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Latest News
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
7 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Everything you need to know about Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Your guide to RWC Sevens 2022, which will take place in Cape Town between 9-11 September this year.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Mon 25 July, 2022
7 min read
Cape Town
3 min read

Rugby Sevens

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 match schedule revealed with 50 days to go

The first match-ups for the highly anticipated Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 have been revealed with 50 days to go until the three-day pinnacle event kicks off in Cape Town, South Africa on 9-11 September. The innovative ‘winner takes all’ knock-out competition format first introduced at Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 means every match counts as teams will need to win every time they enter the pitch in order to become world champions.

Rugby Sevens

Thu 21 July, 2022
3 min read
HAVAL hybrid SUV
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Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 makes moves with HAVAL

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 is delighted to welcome HAVAL as an Official Partner.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Wed 20 July, 2022
1 min read
Ireland women celebrate qualifying for RWC Sevens 2022
3 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 line-up confirmed in Bucharest

The eight remaining tickets to Cape Town were snapped up at the RWC Sevens 2022 Europe Qualifier.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Mon 18 July, 2022
3 min read
CastleLiteAnnouncement
1 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Castle Lite joins the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 party

South Africa’s biggest premium lite beer, Castle Lite has joined Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 as an Official Global Partner.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Fri 15 July, 2022
1 min read
2018 Highlights
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
08:29 mins

Highlights: New Zealand win big in San Francisco

New Zealand retained their Rugby World Cup Sevens title in San Francisco
Mon 23 July, 2018
08:29 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
07:03 mins

Highlights: New Zealand women's win Rugby World Cup Sevens

Check out all the top action as New Zealand win The Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco
Sun 22 July, 2018
07:03 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
06:30 mins

HIGHLIGHTS: Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two

Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two of action at Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 #RWC7s
Sun 22 July, 2018
06:30 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day One
06:51 mins

Highlights: Men's quarter-finals decided

Men's quarter-finals of Rugby World Cup Sevens decided after incredible first day at AT&T Park
Sat 21 July, 2018
06:51 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
06:26 mins

Highlights: Women's semi-finals confirmed at Rugby World Cup Sevens

Championship semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day one of action
Sat 21 July, 2018
06:26 mins
Sevens
Thursday 03 June, 2021
4 min read

Germany look to new generation to defend Rugby Europe men’s sevens crown

Germany men’s sevens head coach Damian McGrath speaks to World Rugby ahead of the start of the Rugby Europe Championship Sevens Series.
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After a one-year hiatus, men’s and women’s European international sevens returns next weekend with a new name.

What was once called the Rugby Europe Grand Prix Series will now be known as the Rugby Europe Championship Sevens Series, with the Trophy and Conference 1 divisions sitting underneath the flagship tournament.

The first leg of the men’s and women’s Championship will feature eight and nine teams respectively from across the continent and will take place in Lisbon, Portugal at the same time on 5-6 June.

The second leg takes place in Moscow, Russia later on in the month with the women’s tournament played on 25-26 June and the men’s tournament on 26-27 June.

Reigning champions Russia will be looking to reclaim their crown in the women’s event, while Germany will be bidding for consecutive titles in the men’s. A fourth place finish on the Lodz Sevens in July 2019 was enough for them to pip France to the silverware last time around.

📅 | Here is how the Men's Championship will shape up in Lisbon🇵🇹

▶️ https://t.co/kKVhj19xmw pic.twitter.com/nJd9Q1q5yL

— Rugby Europe (@rugby_europe) June 1, 2021

For Germany’s experienced head coach, Damian McGrath, the Rugby Europe Championship Sevens Series heralds the start of a new era, for him personally and for the team.

McGrath signed a five-year deal to become Germany men’s sevens head coach in October 2019, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic the Englishman has only led the team in two tournaments to date – the Chile and Uruguay rounds of the inaugural World Rugby Challenger Series. They won the first and were knocked out in the quarter-finals in the other.

Now, after the 2020 season was cancelled in its entirety, Germany are ready to take to the field again, albeit with alterations to the squad that was triumphant 18 months ago.

“The team that won the European Championships and the team that I took to South America last year and won on the World Challenger Series, are now getting to the end now, most are around the 30-years-old mark. The struggle for us to find a younger generation. It’s the end of this generation and we’re looking to step up with another one,” McGrath said.

A recent training match with Spain – who McGrath identifies as Germany’s main challengers – has also cost them three frontline players.

“Within two minutes Bastian Himmer broke his cheekbone, Ben Ellermann – a real powerhouse – damaged his elbow, and Niki Koch, a policeman from Hannover, got a bad ACL injury. It was one of those where it never rains but it pours,” he lamented.

“For countries like ours, outside of the top line, there are lots of really good players around but what they don’t have and what we don’t have is strength in depth.”

Spain are the team to beat

On the plus side, Carlos Soteras Merz, who led the team to victory in Chile, has recovered from injury in time to lead the side in Lisbon, where Germany find themselves pooled with Portugal, Georgia and Lithuania. Spain, Italy, Russia and Poland make up the Pool B line-up.

Regular European competitors, Ireland and France, are absent from the line-up because of their involvement in the Olympic Repechage, and there’s no England, Scotland and Wales due to Great Britain’s qualification for the Olympics.

“We go to these new Europeans as champions but I think Spain will be the favourites. They are in the world series, and we went and had a camp with them a month or so ago and the number of players they have, and the quality of players they have, make them very much the ones to watch for this tournament,” he said.

