Global Partners
Global Partners
label.rwc7s2022.logo-alt-text label.rwc7s2022.logo-alt-text label.rwc7s2022.logo-alt-text
Listen Live
  • Get Tickets
  • Teams & Qualifying
  • Video
  • News
  • Get Tickets
  • Teams & Qualifying
  • Video
  • News
  • Venue
  • Newsletter
  • FAQ Tickets
  • About RWC Sevens
  • Media
  • Contact Us
World Rugby
Website language
English
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • 日本語
Website language
English
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • 日本語
  • About RWC Sevens
  • Media
  • Contact Us
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
Americas Pacific Challenge
Monday 18 October, 2021
3 min read

Americas Pacific Challenge: Everything you need to know

The World Rugby-funded tournament starts on Friday, 22 October and involves three teams from North and South America.
  • label.share.via_facebook_messenger
  • label.share.via_whatsapp
  • label.share.via_facebook
  • label.share.via_twitter
  • label.share.via_copy
    URL Copied

The World Rugby Americas Pacific Challenge returns to the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo this Friday, five years after it was first introduced into the rugby calendar.

With the majority of the players involved aged 23 or under, the tournament will allow future stars of the game in the Americas to develop their skills in a competitive environment against cross-border opposition.

Here’s a rundown of everything you need to know about the tournament.

WHO’S INVOLVED IN THE AMERICAS PACIFIC CHALLENGE?

Following an enforced break owing to the global pandemic, the Americas Pacific Challenge returns with teams from North and South America. Previous participants Argentina XV, Uruguay A and USA Selects will be joined by three newcomers in Brazil A, Chile A and Paraguay A.

Those teams will draw on the best young players who’ve been identified as having the ability to step up into the test arena. Supporting that ambition, 23 of the 28 players in the squad must be 23 years of age or under. The remaining five players can be any age over 18 years.

29 players will represent the 🇺🇸 in the Americas Pacific Challenge 💪 pic.twitter.com/SU6YL3jjxQ

— USA Rugby (@USARugby) October 13, 2021

HOW DOES THE COMPETITION WORK?

The six teams will be allocated into two pools of three with a cross-pool fixture format.

Teams in Pool A, Argentina XV, Chile A and Brazil A, will play the teams in Pool B, Uruguay A, USA Selects and Paraguay A.

The tournament winner is determined by the number of competition points accrued across the three rounds. 

WHEN IS THE AMERICAS PACIFIC CHALLENGE BEING PLAYED?

Nine matches will take place on three match-days, on Friday, 22 October, Tuesday, 26 October and Saturday, 30 October.

WHERE IS IT BEING PLAYED?

At the 14,000-capacity the Estadio Charrúa in Montevideo. The ground is home to the Uruguayan national team and was the venue earlier this month when Los Teros secured qualification for Rugby World Cup 2023 as Americas 1 following victory over USA.

¡Agendalo! Este es el fixture del Americas Pacific Challenge que se disputará en #Uruguay 👇 pic.twitter.com/pI5OdvjkGn

— U.R.U. (@RugbyUruguay) October 14, 2021

WHO’S WON IT?

Argentina XV won the first two editions in 2016 and 2017 with six victories out of six.

In the inaugural tournament, Argentina XV looked in danger of blowing a 17-0 lead but held on to win 27-26 in the decisive match against Fiji Warriors.

If that win was by the closest of margins, the second title came after Argentina XV won a thoroughly one-sided affair with Uruguay A, 82-7.

Felipe Contepomi’s side put on another masterclass of attacking rugby to run in 12 tries, including a first-half hat-trick for full-back Juan Cruz Mallía.

Samoa A ended Argentina XV’s dominance of the competition, inflicting a first-ever defeat on the young Los Pumas hopefuls before clinching the title with victories over Tonga A and Uruguay A.

The Americas Pacific Challenge was not staged in 2019 or 2020.

ANY FAMOUS GRADUATES?

Current US Eagles captain Bryce Campbell is a perfect example of how the Americas Pacific Challenge helped to turn relative unknowns into stars in the making. The strong-running centre got his first taste of representative rugby at the World Rugby Americas Pacific Challenge 2016, aged 22, and won the first of his 38 caps a month later.

Uruguayan number eight Manuel Diana made his test debut four months after representing the A team at the inaugural APC and has been a mainstay of Los Teros ever since. He scored a try in the famous 30-27 win over Fiji at Rugby World Cup 2019 and started both games against USA this month, which clinched qualification for France 2023.

Argentina winger Bautista Delguy is another who has made the player development pathway journey, from under-20s through to senior test honours, with his exposure to international-level rugby at the Americas Pacific Challenge an important step along the way.

Meanwhile, two of the nations not taking part this year, Canada and Fiji, have used the competition to good effect in the past.

Matt Heaton had only won a couple of caps off the bench when the Americas Pacific Challenge began and was playing lower league, semi-pro rugby in England with Darlington Mowden Park. The flanker has gone on to make 31 test appearances and become one of the most consistent performers in the Canada squad and was named co-captain on the July tour to England and Wales.

Back-row Mesulame Kunavula appeared for Fiji Warriors at the tournament as an uncapped player approaching his 21st birthday. Using the Americas Pacific Challenge as a launchpad, Kunavula lit up the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series before earning a professional pro 15s contract with Edinburgh. He then made his test debut against Georgia in the Autumn Nations Cup 2020, in his adopted home city, and started back-to-back tests against the All Blacks in July.

Read more: Future talent to the fore as the Americas Pacific Challenge returns in 2021 >>

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
20220525_002
3 min read

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
20220522_150
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
Global Partners
label.rwc7s2022.logo-alt-text
  • Rugby World Cup Limited © 2007 - 2022. All Rights Reserved.
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Cookies Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Rugby World Cup Sevens
  • World Rugby Media Zone
Website language
English
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • 日本語