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Latest News
Andy Vilk, head coach of Italy men's sevens
4 min read

RWC Sevens 2022 qualifying

Italy men’s sevens team seeks return to the big stage

The European men's qualification tournament for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 is on the horizon with the prize of four tickets to Cape Town, South Africa at stake in July.

RWC Sevens 2022 qualifying

Thu 19 May, 2022
4 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Black Ferns Sevens renew riveting rivalry with Australia on HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia wrapped up the 2022 Series title in Langford, but the Black Ferns Sevens left Canada with plenty to celebrate as they begin a busy period.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 3 May, 2022
4 min read
Madagascar Women's Sevens
3 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: Madagascar latest team to book ticket to Cape Town

Following another intense weekend of qualifying action we now know the identity of 12 women's and 20 men's teams who will compete at RWC Sevens 2022.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Mon 2 May, 2022
3 min read
HSBC Spain Sevens Seville 2022 - Women's
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe keen to drive Ireland onto Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

We spoke to the prolific Ireland star about backing up the team’s success in Seville and plotting their path to Cape Town in September.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 26 April, 2022
4 min read
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
5 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

Fri 8 April, 2022
5 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
Olympic Games
Thursday 08 July, 2021
4 min read

Simon Amor’s insight into the magic of Olympic sevens

The former Team GB coach recalls his memories of Rio 2016 and the secrets behind a successful Olympic Games.
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One moment writ large in Simon Amor’s memory rather than down on paper on his outstanding rugby CV is when Team GB made it through to the semi-finals of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

In one of the most extraordinary games in the history of rugby sevens, the best of the Great Britain and Argentina slugged it out for 14 scoreless minutes in the Deodoro Stadium.

For a free-flowing game like sevens to remain 0-0 at the end of normal time was unheard of. It was akin, as a Guardian writer put it at the time, to teams batting out for a draw in a T20 cricket match.

But there needed to be a winner and Dan Bibby’s golden-point try ensured it was Team GB who kept their Olympic sevens medal hopes alive.

“I just remember being blessed to be a part of an immense moment – sevens being in the Olympics and being involved in such a brilliant game. It was the best 0-0 you’ll ever see!” he said.

“When Dan Bibby scored that try, I looked up to the sky, it was a stunning clear night and the stars were all out, and thought this is a feeling you’ll never want to forget.”

🚨 POOLS CONFIRMED

The Men's and Women's #Rugby7s pools for the @Olympics have been announced ✅

Thoughts on the below, #GB7s fans? #HowWeSevens #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/n0dPUNMK51

— GB Rugby Sevens (@GBRugbySevens) June 28, 2021

An unbelievable experience

Now in the semi-finals and within sight of a medal, Team GB came through another ’knife-edge’ game against South Africa but Fiji proved far too strong for them in the final, winning 43-7.

On reflection, Team GB had more than surpassed expectations given the limited amount of time they had together pre-tournament.

“It was an unbelievable experience and just such a unique situation,” Amor reflected.

“Firstly, because it was the first time sevens was in the Olympics and also the whole scale of the event: it is hard to articulate to anyone just how big the Olympics is compared to anything else.

“With multi-sport Games like the Olympics, you get unique crazy moments like seeing Usain Bolt in the dining hall or watching a knockout game of tennis between Roger Federer and another world-class star just outside your apartment block.

“Secondly, the nature of the Team GB programme is very challenging because we only had 10 weeks together. It was a bit like going into the dark.”

Going with the flow

Adversity is a word used a lot in sport and in life at the moment, and Amor says all teams need to expect the unexpected in Tokyo if they are to be successful.

“I guess the key to a successful Olympics is accepting it is not a normal event. Things will go wrong but having the ability to adapt to that and not let it affect your performance is probably the most important thing,” he said.

“You are so much at the whim of the host organisers because security at the event is at a different level and your logistics are completely controlled by that. You have no sway whatsoever and understandably so.

“Adversity can go one of two ways with groups: it can create divisions or it can bring people together, and that’s certainly what happened in 2016.

“I have never worked with such a tight-knit group, and looking in from the outside and speaking to a couple of people involved with Team GB, that’s what’s happening right now with this latest group.

