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Latest News
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
1 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Fast rugby meets fast 5G as rain sponsors Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

World Rugby welcomes rain as an Official Sponsor of Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 in Cape Town.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Fri 1 July, 2022
1 min read
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Three
1 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Island Tribe to keep fans protected as the sun shines on Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Island Tribe has been appointed as an Official Supplier of Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 in Cape Town, as momentum continues towards the biggest showcase of the sevens game on the planet.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Thu 23 June, 2022
1 min read
World Rugby logo - one to use for generic releases
1 min read

RWC Sevens 2022

Match officials selected for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 in South Africa

World Rugby has announced the selection of match officials for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022, which takes place in Cape Town, South Africa, from 9-11 September.

RWC Sevens 2022

Fri 10 June, 2022
1 min read
HSBC France Sevens 2022 Women's
3 min read

RWC Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: 100 days to go

As the countdown to RWC Sevens 2022 heads into the final 100 days, we give you the lowdown on the showpiece tournament to get you excited for kick-off in Cape Town.

RWC Sevens 2022

Wed 1 June, 2022
3 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
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 Europe Championship
Thursday 16 December, 2021
3 min read

Netherlands want to close out 2021 with big performance against Spain

We speak to the Dutch head coach Zane Gardiner about what has been a rollercoaster year as well as looking ahead to the final test of 2021.
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The Netherlands’ return to the second-tier of international European rugby for the first time in 19 years has been a steep learning curve, but it’s been one that head coach Zane Gardiner feels Dutch rugby can look back on positively.

Defeats to Georgia, Portugal, Russia and Romania leave the Dutch bottom of the Rugby Europe Championship 2021, with 200 points conceded, as they prepare for what is the final test of the year against Spain on Saturday, 18 December.

It has been an emotional rollercoaster for everyone involved in Dutch rugby, from working through the challenges of COVID-19 to give the national team the best possible chance of success, to the play-off win against Belgium in May, and now to the lessons being handed to them by other established nations.

Gaining respect

“We are excited for Spain, we won’t have our overseas guys back, because it is outside the window, but that’s okay. As I said right from the start, this is about learning how to train and how to perform at Championship level and what it is actually like to play against these teams,” said Gardiner, a New Zealander by birth.

“It’s been brilliant to go to Romania, to be in that stadium, to meet Andy Robinson, and to talk to these guys and earn respect in some regards.

“Obviously the scoreboards haven’t been in our favour but that is something we are looking at now. We are managing to do things in patches, and the players are starting to build belief.”

For the Spain game, the Netherlands have stepped up preparations and will stay together in a hotel from Thursday through to game day.

Rubbing shoulders with the big boys has become serious business.

“Off-field preparation has improved, the players have taken on board that they have to be more accountable and you have to put a bit more in, you just can’t turn up and get the game plan and get away with it on your talent alone,” said Gardiner, a former semi-pro, dual-code player. 

“Physicality is the biggest thing that we are struggling with at the moment, it fatigues you way faster than if you were just running in tries.

“The scrums and lineouts and mauls and the one-on-one contact are draining, and the fast game that we want to play becomes a lot harder. You start losing the breakdowns, you start losing your one-on-one battles, guys aren’t cleaning rucks out because they are tired and the defence becomes tight and compact around the ruck because they can’t fan out; it is a sort of a snowball effect.

“We’re working on that now and getting help from World Rugby, on how to help the players with their strength and conditioning so that they can withstand the physicality but still play the rugby we want to play and enjoy.”

Specialist help

For the Netherlands, Rugby World Cup 2027 is something to aim for. 

World Rugby assessor, Phil Davies, who worked miracles with Namibia, has been helping the Dutch with their High Performance plan, while national team S&C coach, Emmanuel Peyrezabes, is being supported by Stade Francais S&C coach Ben Pollard, formerly of England and Saracens.

Saracens had the famed “Wolf Pack” defence and the Netherlands need some bite in that area themselves having conceded an average of 50 points per game.

“Manu is going to Paris to spend time with him and then Ben will come to the Netherlands to look at how we want to play, how we can implement this into the training, and how we can get the players physically capable of executing that.”

The Spain game gives the Netherlands an opportunity to open their Rugby Europe Championship account and go into the second year of the Rugby World Cup 2023 qualification cycle with some much-needed momentum.

“It’s about performing now, to push Spain and see how we can put pressure on them, and build some momentum because, funnily enough, Spain is our first game in February,” revealed Gardiner.

“We are working on our scheduling now because it is five games in seven weeks and we have never had anything like that before.”

Read more: France 2023: A Rugby World Cup with a positive impact >>

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Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
1 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Fast rugby meets fast 5G as rain sponsors Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

World Rugby welcomes rain as an Official Sponsor of Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 in Cape Town.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Fri 1 July, 2022
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HSBC London Sevens 2022
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HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

How the men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series title race will be decided in Los Angeles

We run through the permutations as four teams prepare for the HSBC LA Sevens with a shot at becoming 2022 Series champions.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Fri 1 July, 2022
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RWC 1995: trophy presentation
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RWC Sevens 2022

Francois Pienaar can’t wait for Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town

The former Springbok captain, who lifted the Webb Ellis Cup with South Africa at RWC 1995, is looking forward to welcoming the world's best sevens players to Cape Town in September.

RWC Sevens 2022

Fri 24 June, 2022
2 min read
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Olympic Games

Olympic Day: Countdown to Paris 2024 already under way

On the day that the world gets moving, World Rugby looks at the qualification pathway for the men’s and women’s sevens tournaments at the next Olympic Games.

Olympic Games

Thu 23 June, 2022
2 min read
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Three
1 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Island Tribe to keep fans protected as the sun shines on Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Island Tribe has been appointed as an Official Supplier of Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 in Cape Town, as momentum continues towards the biggest showcase of the sevens game on the planet.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Thu 23 June, 2022
1 min read
HSBC Rugby Sevens Hong Kong - Day 3
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Seven magnificent moments from the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens

Whet your appetite as the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series prepares to return to Hong Kong for the first time in more than three years this November.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Wed 22 June, 2022
4 min read
2022 - Brazil win Sudamérica Rugby 7s
2 min read

REGIONAL FOCUS: SOUTH AMERICA

As Yaras continue to dominate in South America

In winning their 20th consecutive Sudamérica Rugby Sevens tournament, Brazil continues to top the regional tables.

REGIONAL FOCUS: SOUTH AMERICA

Thu 16 June, 2022
2 min read
Australia v Fiji 2021 PacificAus Sports Oceania Sevens
2 min read

Oceania Rugby

Oceania Rugby seeks to provide “best preparation possible” for showpiece tournaments through regional competitions

Two regional tournaments will take place in Auckland in June and July to help teams prepare for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022, the Commonwealth Games 2022 and Rugby World Cup 2021.

Oceania Rugby

Thu 9 June, 2022
2 min read
Rob Vickerman Karl Tenana
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HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Rob Vickerman: Olympic qualification means “every second counts” in new World Series format

The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series commentator is already relishing what 2023 has to offer after a new blockbuster schedule was revealed on Tuesday, 31 May.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Thu 2 June, 2022
3 min read
HSBC France Sevens 2022 Women's
3 min read

RWC Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: 100 days to go

As the countdown to RWC Sevens 2022 heads into the final 100 days, we give you the lowdown on the showpiece tournament to get you excited for kick-off in Cape Town.

RWC Sevens 2022

Wed 1 June, 2022
3 min read
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