IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset is leading the sport's push for Olympics conclusion © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Bernard Lapasset | Jonah Lomu

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Rugby's bid to reclaim its Olympics status is set to reach a dramatic climax in Copenhagen on Friday.

Sevens, along with golf, was recommended for inclusion by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board in Berlin in August and a final presentation, led by International Rugby Board (IRB) chairman Bernard Lapasset, is scheduled for tomorrow ahead of a final vote by IOC members.

Both sports are battling for the right to be included in the 2016 Games, that were awarded to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil earlier this month, with a simple straight majority the key to either sport getting the green light.

"Our team is very excited to be presenting to the full IOC membership on Friday and has been rehearsing and preparing very thoroughly," Lapasset said in a statement. "We were honoured to be recommended by the IOC Executive Board and now we are looking forward to sharing our vision for Olympic Games inclusion with the broader membership. We firmly believe that Rugby would be good for the Games and the Games good for Rugby."

Lapasset will be joined by IRB Secretary General Mike Miller, former Argentina captain Agustín Pichot, Cheryl Soon, captain of the Australia team that won the Women's Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2009, Kenya Sevens captain Humphrey Kayange, Anastassiya Khamova, one of Kazakhstan's top female players and New Zealand Rugby legend Jonah Lomu in the Danish capital.

"We offer the Olympic Games young, passionate fans that will travel to the Games and fill the stadiums to cheer on Rugby as well as the other Olympic sports," added Lapasset. "The IRB is also committed to working with every National Olympic Committee to develop their men's and women's Sevens teams and to promote the growth of the sport around the world. Rugby is reaching out."

Rugby, that last featured in the 1924 Olympics in its 15-a-side form, has proposed a four-day tournament that would take place at the athletics stadium before the start of that part of the Games. And should Sevens win the required majority the competition will replace the Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament as the showpiece event in the international calendar that also includes the IRB World Sevens Series. Wales are the current Rugby World Cup Sevens champions following their victory in Dubai earlier this year while South Africa clinched last season's IRB Sevens crown.

Lomu tasted glory with New Zealand 7s side at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and believes the chance to play on the bigger Olympics stage will be a huge draw for the sport's best players.

"The Olympic Games is the pinnacle for every athlete around the world. Rugby Sevens is a global sport played by the sport's most skilful athletes," he said. "Our top players want to be a part of the Olympic Family and experience playing on the world's greatest sporting stage. They would be proud Olympians."

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph Miller has also stressed the importance of Friday's vote underlining the fact that rugby's inclusion would offer smaller nations like Fiji and Samoa a rare chance at Olympic medals.

"I don't think people realise yet how big this could be for rugby," he said. "This is right up there with the inception of the Rugby World Cup and the game going open. We currently have 116 members of the IRB, but there are 205 nations involved in the Olympics and I have already been approached by a number of countries who have said that if Sevens is included, they will be interested in investing in rugby.

"In countries like Russia, China, the USA - big markets - it would make a huge difference. For instance in Russia they are only allowed to have Olympic sports on the schools curriculum. It would also lead to many millions of pounds being invested in the game across the world and many extra facilities being made available. It would have a huge impact in speeding up the growth of the game around the world."