France U18 boys’ rugby sevens gold medal Dakar Youth Olympic Games, Digi Mart USA News (Dakar, Senegal): France’s Under-18 men’s rugby sevens team, known as the Bleuets, won the gold medal at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar on Monday, November 2, defeating South Africa 26-19 in the final. The team, coached by Thomas Darracq, left Senegal with a medal after five wins from five matches.
The run to the final began strongly in the pool stage, with a 48-0 win over Japan and a 58-0 win over Uganda. Argentina offered more resistance, but France secured a third win, 24-7.
In the semifinal, Canada was beaten 58-0.
The final against South Africa was closer than the scoreline suggests. France led 21-5 at halftime, but Jake Dave scored two tries after the break to bring South Africa within two points at 21-19.
In the final minute, France recovered the restart and Gaspard Laharrague scored in the corner to seal the title. His cousin Simon had scored a double in the first half.
The medal also reflects the development work behind the team. Darracq had identified preparation for the Youth Olympic Games as a major goal for this generation in June, building his squad around the demands of sevens, where small defensive gaps and lost possession can be costly.
France won gold at the Nanjing Youth Olympics in 2014 and silver in Buenos Aires in 2018. This victory returns France to the top of the podium twelve years after Nanjing, and two years after the senior French sevens team won gold at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The title is also France’s first gold medal for its delegation in Dakar. For these young players, the tournament offers a formative Olympic experience and a reward after months of preparation.
