Global Partners
Global Partners
label.rwc7s2022.logo-alt-text label.rwc7s2022.logo-alt-text label.rwc7s2022.logo-alt-text
Listen Live
  • Get Tickets
  • Video
  • News
  • Teams
  • Get Tickets
  • Video
  • News
  • Teams
  • Venue
  • Qualifying
  • 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
Rugby World Cup 2021
Wednesday 24 November, 2021
4 min read

Excitement builds for Rugby World Cup 2021 following enthralling test window

As the end-of-year women’s test window draws to a close we look at what it could mean on the road to RWC 2021.
  • label.share.via_facebook_messenger
  • label.share.via_whatsapp
  • label.share.via_facebook
  • label.share.via_twitter
  • label.share.via_copy
    URL Copied

With less than one year to go until Rugby World Cup 2021, playing in 2022, kicks off in New Zealand, it was fitting that October and November featured a packed schedule of women’s test matches.

Eight of the 11 teams that have qualified for next year’s showpiece tournament were in action across four weekends as bragging rights, as well as World Rugby Women’s Rankings powered by Capgemini rating points, were on the line from Pau to Edinburgh, via Glendale.

It was England who were the big winners of the end-of-year window, scoring 239 points and conceding just 39 to win four successive matches and consolidate their place at the top of the Women’s Rankings.

BUY YOUR RWC 2021 OPENING MATCH DAY PASS >>

The first two of those victories came against RWC 2021 hosts – and defending champions – New Zealand, both by record margins, which should stand the Red Roses in good stead less than 12 months out from the tournament.

Coach Simon Middleton was able to rotate his squad during October and November. Only Zoe Aldcroft and Abby Dow started all four matches while the likes of Holly Aitchison, Heather Cowell, Sadia Kabeya and Maud Muir impressed on debut.

It will not have escaped the attention of the Red Roses’ Women’s Six Nations and Rugby World Cup rivals, either, that England stretched their winning run to 18 matches without the team’s most dangerous player, Emily Scarratt.

“We've shown what's possible when you back the girls and you're given the resources and you put them in the right environment,” Middleton said following England’s 89-0 defeat of the USA on Sunday.

Aldcroft, captain against the Women’s Eagles, added: “We're not going to stop until we're perfect. We're never going to get perfect in a game of rugby. We're never going to stop working towards that.”

France send strong message

If the Black Ferns were looking for some respite with back-to-back matches in France, they didn’t find it as the hosts made it four wins in a row against the five-time world champions.

Magnifique!

It's a victory to savour for @FranceRugby over the @BlackFerns 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/JeERH7iNRY

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) November 20, 2021

Les Bleues had warmed up for the two-test series with victory against South Africa and made sure of a perfect November with 38-13 and 29-7 wins against New Zealand, in front of vociferous crowds in Pau and Castres respectively.

“We wanted to send a strong message to our opponents to show them that we will have to be counted on,” France captain Gaëlle Hermet said. 

“We wanted consistency in our performance. I think the goal is achieved.”

Although the Black Ferns will return home from a European tour winless for the first time since 2012, both coach Glenn Moore and captain Les Elder insisted there were reasons for hope.

Moore handed 13 players their test debuts in England and France, and Elder said the experience the squad had gained across the last four weekends would prove invaluable in the lead-up to RWC 2021.

“The more we expose them to this level, the more they'll know about what they need to do,” she said.

“That's been a huge positive and understanding that level of detail with their coaching they might not get in their provincial unions.”

Ireland will not be in New Zealand but put the disappointment of failing to qualify for RWC 2021 behind them as they beat the USA and Japan on consecutive weekends.

Following a hard-fought 15-12 defeat of Japan in Dublin on Saturday, the team’s captain Ciara Griffin bid an emotional farewell to the international game.

“That was a lovely way to go out and I will take a lot of solace from that. I want to relish this moment,” Griffin said, having helped Ireland overturn a nine-point deficit.

“I’m immensely proud”

Japan’s place at RWC 2021, where they will play Canada, USA and Italy in Pool B, was confirmed last month and they will have learned a lot from their three matches in Europe.

Following a 23-5 defeat to Wales, the Sakura 15s led Scotland and Ireland at half-time – 12-10 and 12-3 respectively – before being overhauled in both matches.

Wales, meanwhile, who have been drawn in Pool A alongside the Black Ferns, Australia and the winner of the Final Qualification Tournament at RWC 2021, beat South Africa 29-20 but were denied a clean sweep in November by Canada.

The hosts had not tasted victory for almost two years prior to their win against Japan but led Canada 7-0 at half-time in Cardiff before the visitors rallied to win 24-7.

“I'm immensely proud of the girls and how far we've come in just a short space of time,” Wales captain Siwan Lillicrap said.

Canada had begun the month by ushering in a new era for women’s rugby when they faced the USA in the inaugural match of the World Rugby Pacific Four Series in Glendale.

Sandro Fiorino’s side made sure of North American bragging rights – and laid down a marker for their meeting in Pool B at RWC 2021 – by beating their hosts 15-9 and 26-13 at Infinity Park.

Canada’s only blemish in November came during a 51-12 loss to England. But there were positives for coach Fiorino to take in defeat, having watched his side cause their hosts problems for the first hour at Twickenham Stoop.

“I’m very impressed with the resiliency our players showed [against Wales],” Fiorino said. “I’m happy we were able to end this run of fixtures with a positive result.”

South Africa, who secured their first win of November when they beat England U20 38-5 in London, will end their European tour with a match against the Barbarians on Saturday.

How valuable the lessons learned over the past four weekends prove will only become clear in New Zealand next October. But Scotland will hope they can maintain the momentum from victory against Japan, their third in a row, into February’s RWC 2021 Final Qualification Tournament.

With just one ticket to New Zealand still up for grabs, the countdown to RWC 2021 is well and truly on.

READ MORE: Dates confirmed for RWC 2021 Final Qualification Tournament >>

Trending News Show all
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
2018 Commonwealth Games women's final
3 min read

Commonwealth Games

All the build-up to rugby sevens at the Commonwealth Games 2022

Now that the line-ups are complete in both the men’s and women’s tournaments, we take a look at who has won gold in the past and the sides competing to add their names to the roll call of honour in July.

Commonwealth Games

Wed 11 May, 2022
3 min read
Madagascar qualify for rugby world cup sevens
4 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Discipline and hard work at the heart of Madagascar's success on the road to Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

The Madagascar women's sevens team has achieved their historic dream of qualifying for a Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament for the first time. At the heart of this achievement lies a lot of hard work, determination and discipline.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Wed 11 May, 2022
4 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Seven women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series players to watch in Toulouse

Following an exciting weekend in Langford we look at seven women’s stars who could light up Toulouse between 20-22 May.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Thu 5 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
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