“It is the teams that cope best with the pressure (on and off the pitch) that are successful.”

Team Great Britain's James Davies consoles an Argentina player after tight quarter-final contest at the @Olympics #1YearToGo #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/PHLP1esqnK

— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) July 24, 2019

Wide open

While Rio runners-up the Black Ferns Sevens are massive favourites to go one better and take the gold medal this time around, the men’s competition looks far more open.

“No-one has played an awful lot and no-one knows how each team is playing and where each player is at so I’d imagine there will be lots of unknowns going into it,” said Amor.

“The teams that have managed to get the most amount of competition will be at an advantage but, in saying that no-one has had an awful lot of competition. I think it will be fascinating to see how it turns out from that perspective, and also how the game itself is played.

“There has been a fair bit of change with people taking scrums over tap penalties and there has been a bit of a change-up in the physical make-up of the game.”

Amor will be in the Far East, post the Tokyo Olympics, as interim head coach of the Hong Kong men’s 15s team.

The 42-year-old was appointed as Craig Hammond’s successor shortly after leaving his role as attack coach of England men.

He arrives in Hong Kong in the middle of next month with the remit to lead Hong Kong to victory in the Asia Rugby Championship (ARC) in November. The tournament forms part of the Rugby World Cup 2023 qualifying process and the winner will meet either Samoa, Tonga or the Cook Islands in a play-off to determine the Asia/Pacific 1 qualifier.

Like with the Olympics, Amor will only have around 10 weeks of preparation time to get his team ready for matches against Malaysia and Korea.

“I feel so lucky to have coached at a number of levels in the English game, to have coached England at the highest level, and at the Commonwealth Games and Olympics. So the opportunity to bring the learnings to help a developing nation is really motivating for me and I am excited by that challenge. 

“Hopefully, I can help them improve and grow and they can go on to win the ARC.”

Read more: World Rugby launches ‘This Is How We Sevens’ campaign ahead of Olympics >>

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HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – Toulouse

Fiji and New Zealand the winners after a brilliant HSBC France Sevens

Ireland reach their first ever men’s final as the women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series comes to an end for 2022 with Australia worthy winners following an outstanding season. Argentina hold a two-point lead over South Africa in the men's Series standings

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – Toulouse

Sun 22 May, 2022
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HSBC France Sevens 2022 Men's
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HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – Toulouse

Big names fall on dramatic day of upsets at HSBC France Sevens in Toulouse

Argentina and Australia were knocked out in the men’s quarter-finals, while Series leaders South Africa and heavyweights New Zealand failed to even make the knockout stages. Australia and New Zealand’s women impressed, while Fiji reached the final four in both events.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – Toulouse

Sat 21 May, 2022
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HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series - Toulouse

Men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series favourites suffer shock defeats on opening day in Toulouse as women’s champions Australia continue fine form

South Africa, Australia and Argentina were all beaten on the opening day of the HSBC France Sevens men’s event, while New Zealand and Australia caught the eye with some big wins in the women’s competition

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series - Toulouse

Fri 20 May, 2022
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Rikki Swannell becomes first females to commentate on men's series
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Feature

Behind the microphone: Groundbreaker Rikki Swannell

World Rugby talks to the New Zealander about becoming the first female lead commentator on the men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and her life in sports broadcasting.

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Fri 20 May, 2022
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Andy Vilk, head coach of Italy men's sevens
4 min read

RWC Sevens 2022 qualifying

Italy men’s sevens team seeks return to the big stage

The European men's qualification tournament for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 is on the horizon with the prize of four tickets to Cape Town, South Africa at stake in July.

RWC Sevens 2022 qualifying

Thu 19 May, 2022
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Fiji are in Toulouse to win: “There is still room for improvement,” says Gollings

Gold and silver medals in their last two HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series outings have Fiji feeling good ahead of French tournament

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Thu 19 May, 2022
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HSBC France Sevens 2022
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Rugby Sevens

Captains ready for lift off at HSBC France Sevens

Toulouse welcomes a full line-up of 16 men’s and 12 women’s teams for the first time in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series on 20-22 May

Rugby Sevens

Wed 18 May, 2022
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