Pool A rivals Canada and Germany will kick off proceedings, followed by host nation Senegal and South Africa, who complete the group; while reigning Olympic champions Argentina - who claimed gold in Buenos Aires in 2018 - are in Pool B alongside 2014 winners France, who claimed silver four years later, as well as Japan and Uganda.
The scheduled summer Youth Olympics in 2022 were postponed to 2026 in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.
South Africa, looking to land their first rugby sevens gold in the inaugural Olympic event on African soil, will have high-level experience to count on in the form of South Africa Schools ‘A’ players Werner de Bruin and Siphesihle Marule.
The latter lines up alongside twin brother Thubelihle Marule in a sevens squad coached by former Springbok Sevens player and coach Sandile Ngcobo that warmed up for their Olympic challenge with an unbeaten run in a tournament at Paarl Gimnasium.
World Rugby Junior World Championship bronze-winning captain and Team of the Tournament player Felipe Ledesma takes his first steps in the sevens game for an Argentina side looking to repeat the success of their 2018 counterparts - who were led in Buenos Aires by senior sevens superstar Marcos Moneta.
The French team, meanwhile, is a roll-call of famous French rugby names. Pablo Garbajosa is the son of ex-French international Xavier; the fathers of cousins Gaspard and Simon Laharrague are former senior Bleus’ Julien and Nicolas; and Jules Vermeulen’s father is 2007 Six Nations winner Elvis.
All four young players participated in the French under-18 rugby sevens team gathering and were in the squad that won the 2026 European Championship in Prague in July.
Coach Thomas Darracq believes the Bleuets’ class of 2026 can repeat the medal-winning exploits of their Youth Olympic Games predecessors. “They possess the technical and tactical excellence, athletic qualities, and mental strength necessary to represent French rugby at the highest level,” he said when the squad of 12 was unveiled.
“With the firm intention of perpetuating the French Olympic legacy, this group is heading to Dakar with a clear ambition: to deliver a great performance and aim for the top.”
The full match schedule is available here.
Watch all Rugby Sevens matches from the Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympic live and free here