Rugby has finally returned in its second consecutive Olympic games. Created in 1823 in Rugby, England, Rugby was played on the international stage of the Olympic Games for the first time at the 1900 Olympics in Paris. By 1924, it was removed from the Olympics and did not return until the 2016 games in Rio.
During Olympic competitions in the 20th century, the football-like sport was a 15 vs. 15 contest (rugby 15s) but the modern game is now 7-on-7, also known as rugby sevens. Rugby sevens allow for faster games with all of the physical contact that fans are used to. Tackles, mauls, rucks, and scrums give the game its hard-hitting flair that captivates viewers from all around the world.
This weekend the finals of the Women’s Rugby Sevens will take place. There are 12 teams divided by 3 groups competing at the Tokyo Olympics. New Zealand and Australia have the best women’s rugby teams in the world. New Zealand won the 2019 World Rugby Sevens Series but was defeated by Australia in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
| Group A | Group B | Group C |
| New Zealand | Canada | Australia |
| Russian Olympic Committee | France | United States |
| Great Britain | Fiji | China |
| Kenya | Brazil | Japan |
There will not be any spectators allowed in Tokyo but cord cutters can find out how to watch the Women’s Rugby Finals without cable, below.
Matchups, Times, and Channels
The final rounds of the tournament will take place over the course of the weekend with live coverage and replays available to stream.
Friday, July 30
| Matchup | Time | Channel |
| Women’s Tournament Quarterfinals (Live) | 3:30 a.m. ET | NBCOlympics.com |
| Women’s Tournament Quarterfinals (Replay) | 5 p.m. ET | USA |
| Women’s Tournament Semifinals (Live) | 8 p.m. ET | NBCOlympics.com |
Saturday, July 31
| Matchup | Time | Channel |
| Women’s Tournament Semifinals (Replay) | 12 a.m. ET | CNBC |
| Woman’s Tournament Medal Matches (Live) | 3:30 a.m. ET | NBCOlympics.com |
| Women’s Finals (Replay) | 8 p.m. ET | CNBC |
Sunday, August 1
| Matchup | Time | Channel |
| Women’s Finals (Replay) | 12:45 a.m. ET | NBCSN |
How to watch the Tokyo Olympics?
The NBC family of networks will be the exclusive home of all the games and events at this year’s Olympics.
All live coverage will be available to stream on NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app, with select coverage on Peacock. Cord cutters have more ways than ever with the most popular streaming services carrying the events.
- AntennaWeb is a great tool you can use to see what NBC channel is available in your area with an antenna.
- Locast: Viewers in over 30 markets can watch their local NBC affiliate for free with Locast
- fuboTV has NBC, USA, NBCSN, Olympic Channel, and CNBC covered with the fuboTV Family plan for $65/month. NHL Network is available for an additional $11 per month.
- Hulu with Live also carries NBC, USA, NBCSN, and CNBC for $65/month.
- AT&T TV includes NBC, USA, NBCSN, CNBC, and Olympic Channel in its Ultimate package for $95/month.
- YouTube TV includes NBC, USA, NBCSN, Olympic Channel, and CNBC with a $65/month subscription
- Sling TV includes NBC, USA, and NBCSN in their Sling Blue package for $35/month. CNBC is available to add-on for an additional $6/month. Sling is also offering the Olympic Channel for free for Sling Blue subscribers through September 5.
For more information on how to watch the Olympics, check out our full guide.