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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
Youth Unstoppables
Thursday 07 October, 2021
3 min read

Youth Unstoppables: Meet the first group of inspirational young female athletes

Find out more about the first seven Youth Unstoppables, who have been unveiled by World Rugby and Mastercard to mark one year to go until Rugby World Cup 2021, playing in 2022.
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The first seven Youth Unstoppables have been unveiled by World Rugby and Mastercard, and each has an inspirational story to tell that highlights why the women’s game is the ultimate team sport — on and off the pitch.

Featuring young female athletes from across the globe who have overcome various challenges to find a community on the rugby pitch, the Youth Unstoppable stories aim to motivate the next generation of women and girls to interact with the game.

The bespoke digital content series will champion the stories of 17 inspirational young female players from 14 unions around the world.

❤️ "There is no other team like us."

Introducing an inspiring group of young female athletes all with their own stories to tell... our #YouthUnstoppables 💪

🚀 Launching 11.10.21, 9am BST https://t.co/fRyJsp6lPL

In partnership with @Mastercard | #WomenInRugby pic.twitter.com/SPLjXXlqsL

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) October 7, 2021

As the countdown approaches one year to go until Rugby World Cup 2021, playing in 2022, tales from South Africa, USA, France, Norway and Paraguay will take centre stage.

Inspirational stories

South African Youth Unstoppable Zikhona will be featured on the first episode, which will premier across World Rugby digital platforms on Monday, 11 October in celebration of International Day of the Girl Child 2021.

Zikhona overcame initial concerns to start playing rugby aged 15, having been impressed by the team spirit that existed among the Busy Bees players who competed in her local community, Langa, in Cape Town.

Soon she and a friend had recruited enough players to form Busy Bees’ first under-16s girls’ team, and Zikhona has since gone on to be named Western Province U18 vice-captain.

Now 18, she delivered food parcels to team-mates in need during the COVID-19 pandemic and believes that rugby can be used as a tool for change in Langa and beyond.

Like Zikhona, fellow Youth Unstoppable Elin has been playing rugby for the past three years, having been captivated by the strength and skill on display at the HSBC USA Women’s Sevens in Glendale.

Only nine years old, Elin has devoted herself to the game, training hard, watching clips of her favourite players and even using rugby as the basis for school projects.

In January, 2021, she began training with USA Women’s Eagles prop Charli Jacoby, who believes the youngster can achieve anything she wants in the game.

Rugby has already given Youth Unstoppable Téani a great deal, helping her to settle in when she left the Pacific island of Futuna to attend boarding school in New Zealand, and subsequently facilitating a move to mainland France.

It was during a vacation to France that Téani caught the eye in a national U18 sevens championship, and having returned to play at a tournament for the 100 best players in that category the following year, she was approached by FC Grenoble Amazones.

She now plays in Grenoble alongside her sister Manaé and represented the France women’s sevens squad at a tournament in Dubai in April.

Unstoppable role models

Téani had grown up surrounded by the game in Futuna, and that was the case too for the Youth Unstoppables from Norway, sisters Kristin, Astrid and Mari.

It was through rugby that their parents met — when mum Bronia refereed a match dad Jon-Thomas was playing in — and the sisters have retained a strong link to the community.

Eldest sister Kristin, now 16, attended her first rugby tournament when she was just six days old and all three girls have grown up playing for the same team at Sagene IF in Oslo. Each now harbours dreams of playing for Norway, as their dad did.

The final member of the initial group of Youth Unstoppables is Andrea, from Luque in Paraguay, who says rugby has made her “more disciplined, responsible and helped me as a person”.

Andrea was introduced to the game by her sister, Perla three years ago and at Luque Rugby Club she has found a loving, family environment in which she has thrived.

Now 17, the hooker has represented Paraguay at U18 level and says she now aims to be a role model for those just starting out in the game at her club.

You will be able to learn more about Andrea, as well as Kristin, Astrid, Mari, Téani, Elin and Zikhona when their Youth Unstoppables stories are released across World Rugby digital platforms. 

The campaign is part of World Rugby’s ambitious Accelerating the Development of Women in Rugby 2017-25 strategic plan and builds on strong foundations, with women’s rugby experiencing unprecedented growth in recent years – more than 2.7 million women and girls are currently playing globally, making up a quarter of the world’s playing population. 

A long-time supporter of the sport and women in rugby, Mastercard is the exclusive partner of the Youth Unstoppables campaign, in addition to being founding Global Partner of the Women in Rugby programme.

The transformational five-year partnership will also see Mastercard become the first Worldwide Partner for Rugby World Cup 2021 and Rugby World Cup 2025, as Preferred Card for both tournaments, founding partner of Pacific Four Series and the Global Partner of WXV, the annual global women’s competition due to start in 2023.

READ MORE: World Rugby and Mastercard unveil first Youth Unstoppables to mark RWC 2021 One Year To Go Celebrations >>

Trending News Show all
HSBC Canada Sevens 2022
3 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Marcos Moneta on his rapid rise and historic sevens season for Argentina

The Los Pumas Sevens speedster has had a year to remember by scooping up individual and team accolades, and he tells World Rugby about the journey so far and how football influenced his playing style.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Thu 26 May, 2022
3 min read
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Rugby sevens

London welcomes the stars of rugby sevens

A huge crowd will welcome all 16 core teams for the penultimate round of the men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium on 28-29 May with all to play for in the race for the 2022 Series title

Rugby sevens

Wed 25 May, 2022
3 min read
Alex Davis England Sevens
3 min read

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
3 min read
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7 min read

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
7 min read
HSBC France Sevens 2022 Men's
8 min read

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
8 min read
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
6 min read
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
3 min read

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
HSBC France Sevens 2022
4 min read

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
4 min read
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