Lisa Thomson hopes an Olympic medal in women’s rugby sevens can inspire the next generation to take up the sport.

Seeing the popularity of women’s rugby grow significantly since making her Scotland debut eight years ago, the 26-year-old and her team-mates form Team GB's sole representation in the rugby sevens competition at the Stade de France, after the men missed out on Paris 2024 qualification.

With Team GB having finished fourth at the past two Games, the 55-cap Scotland international aspires of ending this summer with a medal and prompting those watching on from home to pick up a rugby ball.

She said: “As a squad we are going to try and win a medal at the Olympics. That is what we are here for.

“Girls' and women’s rugby is accelerating at such a speed. We want to keep that going and accelerate it even more.

“Sevens at the minute, with just the women being at the Olympics, we really do feel like we are flying the flag for the GB programme.

“We want to put that on the map and get sevens as much exposure as possible.

“When I first went into the Scotland programme, that was the first year we’d had a full-time coach, and every other member of staff was pulled in from another programme.

“Staff turnover was crazy. Girls were using holiday days to train. To think where we are now with full-time contracts is huge. The women’s game is just going through the roof.”

It will be Thomson’s second taste of Olympic Games competition.

Three years ago, in Japan the Scot was named as a reserve but was pressed into action and featured in the group stage match against Kenya, scoring a try in the process.

In the time since there has been much change for Great Britain in the shorter format of the game. 

The national unions of England, Scotland and Wales combined to compete under the GB flag full-time and provide players with a better opportunity to medal at Games time.

With two years of experience of bonding as a squad and European Games gold under their belt from 2023, Thomson can't wait to strut her stuff in Paris.

She said: “Being in Tokyo as a reserve, but also at a Covid-Olympics, I am really looking forward to the full experience with fans in the stands at the Stade de France.

“A lot of hard work has gone into it, same as the other girls, and the wider group who have put so much into it.

“We have been GB on the SVNS Series for two years which has made a huge difference in developing the cohesion of the group.

“Before Tokyo we weren't together for about six months, we hadn’t played games together, there were no games because of Covid.

“There has been a lot of hard work and a rollercoaster couple of years. Being here in Paris now it starts to feel real.

“We are just really looking forward to getting started.”

When she returns home, Thomson will join Trailfinders for the new Professional Women's Rugby season. 

She will join a burgeoning group of Scots with Sarah Denholm, Chloe Rollie and Caity Mattinson also representing the south-west London club.

"I’m really looking forward to returning to the Premiership with Trailfinders," Thomson said.

"There’s a strong group of players that have been playing an exciting brand of rugby. I can't wait to get stuck in and hopefully contribute to the growth of the team."

Watch every moment of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 live only on discovery+, the streaming home of the Olympics