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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
Rugby World Cup 2021
Friday 24 September, 2021
4 min read

Rugby World Cup 2021 Europe Qualifier: All to play for on final day

Hosts Italy, Ireland, Scotland and Spain are only separated by points difference heading into the final match-day of the RWC 2021 Europe Qualifier in Parma on Saturday.
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The Rugby World Cup 2021 Europe Qualifier could not be closer heading into the final match-day, with all four teams potentially one win away from booking their ticket to New Zealand.

Ireland and Scotland did what they needed to do last Sunday, beating Italy and Spain respectively to leave the four nations neck and neck in the standings, on five points after two matches.

Hosts Italy lead the way on points difference ahead of the denouement at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi but they know there is no guarantee they will still be there come Saturday night.

A massive final day in-store 😲

📺 Catch all the #RWC2021 qualifier action live on our Twitter and Facebook pages, on @WorldRugby YouTube and at https://t.co/KpNbgqdpe4 pic.twitter.com/gRLPSXdRGP

— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 22, 2021

Andrea Di Giandomenico’s side kick-off match-day three in Parma when they take on Spain at 15:00 local time (GMT+2), looking to bounce back from their narrow 15-7 defeat to Ireland last time out.

"We are aware that we are playing an 'in or out' match, the final result will be very important," the Italy coach said.

"Still, we are eager to play the best that we can."

Italy won the most recent meeting between the sides, when tries from Michela Sillari, Sofia Stefan and Sara Barattin helped secure a 20-15 victory in the Rugby World Cup 2017 ninth-place play-off.

All three try-scorers remain important players for the Azzurre. Sillari has scored 15 points during the RWC 2021 Europe Qualifier, second only to Scotland’s Helen Nelson, while Barattin earned her 100th cap against Ireland and Stefan has appeared in both matches as a replacement.

Spain coach José Antonio Barrio knows his side will be up against an experienced team, which he expects to be well supported in Parma as the Azzurre bid to reach a fifth Rugby World Cup.

“Italy is a mature team that knows how to compete,” he told World Rugby. 

“They play at a strong pace, and furthermore they will play on home soil with the extra energy of their fans. They are a really tough rival.

“We're expecting the crowd to give huge support to their home team as the tournament requires, but we're prepared for that too.”

Having beaten Ireland on match-day one and run Scotland close six days later, Spain head into Saturday’s match with nothing to fear.

Indeed the Iberians, who have appeared at six of the eight women’s editions of Rugby World Cup, hold the advantage in the historic head-to-head between the sides, having won 10 of their 14 encounters.

Spain’s last victory in the fixture also came at RWC 2017, when Patricia García scored seven points in a 22-8 Pool B win.

Both teams know that a win will be good enough for at least second-place, and a place in the Final Qualification Tournament, but Barrio refused to look any further ahead than Saturday.

“Right now, our only thought is to bring the best possible Spanish team to the pitch on Saturday,” he said.

Winner takes all

🪜 The tale of the tape going into the third and final matchday

1️⃣st place heads directly to #RWC2021 while 2️⃣nd place still has the chance to progress in the Final Qualification Tournament pic.twitter.com/QGXocqLfI5

— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 22, 2021

Ireland and Scotland will know the exact equation facing them when they take to the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi pitch at 18:00 local time (GMT+2) on Saturday.

But, whatever happens in the first match between Italy and Spain, both teams know they must win to maintain their hopes of playing at Rugby World Cup 2021.

“That's what we're going for,” Scotland centre Lisa Thomson said. 

“We're going to win that game and then whatever happens in the other game is what it is, we're going to win that game first.”

Scotland failed to qualify for both RWC 2014 and RWC 2017 but have won 15 of their 29 tests against Ireland, albeit only one of those victories has come since 2006.

Ireland have triumphed in 14 of the 15 matches since then, a winning run punctuated only by a Scottish win at Donnybrook during the Women’s Six Nations 2018.

Thomson played in that match and believes the result proves that Scotland are capable of securing the win they need to seal RWC 2021 qualification.

“We know that we can beat them and we did that three years ago, and games since have been close,” she said.

“It's always a good competition against Ireland, so we'll look to get that win on Saturday.”

Ireland will be keen to maintain their proud Rugby World Cup record, having appeared at every women’s edition except the inaugural tournament in 1991, and hosted it four years ago.

Centre Eve Higgins came into the side for the win over Italy on Sunday, and says the players are focused on perfecting their own game as they seek to secure qualification.

“We do feel like we have a lot of improvements as a squad to make and I think the majority of our focus will be on ourselves and what we can do better as a squad to execute,” Higgins said. 

“Because of the huge break that there's been with COVID and stuff you can't really look that far into the past, [our focus is] very much in the present.”

She added: “The danger with any team you're going up against, you don't really know obviously until you're at the game what's going to happen. 

“So, we're just going to control what we can control and get the best preparation that we possibly can so that we can answer anything that comes our way this weekend.”

The final day of the RWC 2021 Europe Qualifier will be live streamed across rugbyworldcup.com/2021, Rugby World Cup Facebook and Twitter channels and on World Rugby’s YouTube channel.

READ MORE: Scotland at an all-time high in World Rugby Women’s Rankings >>

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HSBC London Sevens 2022
7 min read

HSBC London Sevens

South Africa and New Zealand back with a bang in London

South Africa and New Zealand bounced back from shock exits in Toulouse by topping their Pools on day one at Twickenham, while in-form Fiji and Samoa did likewise, and Series leaders Argentina were knocked out.

HSBC London Sevens

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Wed 25 May, 2022
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Alex Davis England Sevens
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HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – London

England sevens skipper Davis: “Let’s embrace and enjoy playing at home”

Ahead of this weekend’s action in Twickenham, captain Alex Davis reveals what it’s like to step out in front of a home crowd in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – London

Tue 24 May, 2022
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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 France Sevens 2022 Men's
6 min read

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
5 min read

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.

Feature

Fri 20 May, 2022
5 min read
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
Serevi Coaching Roadshow - HSBC Event
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HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

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

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Thu 19 May, 2022
3 min read
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