“I know it rankles with them that they missed out on the last World Cup in sevens and missed out this time on the Olympics.

“They have invested heavily on their sevens programme and rugby in general is on the up in Spain, and they will be looking to make a mark and let everyone know they are one of the top teams around.

“I don’t know much about Lithuania or Georgia, but Portugal have sevens heritage,” he added, when assessing the threat posed by Germany’s pool opponents. “It wasn’t that long ago, when I was coaching Samoa that we played them in the world series. So I know they will have a quality about them, and being the home team, I am sure they will want to put up a good performance.”

📅 | The match schedule for the Women's Lisbon leg of the 7s Championship has been revealed 👇https://t.co/4niRUnDvKD

— Rugby Europe (@rugby_europe) June 1, 2021

Tantalising prospect

Germany, however, are ready to roll their sleeves up and if they are to give up their title, it won’t be without a fight.

“We don’t have speed as such and we’re not very big. So, with us, it is all based around work ethic; we try to out-work teams,” McGrath said.

“Despite the injury disruptions and some of the old guard moving on, McGrath is optimistic his new-look squad can make a big impression.

“The fact that Ireland and France and the Home Nations aren’t playing makes it tantalising:  We could really do well and hold our position as European champions. It is a real opportunity for us.

“I am pleased with the group we have here; we have some talented players, two or three of them wouldn’t look out of place in any other team in the world.

“Fabian Heimpel, Tim Lichtenberg, Anjo Buckman … these guys could play in most teams, and we have a young Irish lad called Jack Hunt who has got a German passport. He’s 6’4 (1.93m) and plays on the wing. This will be his first tournament and is one to look out for.”

Meanwhile, Germany’s women’s sevens team find themselves in with defending champions Russia and Romania in Pool A for the opening leg of their event in Lisbon.

Poland, Belgium and Wales make up Pool B, while Scotland face Iberian opposition in Pool C in Spain and Portugal.

All tournaments will be live streamed on Rugby Europe TV.

Read more: Olympic contenders raring to go as Tokyo preparations step up >>

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World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series

Who to look out for at the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series 2022

We look at seven players who will hope to take the men’s and women’s Challenger Series tournaments in Santiago by storm.

World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series

Wed 3 August, 2022
3 min read
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series - Montevideo
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World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series

Everything you need to know about the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series 2022

Following the news that the Challenger Series will return in August, we give you the lowdown on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series promotion pathway.

World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series

Tue 2 August, 2022
5 min read
Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
3 min read

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South Africa and Australia bidding for historic rugby sevens treble

Following their Commonwealth Games gold medals, South Africa and Australia are firmly in the hunt for the last remaining titles on offer in 2022.

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Mon 1 August, 2022
3 min read
Australia
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Rugby Sevens

Australia and South Africa win rugby sevens gold at Commonwealth Games

Australia's women claimed Commonwealth Games rugby sevens gold for the first time on Sunday after their extra-time heartache four years ago, while South Africa's men were crowned champions for the second time.

Rugby Sevens

Sun 31 July, 2022
3 min read
Rugby Sevens - Commonwealth Games: Day 2
3 min read

Rugby Sevens

Australia and Fiji go for women’s rugby sevens gold at Commonwealth Games

An action-packed second day of Commonwealth Games rugby sevens saw Australia and Fiji reach Sunday’s women’s gold medal match after a pair of pulsating semi-finals played in front of a vibrant atmosphere in a packed Coventry Stadium in England.

Rugby Sevens

Sat 30 July, 2022
3 min read
Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
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Rugby Sevens

Records fall on first day of rugby sevens at Commonwealth Games

Fans were treated to a spectacular opening day of rugby sevens action as the popular, fast-paced sport kicked off its Commonwealth Games competition in record-breaking fashion at Coventry Stadium on Friday.

Rugby Sevens

Fri 29 July, 2022
4 min read
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4 min read

Rugby Sevens

Rugby sevens ready for Commonwealth Games kick-off

The highly anticipated Commonwealth Games 2022 rugby sevens competition will kick off on the opening morning of the Games with teams taking to the pitch at Coventry Stadium in England at 09:30 BST on Friday 29 July. A very strong line-up involving the top teams and best men’s and women’s players in the world are ready to showcase the speed, skill and end-to-end drama of rugby sevens to a huge global audience in what promises to be an exhilarating three days of competition, culminating in the medal matches on Sunday 31 July.

Rugby Sevens

Thu 28 July, 2022
4 min read
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Commonwealth Games

Coventry Stadium set to host “cracking” Commonwealth Games rugby sevens tournaments

We caught up with commentator Rikki Swannell to chat about all things rugby sevens and Commonwealth Games 2022.

Commonwealth Games

Thu 28 July, 2022
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2 min read

Rugby Sevens

Rugby sevens match schedule confirmed for Commonwealth Games 2022

Hot on the heels of the pools announcement, Birmingham 2022 has released the Commonwealth Games match schedule for the rugby sevens competition which will be held from 29-31 July at Coventry Stadium in England.

Rugby Sevens

Fri 22 July, 2022
2 min read
Rugby Sevens - Commonwealth Games Day 11
5 min read

Commonwealth Games

All the build-up to rugby sevens at the Commonwealth Games 2022

With just seven days to go until the men’s and women’s tournaments get underway at Coventry Stadium, we take a look at what fans can expect.

Commonwealth Games

Fri 22 July, 2022
5 min read
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