‘It’s just the start’: Former Australia swimming boss behind USA’s rugby sevens rise | Paris Olympic Games 2024


Dozens and dozens of American accents filled the night outside Stade De France on Tuesday, sharing the historic moment: a first Olympic medal for the USA in rugby sevens. They mulled about the players; a smiling crowd of friends, family, staff and fans, desperate for a hug and a photo from these new American heroes.

But one voice was not like the others. Tamara Sheppard, the former head of high performance for the Australian swimming team, was in the thick of it. The Queenslander took the job overseeing USA Rugby’s men’s and women’s program seven months ago. And although Tuesday was an important milestone in rugby’s North American emergence, to Sheppard the work is only just beginning.

“Tonight was a great moment to have people in the US notice women’s rugby, that gives us a platform to show the world how great we are in LA [2028 Olympics], and then the home World Cups [in 2031 and 2033] to be competitive,” Sheppard said. “So I think it’s just the start of where we can go.”

Notice they did. The vision on social media of Alex “Spiff” Sedrick’s miraculous last-minute try against Australia has exploded on social media, building upon the foundation set by Insta-star Ilona Maher.

It’s not just the faceless millions who have jumped on board. In the hours after the milestone bronze, American businesswoman Michele Kang – who owns several sports clubs including French women’s football team Lyon – announced a $4m gift to the USA women’s sevens team.

Sheppard laughs when asked whether Australia should be worried, but the competitive threat to traditional rugby powers appears real. USA Rugby claims there are more than 100,000 players in the States.

The experienced Australian sports official – who has worked in basketball, netball as well as swimming – has been impressed by the calibre of athlete in her seven months with the program.

“They’re courageous, they love contact, and they have speed, which is a wonderful combination to have in your talent pool,” Sheppard said. “They play in a way that is so physically confronting, I don’t think they’ll ever give up.”

Alex Sedrick celebrates with Naya Tapper after a match-defining try for the USA against Australia in their rugby sevens bronze medal play-off match at Paris 2024. Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images

Much has been made of Rugby Australia’s golden decade, of the 2025 Lions tour, the 2027 men’s World Cup, the 2029 women’s edition and then the Brisbane 2032 Games. Yet this daisy chain of major tournaments is almost a mirror to the coming decade for USA Rugby. The Americans will host the LA 2028 Games, then two World Cups in a few short years.

The expectations on both countries to help build rugby’s profile are high. Alan Gilpin, chief executive of World Rugby, said the success of sevens at Paris 2024 – where more than 500,000 fans enjoyed six days of competition – has forced a rethink for organisers of LA and Brisbane.

“[LA 2028 organisers] were here for a couple of sessions,” Gilpin said. “We’ve had Brisbane 2032 here for a couple of sessions. And of course everyone’s instinct is, ‘oh my god, we haven’t got a big enough stadium that we’ve currently planned for you’.”

On the field, Sheppard wants to make sure USA Rugby has bold goals, and commits to them. “The big thing we need to focus on, we’ve got to win when it matters the most, Olympics, World Cups, and we’ve got to keep doing everything we can to get ready for that moment.”

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No-one could deny the Americans that, in their bronze medal play-off against Australia, their timing was anything but impeccable. A try on the siren and the ensuing conversion was an extraordinary way to knock off the heavy favourites.

Sheppard has only been there for seven months so is reluctant to take credit for the team’s success. She does however feel a strong connection to Australia’s successful swimmers, whose potential she helped unlock over five years with the sport.

“I just feel so proud like to see Mollie O’Callaghan, who was 16, 17 on the Tokyo team swimming relays, to step up and win individual medals, Kaylee McKeown, Arnie [Ariarne Titmus], I guess it’s pride to see them carry on,” Sheppard said.

But now the Australian – who worked for Queensland Reds in her first role in sport two decades ago – has come full circle. And much like a rugby sevens match, Sheppard said there’s little time to waste.

“USA rugby has high aspirations, and so do I, that we put both men’s and women’s teams on the podium in LA, which we’ll start chasing as of tomorrow.”



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