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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
HSBC Sevens Series - Dubai
Wednesday 24 November, 2021
5 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 kicks off in Dubai: What to expect

A dozen men’s teams and 10 women’s teams come together in the Middle East this weekend for the opening tournament of what promises to be a blockbusting year of rugby sevens.
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With Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 and the 2022 Commonwealth Games on the horizon, there is much for rugby sevens fans to look forward to in the next 12 months.

First up, though, is the new HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series which gets underway in Dubai this weekend and next before moving on to Malaga, the latest addition to the circuit, on 21-23 January.

🇦🇪 The Emirates #Dubai7s is 🔙 🔜

Check out the pools ahead of Friday and Saturday's action 🏉

🗞 Full story: https://t.co/nCZaXrrGbu#HSBC7s pic.twitter.com/jJbLqOunaQ

— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) November 23, 2021

While some teams recently took part in the truncated, two-tournament 2021 series in Canada in September, for others this is a new opportunity to lay down a marker and show they are in good shape to compete for medals when we get to the business end of this busiest of sevens seasons.

South Africa’s men and Great Britain’s women are the two teams with the most momentum behind them following their exploits in Vancouver and Edmonton. The Blitzboks stormed to victory in both tournaments to claim their third World Series title in five years and fourth overall, while Great Britain won the Fast Four tournament at both venues with some ease.

But with some of the sevens big guns back, including reigning Olympic champions Fiji, the Blitzboks know they face an altogether more difficult challenge if they are going to complete a hat-trick of tournament wins by mounting a successful defence of the Dubai title they won when it was last played in 2020.

Blitzboks have record run in their sights

Unfortunately for Neil Powell’s side, prolific winger Angelo Davids is still injured. Davids set a new individual try-scoring record for the Vancouver event with 10 tries, but fractured his hand in the final against Kenya and is still not fit enough to return.

Four other players who featured in Canada are also ruled out but the Blitzboks will be boosted by the presence of experienced duo of Branco du Preez and Impi Visser.

Du Preez is currently the Blitzboks’ most capped player with 75 tournaments to his name, which include 380 matches and a total of 1,355 points.

If South Africa enjoy a clean sweep of wins in the pool stages and then win their quarter-final, they’d match their ever World Series winning streak of 16 matches, set between 2008-09.

South Africa will be expected to compete with Great Britain for top spot in Pool C but, as everyone knows, sevens has a reputation for throwing up some surprise results.

Ireland impressed in reaching the Vancouver semi-finals and will be all the better for the experience, while Japan’s failure to secure qualification for RWC Sevens 2022 in Dubai last week makes them a dangerous opponent as they’ll still be smarting from the disappointment of losing their Asian crown to Hong Kong.

South Africa and Ireland have the honour of kicking off the men’s competition in World Series 2022 and the Blitzboks will need no reminding that they were held to a 19-19 draw the last time they met in Los Angeles in February 2020.

Captain's shoot ✅#Dubai7s is getting ever closer 🤩#HSBC7s pic.twitter.com/jD4PS4NeeX

— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) November 24, 2021

New era for Fiji’s men

As for Pool A, all eyes will be on double Olympic champions Fiji, who did not have the opportunity to compete in Canada. Head coach Gareth Baber has moved on and while it is something of a new era for the team, the skill levels in the squad will no doubt be as high as always, even with several changes of personnel.

Josua Vakurunabili and Waisea Nacuqu are the only players remaining from the gold medal-winning team at the Tokyo Olympics, with the absentees including Jerry Tuwai, the World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Decade. Tuwai will miss the Dubai double bill as he prepares for his wedding which is set to take place next month.

Australia, Canada and France will attempt to make it as uncomfortable as possible for Fiji in Pool A.

Pool B looks as wide open as any. After collecting the bronze medal in Tokyo, Argentina will have the respect of Kenya, USA and Spain.

Kenya finished second and third in Vancouver and Edmonton, while any USA squad containing legends of the game like Carlin Isles, Folau Niua, Martin Iosefo and Perry Baker – who have 221 tournament appearances between them – has to be feared. Meanwhile, don’t discount Spain, as they chase their 100th World Series win.

A joy to watch! 😍
⠀
A superb team try from @IrishRugby 🍀#HSBC7s pic.twitter.com/3HxcfJoJsz

— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) November 23, 2021

Women’s Series makes welcome return

With the entire HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series cancelled in 2021 due to COVID-19, Dubai, the traditional starting point to a new season, is more eagerly awaited than ever.

It has been 663 days since the last Women’s Sevens Series action, with New Zealand winning the Sydney Sevens on 2 February, 2020.

New Zealand’s absence from the line-up opens the door for a new winner to be crowned in Dubai. Of the 10 teams competing for silverware, only Australia have only won the Dubai title before.

Australia have named a new-look and youthful squad led by Demi Hayes but World Series regulars Sharni Williams, Charlotte Caslick and Dom Du Toit will provide invaluable experience.

Four teams have competed in a Cup final in Dubai but have never lifted the trophy, with Canada finishing second at each of the past two events, and USA, Russia, and South Africa all winning silver. South Africa are not involved this time around.

Given the make-up of the field and their past history at the event – three of their eight tournament titles have been won there, ordinarily 2016 Olympic champions Australia would start as strong favourites, but preventing France from topping Pool A will take some doing.

Silver medallists at the Tokyo Olympics, Les Bleues Sevens finished fourth on the 2020 Series, medaling once with bronze in Hamilton. They have been Cup semi-finalists in Dubai twice, in 2014 and 2015, but have never reached the Cup final at this location.

USA will fancy their chances, too, and while Emilie Bydwell is the new head coach, she has been heavily involved with the sevens programme for a number of years and knows the players well.

Joyce, the people's choice

Meanwhile, Fiji underlined their credentials as a force to be reckoned with by winning bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, at the expense of Great Britain, who join them in Pool B. as they make their Women’s World Series debut.

Having Jasmine Joyce on their side clearly marks down Great Britain as one to watch. The Welsh flyer was sensational in the Fast Four tournaments, top-scoring across both events, and can make something out of nothing in the blink of an eye.

With Great Britain only competing in Dubai, Joyce will want to make the most of her limited opportunities to impress on the World Series before returning to Wales duty.

Much could be riding on the outcome of the final fixture of pool play on Saturday when Fiji meet Great Britain, although Russia, Canada and Ireland are all capable of ripping up the Olympic formbook and going the distance themselves.

Read more: Olympic impact sees rugby sevens reach new audiences >>

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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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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
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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
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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