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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
RWC Sevens 2022 qualification
Thursday 18 November, 2021
4 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 places on the line in Dubai

Defending men’s and women's champions Japan are expecting a tough challenge at this weekend’s (19-20 November) crunch Asia Rugby Sevens Series tournament.
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The Asia Rugby Sevens Series returns after a two-year wait in Dubai this weekend with four places at Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 available to the top two sides in both the men’s and women’s standalone tournaments.

Teams from across the region will be vying to be crowned Asian champions as well as confirming their place in the Cape Town extravaganza next year.

Champions of the recently concluded West Asia Rugby Sevens and hosts UAE have been drawn alongside seven-time Asia Rugby Sevens Series winners Japan together with Sri Lanka and China in Pool B of the men’s qualifiers. Pool A boasts of Asian powerhouses Korea, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Malaysia.

In the women’s qualifiers, Pool A will comprise Japan, Kazakhstan, Thailand and the Philippines, while Pool B features China, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.

Each team will play a total of three matches in the round-robin format before entering the knock-out stage. The two teams that get to the final will confirm their place in Cape Town.

Japan are reigning Asian men’s and women’s champions and will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing showing at their home Olympics.

2️⃣ Days to Go
Asia Rugby Catches up with Johnny Fa'auli Captain 🇯🇵Japan 7s

Dialog Asia Rugby Sevens Series 2021
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 - Asian Qualifier
🇦🇪🇯🇵🇭🇰🇰🇷🇹🇭🇨🇳🇲🇾🇰🇿🇵🇭🇱🇰#Rugby7s #AsiaRugby #Rugby #WorldRugby #AsiaRugby #RWC7s@JRFUMedia @WorldRugby @WorldRugby7s pic.twitter.com/dZWjBDQq2y

— Asia Rugby (@asiarugby) November 17, 2021

Restoring pride

Neither the men’s and women’s teams won a game and Sakura Sevens captain and Olympian Yume Hirano says her team are in a determined mood.

“We’ll go out to win the title as the Asian champions and win back the pride of the Sakura Sevens,” she said.

“We have players who played at the Olympics in the squad as well as the new members, but we will play as a unit to challenge our opponents who can be bigger in size and fleet of foot.

“Each one of us on the squad can show their abilities and put it all together for the benefit of the team.

“From my experience in Asia, it is important to play with a strong mentality and with attention to the small details in the Asian Series.”

Changing of the guard

Koichi Umeda, interim head coach for men’s sevens Japan, has warned his team to expect a tough challenge.

“When I look back at the records in Asia over the last three years from 2017 to 2019, Japan lost five times to Asian sides, namely Korea, China and Hong Kong.

“That indicates the rapid development of rugby in Asia. You see Hong Kong finished in the last eight at Edmonton and UAE beat Russia three out of four in their training matches recently. Japan is no longer in first place in Asia, and that’s something I have to tell the players as well.

“This is the first tournament for Japan to take part in after our disappointing showing at the Olympics. In our squad, we have so many players who are new to an international tournament and/or the sevens game, but I am hoping that we can show our fans a style of rugby that suits our players.

“This is a very young team but is developing to be a good team with a positive attitude and aggressiveness.”

Welcome Team Malaysia

Dialog Asia Rugby Sevens Series 2021
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 - Asian Qualifier
🇦🇪🇯🇵🇭🇰🇰🇷🇹🇭🇨🇳🇲🇾🇰🇿🇵🇭🇱🇰#Rugby7s #AsiaRugby #Rugby #WorldRugby #AsiaRugby pic.twitter.com/mRypn3aYPH

— Asia Rugby (@asiarugby) November 18, 2021

Qualification would be “absolutely everything”

Like Japan, Korea failed to win any of their pool games at the Olympics, scoring just 10 and conceding 148 in the process.

But Korean rugby was still a winner, in the eyes of the public back home. Now coach Charlie Louw wants his team to keep the momentum going with qualification for RWC Sevens 2022.

“It would be absolutely everything, it is something we are aiming for, but we know it is going to be tough. There are a lot of good teams out there, you have got Japan, China, Hong Kong … and we have got them first up. 

“Hong Kong is obviously looking to get revenge from us for the 2019 final for the Olympic qualifiers (when Korea won in sudden-death, extra-time). But we have prepared well, and anything can happen in sevens, that’s the beauty of the game, you have just got to be patient and disciplined and who knows what can happen.”

Olympians make up around 70 per cent of Korea’s squad and Louw hopes the current squad can continue to inspire the next generation.

“The Olympics is an unbelievable experience, I was blown away by the amazing athletes I saw, not just in rugby but in all sports, you’ve got the best of the best,” he said.

“From a rugby perspective, it elevated rugby’s status in Korea from just an arbitrary sport to a sport of interest. It has had unbelievable media coverage and following from people.

 “Even though the results weren’t what people were hoping for, just the way the players played and the enthusiasm they had for the game sparked a fire for the younger generation. And those players, the 17/18-year-olds are now looking at the Olympics in Paris and in LA.

“I think in general the Olympics has been a huge boost for rugby in Korea and hopefully we can keep building on it.”

As winners and runners-up of the women’s Sudamérica Rugby Sevens, Brazil and Colombia became the first teams to qualify for the tournament. But it would take a brave person to predict who will be joining them from Asia this weekend.

Read more: Seven of the best players in Rugby World Cup Sevens history >>

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HSBC Canada Sevens 2022
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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.

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Thu 26 May, 2022
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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
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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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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
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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
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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