Wales and Australia celebrate victory at the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Bernard Lapasset | Jonah Lomu

Tournaments/Tours: Rugby World Cup

Teams: Argentina | Australia | England | France | Ireland | Italy | New Zealand | Scotland | South Africa | Wales

Sevens has finally been admitted in to the Olympic Games at the 2016 event in Rio de Janeiro. Here's how the rugby world reacted to the announcement.

"It is an important result for the universal development of rugby." - IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset.

"Rugby and Rio are made for each other; sevens is a huge festival, and great sports and a great time is what the Olympic Games is all about."
- IRB secretary general Mike Miller.

"I am joyous and ecstatic - even though I will not be able to play for my country in the Olympics. It's just great to see the future of rugby will be on the biggest stage of all." - All Black legend Jonah Lomu, a member of the IRB delegation.

"It's fabulous news and I was doing cartwheels round my flat. As someone who has been involved in Sevens for a number of years and seen how the World Sevens Series has grown, for it now to be an Olympic sport is amazing. It's the pinnacle of sport, to be an Olympian."
- England Sevens' Ollie Phillips, the 2009 Sevens Player of the Year.

"Governments are now going to be pumping in so much money into the sport in order to get gold, so you are going to get that many more countries starting to play sevens."
- South Africa Sevens coach Paul Treu

"There will be a party in Nairobi, that's for sure. This is another massive lift for our sport. Playing on the world's greatest stage, showcasing our wonderful sport will inspire more men, women and children to participate in Africa."
- Kenya Sevens skipper Humphrey Kayange.

"It is difficult to explain exactly how elated I feel. For women's rugby this is huge, participation in the Games will inspire more girls to play, to dream of the world's greatest stage. I simply cannot wait for Rio 2016."
- Cheryl Soon, captain of the Australia women's side that lifted the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens.

"Today's announcement is emotional for us all. Not just for us presenting, for Bernard and the IRB team, but for every player around the world. Rugby has reached out and it is time for the Rugby family to party!"
- Former Argentina skipper and bid team member Agustin Pichot.

"Rugby will remember this day as the moment the development of the sport took a great leap forward on the World stage. Rugby has a proud tradition and many important competitions are contested around the globe in an already thriving sporting calendar, but the Olympic Games is the biggest sporting event on the planet and will represent another level for the Sevens game."
- Wales coach Warren Gatland.

"The fact is we were not allowed to consider all seven sports. That's a mistake, it's not fair to the other five sports, and because we do not know why this was decided it is not a transparent process. The session was asking for guidance not a decision that would be take it or leave it."
- Dick Pound, a Canadian IOC representative, isn't a fan of the decision-making process.

"Sevens will be an invaluable addition to the Olympic Games. As proved in the Commonwealth Games, the IRB Sevens World Series and through its own Rugby World Cup, it is a thrilling spectacle that captivates the fans. The thought of joining with the other home unions to make a Team GB is very exciting and on behalf of the RFU and the Elite Rugby department I am delighted that sevens rugby for men and women has been included."
- Rob Andrew, the Rugby Football Union's Elite Rugby Director

"As the country that bequeathed 7-a-side rugby to the world - the masterstroke of Melrose butcher Ned Haig - Scottish Rugby is naturally delighted to hear of today's decision by the IOC to welcome rugby anew to the Olympic family. Scottish Rugby believes that rugby will be given a massive global boost as a consequence of this decision."
- Scottish Rugby chief executive Gordon McKie