. ▁Both ▁men ▁and ▁women ' s ▁Se vens ▁will ▁again ▁take ▁place ▁at ▁the ▁ 2 0 2 0 ▁Olympic ▁Games ▁in ▁Tokyo . ▁ ▁Rugby ▁union ▁was ▁an ▁amateur ▁sport ▁until ▁the ▁IR B ▁declared ▁the ▁game ▁" open " ▁in ▁August ▁ 1 9 9 5 ▁( short ly ▁after ▁the ▁completion ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 5 ▁World ▁Cup ), ▁removing ▁restrictions ▁on ▁pay ments ▁to ▁players . ▁However , ▁the ▁pre - 1 9 9 5 ▁period ▁of ▁rugby ▁union ▁was ▁marked ▁by ▁frequent ▁accus ations ▁of ▁" sh am ateur ism ", ▁including ▁an ▁investigation ▁in ▁Britain ▁by ▁a ▁House ▁of ▁Commons ▁Select ▁committee ▁in ▁early ▁ 1 9 9 5 . ▁Following ▁the ▁introduction ▁of ▁professional ism ▁trans - n ational ▁club ▁compet itions ▁were ▁started , ▁with ▁the ▁He ine ken ▁Cup ▁in ▁the ▁Northern ▁Hem is phere ▁and ▁Super ▁Rugby ▁in ▁the ▁Southern ▁Hem is phere . ▁ ▁The ▁Tri ▁Nations , ▁an ▁annual ▁international ▁tournament ▁involving ▁Australia , ▁New ▁Zealand ▁and ▁South ▁Africa , ▁k icked ▁off ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 6 . ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 2 , ▁this ▁competition ▁was ▁extended ▁to ▁include ▁Argentina , ▁a ▁country ▁whose ▁impress ive ▁performances ▁in ▁international ▁games ▁( es pecially ▁finishing ▁in ▁third ▁place ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁Rugby ▁World ▁Cup ) ▁was ▁de emed ▁to ▁mer it ▁inclusion ▁in ▁the ▁competition . ▁As ▁a ▁result ▁of ▁the ▁expansion ▁to ▁four ▁teams , ▁the ▁tournament ▁was ▁renamed ▁The