solidarity with the wider Olympic family in recognizing that the health and wellness of the world are top priority; and that fans and athletes alike are given a safe platform to train, compete and relish in the spirit of the Olympic Games.
Both men’s and women’s sevens teams will continue in their remote training programs, reshaping their calendars to reflect a robust preparation plan to target the podium next year.
Director of Women’s High Performance Emilie Bydwell said:
“It's been a whirlwind few weeks for our players, programs and the whole world around us. We are thankful that we have a decision, and that the decision has prioritized athlete welfare, fan safety and social responsibility. We will use this time to take a step back, recharge, reflect and build a strong plan to maximize the next year to be in the best position to Target Podium. We want to connect with our families and communities at this time and help everyone find the inspiration to continue to be BRAVE and do the next right thing.”
USA Men’s Sevens Head Coach Mike Friday said:
“We are all hugely disappointed at the postponement of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, but the health of the world has to be the only priority at this time. While the circumstances are not ideal, this postponement will allow us to further develop and improve as a group. Rest assured, having had to be patient through this time, we will be even hungrier for the opportunity to reach the podium in 2021.”
