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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
1 min read

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
Paralympics
Sunday 29 August, 2021
4 min read

Great Britain win wheelchair rugby gold medal at Tokyo Paralympics

The European champions become Paralympic champions with a 54-49 win over USA in Sunday’s final.
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Great Britain’s first-ever medal in wheelchair rugby at the Paralympics was a gold one after they learned the lessons of their pool defeat to the USA to beat the Americans in Sunday’s final at the Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo.

While not as dramatic as Australia’s overtime victory against the USA at Rio 2016, the match was still full of thrills and spills and remained on a knife-edge throughout as the USA refused to let Great Britain get away from them.

Great Britain always held the edge on the scoreboard but it was only in the last couple of minutes that they were assured of an historic victory.

For three-time former champions the USA, it was another silver medal to add to the one they won in Rio.

Great Britain had produced an equally impressive display in defeating a much-fancied Japan team in the semi-finals, while the USA had seen off Australia 49-42 in the other last-four tie, denying the 2012 and 2016 champions the chance to go for a third consecutive gold medal in the process.

The Steelers, as Australia’s team are known, failed to make the podium as hosts Japan defeated them 60-52 in the bronze medal decider.

The dream has come true 👏@ParalympicsGB's wheelchair rugby team react to winning their first ever gold 🥇❤️#Tokyo2020 #C4Paralympics pic.twitter.com/wdmnM3Ptak

— C4 Paralympics (@C4Paralympics) August 29, 2021

Great Britain take historic gold

On Friday, the USA overturned a five-try deficit against Great Britain to win a stunning match 50-48. But, this time, Great Britain held their composure and displayed superb time and game management throughout, save for a nervy spell midway through the second half.

A strong defensive press prevented their opponents from gathering the momentum they needed and Great Britain led 15-12 at the end of the first quarter.

American talisman and captain Chuck Aoki and arch try poacher Josh Wheeler remained a constant threat, however, and Aoki reduced the deficit to just two tries on the stroke half-time.

Some Great Britain supporters may have feared history was about to repeat itself when the USA clawed another try back to trail by only one at 37-36 down at the end of the third quarter.

But with RAF veteran Stuart Robinson and captain Jim Roberts making a big impact, Great Britain were able to stay in control of the scoreboard and they eventually pulled clear to win by a five-try margin as the Americans forced passes in a desperate attempt to stay in the hunt.

Somebody grab me a chair and take my blood pressure! Incredible final!

Thank you to @usawchrugby & @gbwrnews for putting on such a show

GB’s first ever #Paralympics #wheelchairrugby medal is gold! 🥇

— Joe Byrnes (@byrnesydrama) August 29, 2021

“What an amazing shift that was,” said Roberts.

“I am so happy for the guys, that was one to remember.”

Roberts top-scored with 24 tries but it was a real team effort as Great Britain overcame past disappointments.

Great Britain had failed to win a medal on their five previous Paralympic Games appearances, losing the bronze play-off in both 2004 and 2008 and were up against the sport’s most-decorated team.

“I play to win every game I go into, so that’s what I wanted to come for. We knew there would be some amazing teams here,” added Roberts.

“USA are a class act, and it was just amazing to meet them in the final.”

Bronze medal some consolation for Japan

Earlier on, reigning world champions Japan matched their bronze medal finish of four years ago in Rio after defeating reigning champions Australia 60-52 in the bronze medal decider.

Daisuke Ikezaki led the way with 23 tries in what he described as a bitter-sweet result for the hosts.

"I think this is the best result the team can attain right now, but personally, it is an unsatisfactory and mortifying result," said Ikezaki.

Japan had backed up their status as one of the pre-tournament favourites as they marched imperiously through the pool stages with wins over France, Denmark, and Australia. But a heart-breaking 55-49 semi-final defeat to Great Britain ended their gold medal hopes.

Australia had come into the Games looking to secure an unprecedented hat-trick of gold medals but despite the best efforts of superstar player and captain, Ryley Batt, who contributed  a game-high 27 goals, they were well beaten.

Batt says the fact that the Steelers had been unable to train together for 18 months because of COVID-19 restrictions had hindered their ability to build on wins in London and Rio.

“We knew we were up for some challenges because we haven’t been together as a team for so long and it’s really hurt our preparation,” Batt said.

“I know everyone’s been affected, I’m not sure how affected, but we’ve been really affected back home in Australia.

“But look, we’ve had a really good run, we won two gold medals and we won a silver … and you can’t be at the top forever.”

#NZL 💥 #USA

Team USA take victory over the Wheel Blacks in the opening #WheelchairRugby clash of The Games!

It ends 63-35 at the Yoyogi National Stadium#Tokyo2020 #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/SPe6jCMzWb

— Paralympic Games (@Paralympics) August 25, 2021

Canada claim fifth

A third-place finish in Pool B meant Canada were guaranteed to finish outside of the top four for the first time since wheelchair rugby was introduced to the Paralympics as a demonstration sport in 1996.

Narrow losses to eventual finalists, Great Britain and USA, were followed by an emphatic 51-36 victory against New Zealand as Canada set up a fifth place decider against France.

France’s only victory in the pool stage had come against newcomers Denmark although, on another day, they could have been competing for a place on the podium as their previous matches against Japan and Australia were only settled by a two-try margin.

France’s inability to look after possession cost them dearly in the play-off match and Canada ruthlessly punished their high turnover count to win 57-49.

Debutants sign off in style

Denmark completed their debut campaign as they started it – with victory against opponents from Oceania.

Having shocked Australia on day one, the Danes beat New Zealand’s Wheel Blacks 56-53 in a close-fought seventh place play-off, where there was never more than four or five tries between the teams who finished last in their respective pools.

New Zealand’s return to the Paralympics for the first time since 2008 ended in defeat despite a remarkable 37-try contribution from star man, Barney Koneferenisi, who vowed his team would be all the better for the experience.

“This is a stepping stone for the Wheel Blacks, this is where everything starts," Koneferenisi said.

“Now we know where we can improve. We gave these teams a run for their money and we are happy with how this campaign went and we're ready for Paris.”

Photo: Megumi Masuda/World Wheelchair Rugby

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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.

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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.

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Tue 2 August, 2022
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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
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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.

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