Rugby union at the Summer Olympics Rugby union at the Summer Olympics Rugby union has been a men's medal sport at the modern Summer Olympic Games, being played at four of the first seven competitions. The sport debuted at the 1900 Paris games where the gold medal was won by the host nation. It was subsequently featured at the London games in 1908, the Antwerp games in 1920 and the Paris games in 1924. The United States is the most successful nation in Olympic rugby tournaments, having won the gold medal in both 1920 and 1924; France has the most medals, one gold (in 1900) and
Italy at the Olympics Games where they have won a total of 1,786 medals, the most in the games' history. As of 2016 they are the most successful nation at fencing in Olympic history. Italy has hosted the Games on three occasions. Italy has finished in the top 5 of the medal count 11 times in the Summer Olympic Games and 3 times in the Winter Olympic Games. In total Italy has finished in the top 5 of the medal count 14 times. Italy has also finished in the top 10 of the medal count 20 times in the Summer Olympic Games and 13