Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Louis Bielle-Biarrey has established himself as one of the most prolific wings in world rugby
ByMike HensonBBC Sport rugby union news reporter- Published32 minutes ago
Fifteen-a-side sensation Louis Bielle-Biarrey is exploring the possibility of representing France when they defend their sevens Olympic crown at Los Angeles 2028.
The 22-year-old has scored 29 tries in 27 appearances for France in fifteens, including a record nine in this season's Six Nations.
Scrum-half Antoine Dupont made the surprise format switch in 2024, skipping the Six Nations to prepare for the Paris Olympics, before helping the host nation to its first gold medal of the Games.
French media report that a release to play sevens in one of Bielle-Biarrey's stipulations in contract extension talks with his club side Bordeaux Begles.
"I learned of his desire to play sevens, and I'm very happy about it," French Rugby Federation president Florian Grill told L'Equipe., external
Grill also backed Bielle-Biarrey to have a similar impact to Dupont if he makes the switch.
"Yes, it seems quite obvious," he said. "Louis would be an excellent rugby sevens player, of course."
Swapping between formats is relatively common in the women's game.
Meg Jones and Ellie Kildunne, who would later star in the England team that won the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2025, were part of the Great Britain sevens team which finished seventh at the Paris Games, while Bristol Bears' Ilona Maher won a bronze medal with Team USA - and a boosted social media following.
All Blacks' Sonny Bill Williams and Rieko Ioane have both represented New Zealand at the Olympics, while South Africa's double Rugby World Cup winners Cheslin Kolbe and Kwagga Smith played alongside each other at Rio 2016.
Semi Radradra (Fiji) and Samu Kerevi (Australia) have also played at the Olympics, while legendary All Black pair Jonah Lomu and Christian Cullen both made their breakthroughs at the Hong Kong Sevens.
Graham return fails to salvage GB season
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Great Britain's Fin Lloyd-Gilmour was nominated for rookie of the year on the sevens circuit despite his team's travails
Great Britain's men's and women's teams have both been relegated from the top tier of the world sevens circuit and will compete alongside the likes of Uruguay, Belgium and China as they attempt to secure a place at the 2028 Olympics.
Darcy Graham, Scotland's record try-scorer in the 15-a-side game, made a surprise return to sevens for last weekend's season finale of the SVNS World Championship in Bordeaux.
The 28-year-old Edinburgh wing scored a try in a win over eventual series champions South Africa, but could not salvage the men's team's season.
Great Britain's sevens became a part-time programme in July, with unions saying the switch has been forced by financial pressures.
"Both teams haven't been good enough to cross the line over the season, ultimately, and things haven't gone our way at times," said GB7s director of rugby Ciaran Beattie.
"Now it's time to reflect on the last year and make sure we're ready to bounce back. It has been a positive year in terms of getting the programme back under way but to not stay at the top level is frustrating."
Great Britain still have three routes to qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
A top-four finish in the 2027 SVNS World Championship - which brings together the eight top-tier sevens nations with four from SVNS Two circuit that Great Britain will be part of - will be enough, while there are also single qualification spots at the Europe Games and an Olympic repechage tournament.
