Team USA Drops Two in Rugby Sevens

DAKAR, Senegal — Downingtown native Abbey McGettigan scored five points in the second half of her first Olympic match, but it wasn’t enough to fend off a comeback by Madagascar.

Team USA lost the first match of the day in rugby sevens, a variant of rugby with seven players and a much shorter game, to Madagascar by a final score of 12-10. The team then lost in a close game later that day in the match against Czechia 24-21 at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar.

In the early game, the Americans got out to a 5-0 lead three minutes into the first half but failed to make the conversion. Madagascar answered right back and successfully converted to secure a 7-5 lead into halftime.

McGettigan, captain of the USA squad, retook the lead just 38 seconds into the second half, but again the Americans failed the conversions. This proved to be the difference-maker as Madagascar scored less than three minutes later, giving them a 12-10 lead that they’d hold onto until the final whistle.

The late game for the Americans was a much higher-scoring affair, with lots of back and forth between Team USA and Czechia. Team USA was up 14-12 at halftime, and actually held a 21-12 early in the second half. However, Czechia was able to overcome the deficit and finish with a 24-21 final score.

The women’s iteration of rugby sevens is still in round robin play, where teams play in pools before entering knockout rounds. Team USA has two points in the standings and currently holds third place. The team will play Spain tomorrow before entering the semifinals and can finish no higher than third.

The men’s iteration of the sport concluded with France winning the gold medal game over South Africa 26 to 19. Argentina claimed the bronze medal over Canada.