Rugby 7s gets its next step in Olympics exposure with the Youth Olympics.

August 16 in the USA< August 17 in China, both the USA Men's and Women's youth teams will suit up in six-team tournaments in Nanjing.

The athletes will not only participate, but will follow the rules of the Youth Olympics, which are that all athletes must stay for the entire length of the multi-sport event. Once the four-day tournament is done, the rugby payers will get to be spectators and wide-eyed tourists.

"Yes it's a bunch of teenage boys we have to keep track of," laughed Men's team Head Coach Ben Gollings, "and that will be a challenge. But we'll be alright."

Japan, France, Argentina, Kenya, Fiji and USA comprise the men’s competition, with Canada, China, Spain, Australia, Tunisia and USA competing for honours in the women’s event.

"This is an exciting and historic moment for our sport and also for the boys and girls who will represent Rugby in our return to the Olympic stage," enthused IRB Chaimrna Bernard Lapasset. "The experiences that our young players will learn in Nanjing will stretch way beyond the field of play. They will help to shape the character of the men and women that these players will become. They will learn to compete in a spirit of fair play, to respect their opponents and appreciate the importance of playing on an even playing field - values that characterize Rugby."

In Nanjing, the men's team has been hard at work.

"We're putting the finishing touched on working together as a team," said Gollings. "And we need to understand the environment we have to perform in."

That includes weather, which will be hot and humid, the crowds, which will be new to many of the players, and the opposition, which will be stiff.

But all the USA team needs to do is finish 4th in pool play (which would likely be a 2-3 record) to be in the hunt for a medal.