Long time server Dominique du Toit of the women’s sevens team to hang up the boots post-Paris

The Paris Olympics will be Dominique du Toit’s final major campaign in the green and gold with the long time server of the Australian women’s sevens team stepping away from the sport.

The Australian women’s sevens team have been given added incentive for gold in Paris after Dominique du Toit revealed she was ready to step away from the program after the Olympic Games to focus on the next stage of her life.

Du Toit, a mainstay of the team for the best part of a decade, made the decision on the eve of the women’s grand final win in Madrid last month. She shared the news with her teammates before they won the final and is now ready to make it public as she looks to sharpen her focus on finishing her career with a gold medal.

“I feel like it’s time,” du Toit said.

“I’m ready. It’s been incredible. And I’ve honestly loved every second of it. It’s given me so many incredible opportunities and moments.

“But yeah, I think I‘m ready for the next chapter. So hopefully finish off on a high. I feel very fortunate that I’m able to finish my own terms.

Dominique du Toit will step away from the Sevens program after Paris. Picture: David Rogers/Getty Images

“I think that was also a huge thing for me to be able to finish on my own terms. And I feel I

feel ready, I feel I have achieved everything I want to achieve.

“Aside from an Olympic gold medal.”

That pursuit is set to become all-consuming over the next month as the women’s sevens team head to Paris with genuine gold medal aspirations. Du Toit was on the fringes of the squad that won the gold in Rio eight years ago, watching the final from the stands.

The 27-year-old has been a fixture in the sevens program since then, winning a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and playing in the team that lost in the quarterfinals at the Tokyo Olympics.

“At the moment, in terms of my career, I don’t know. I have no idea (what I am going to do),” she said.

Dominique du Toit (R) is a Commonwealth Games gold medallist. Picture: David Swift.

Dominique Du Toit’s ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

“My life in terms of with my partner, perhaps starting a family in the next few years. And I really, really want to get into media and communications.

“I did a uni degree in that so I’d love to …. get into the sports commentary. I want to play to get back to playing touch (football). I’m certainly not hanging up the footy boots forever.”

Her sevens career, however, is coming to a close and she can think of no better way to end it than by winning gold in Paris.

“I know everyone (doesn’t) get a fairytale ending, but that would be pretty special if we could go out there and do that,” du Toit said.

“I think after watching those girls win in Rio, that’s all I’ve ever wanted. I was there with them in the stands, watching them win.

Australia are looking fearsome heading to #Paris2024 🇦🇺#Rugby7s | #Olympicspic.twitter.com/QYkJheHIEd

— Rugby Sevens (@SVNSSeries) July 3, 2024

“I knew what it took to get there, being part of that, and it was just incredible. So that’s absolutely what I want.”

Sevens coach Tim Walsh paid homage to du Toit’s impact on the green and gold jersey.

“Dom has entertained and excelled for nearly 10 years,” Walsh said.

“She has displayed explosive speed and versatility to play multiple positions and kick conversions and restarts.

“Whether she is stealing the ball in line out, chopping defenders down or slicing through defence lines the omnipresent Dom has been an integral contributor and a core player behind the women’s program’s decade of dominance.”