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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
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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
Thursday 07 October, 2021
4 min read

Excitement builds as Rugby World Cup 2021 reaches one year to go milestone

Leading figures in the women’s game talk to World Rugby about the showpiece tournament which begins on 8 October, 2022 at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.
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Friday marks one year to go until Rugby World Cup 2021, playing in 2022, kicks off at Auckland’s iconic Eden Park and anticipation is already reaching fever pitch among players and fans alike.

RWC 2021 will get underway on Saturday, 8 October, 2022, when South Africa and France run out onto the hallowed turf in front of what should be an expectant crowd.

England will then take on Fiji for the first time in a women’s test match, before hosts New Zealand kick-off their RWC 2021 campaign against Australia.

🎟 Access every incredible #RWC2021 match with one of 100 pre-sale @Mastercard Tournament Passes, exclusive to Mastercard cardholders

📆 08.10.21, 12:00 NZDT

— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 5, 2021

Wallaroos winger Mahalia Murphy scored a try the last time Australia took on the Black Ferns at Eden Park. Although her side lost that match 37-8, she cannot wait to return next year.

“They’re our biggest rivals. It’s going to be electrifying with the crowd and I’m sure we are going to get a lot of heat,” Murphy told World Rugby.

Murphy represented Australia at RWC 2017 in Ireland, scoring three tries, and she is looking forward to experiencing the buzz of playing at another Rugby World Cup.

“I know it was four years ago but I remember it literally like it was yesterday,” she added. 

“Losing to Ireland in the first game and then coming back and beating them in the [fifth-place semi-final] was probably my favourite part. I won’t forget that. 

“The whole experience was amazing and I can’t believe the World Cup is next year, it is so exciting and the countdown starts now.”

“A big year to prepare”

New Zealand had planned to host the world’s 12 best teams this year, as the women’s tournament celebrated its 30th anniversary, but COVID-19 restrictions meant that it was postponed for 12 months.

France captain Gaëlle Hermet is hoping to play at a first Rugby World Cup and admits that she is “impatient” for the countdown to RWC 2021 to be over.

“Any rugby player who is potentially going to be able to play in a Rugby World Cup is eager, even more so with the health situation that we've had recently,” Hermet said. 

“I think all we want is to be able to play, to be able to go back to full stadiums, to be able to experience events like this. 

“We still have a big year to prepare. We're thinking about it and little by little we're going to increase the pressure.”

Hermet’s Les Bleues team-mate Lise Arricastre has her sights set on a third Rugby World Cup, and says that “excitement is running high” on the streets of her hometown in the south of France.

“In my rugby community, a lot of people talk to me about it,” Arricastre, 30, said. “We are at the start of the championship, so we are preparing a lot and the November tests are coming very, very quickly. 

“I'm focused on this preparation; I think it's the experience too. I'm putting a lot more focus on my preparation for this Rugby World Cup. It's very clearly one of my last career goals.”

South Africa missed out on a place at RWC 2017 in Ireland, but booked their ticket to New Zealand by winning the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup 2019.

Their prize for qualification was a place in Pool C alongside France, England and Fiji, and centre Zintle Mpupha — who recently scored four tries in a 66-0 win over Kenya — cannot wait to run out at Eden Park.

“It is a great honour,” she said. “It is going to be a huge game and not an easy one. 

“As we all know, France are a physical team and have a very high level of skill but, as a team, we are willing to take that on the chin and show what we are capable of as well. 

“I have never played in a huge stadium like that before so it will be a great opportunity.”

Countdown starts now

Following the opening match, two-time Rugby World Cup winners England will enter the fray as they take on Fiji at Eden Park.

The Red Roses, who won the tournament in 1994 and 2014, have never faced the Fijians and according to captain Sarah Hunter the countdown to their first meeting will now intensify.

“Obviously, from Friday you're like, right, we're now into that territory where we can properly count down, where you've got a year [to go],” Hunter said.

“You can start to go, well, now this year's even more important about how we start really fine-tuning what we're about as individual players, but more importantly, as a team. It just makes it that bit more real.

“We can really start getting excited about the World Cup happening and especially the fact that it's in New Zealand, I think it just adds a bit more excitement about it.”

England have only played at Eden Park twice before, losing 33-8 to New Zealand in 2005 and again 29-10 eight years later.

Hunter captained England in the second of those defeats, and she is excited to return to the famous stadium and create some more positive memories.

“As players, you want to be playing in the big stadiums and the historic stadiums that have had historic test matches,” she said. 

“Eden Park is synonymous with New Zealand rugby, so to have the first game there just adds a bit of extra specialness about it.

“We've never played Fiji at 15s before, so that's a bit of an unknown and it is really exciting, and I'm sure it'll go pretty fast as well as we get into that one year to go.”

READ MORE: Rugby World Cup 2021 launches limited edition Mastercard RWC 2021 Tournament Pass >>

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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

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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.

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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

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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
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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.

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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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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

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Wed 18 May, 2022
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