...In the first rugby competition at the Olympics since 1924, and in the condensed seven-a-side format rather than the traditional 15s, the six medals were spread across the world.
Fiji's 43-7 win over Britain in the men's gold-medal match was a lesson in how the game can be played. South Africa soundly beat Japan for bronze but the Japanese team played its part to promote the game with its shocking opening win over powerhouse New Zealand. People in Japan took notice.
The women's world series champion Australians won the gold medal in a final against number two-ranked New Zealand, and Canada beat Britain for bronze. The host nation did well enough in the women's ranks to qualify a Brazilian team for next year's world series..
Japan's unexpected run in the men's draw could have positive consequences for the hosts of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, where rugby is expected to be played in a 45,000-seat stadium - three times the size of the temporary Deodoro Stadium venue used in Brazil.
"We've had the opportunity and we thank the IOC for that. We've got Tokyo in four years, a year after Rugby World Cup in Japan, so I can only see rugby expanding in both forms of the game," Beaumont said. "There's no one in World Rugby conceited enough to think we have a divine right to be here but hopefully we've showcased our sport on the world stage."
The rugby sevens format is like a snack-sized version of the traditional 15-a-side game. The games are played on a full field, with seven players in a team and with halves of seven minutes instead of 40. So the impetus is on attacking rugby, good fodder for the highlight reels.
And, it makes it achievable for countries which don't have a long rugby tradition or a huge budget to be competitive at the Olympics.
