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
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
HSBC Sevens Series
Monday 10 January, 2022
3 min read

Malaga marks Wales' return to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Wales men return to HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series for the first time in two years in Malaga, on 21-23 January, with a Rugby World Cup Sevens winner back at the helm.
  • label.share.via_facebook_messenger
  • label.share.via_whatsapp
  • label.share.via_facebook
  • label.share.via_twitter
  • label.share.via_copy
    URL Copied

As a member of the Wales team that shocked the world and won Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009, newly-appointed WRU Head of Sevens Richie Pugh knows all about defying the odds.

So the 38-year-old was never going to balk at the challenge of reviving a Wales’ sevens programme that had been placed on hold during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pugh returned to Wales sevens duty at the start of the year, having originally left the WRU to take up a position as contact skills coach at the Ospreys, and has hit the ground running.

With Wales having not played in the World Series since Vancouver in March 2020 much needed to be done, but Pugh is confident that Wales can make a positive impression in the months ahead.

“From a staffing point of view, it has been a case of recruiting a whole new support staff, and because of the pandemic, players were in different environments,” he said.

“We are building our squad around the likes of Luke Treharne, Morgan Williams and Tom Williams who have been with GB on the recent World Series legs.

“You’ve also got boys that have played (Welsh) Premiership rugby and as well your young transitional regional boys who make the bulk of our squad.

“It has been a challenge to get that group together but we are training with 20 boys at the moment and it has been a decent start.”

Pugh will be assisted by former Wales Women’s Sevens coach, Nick Wakley, and Robin Sowden-Taylor. 

Sowden-Taylor won eight caps for Wales in 15s, from 2005-09 and until recently was working as Cardiff Rugby’s strength and conditioning coach.

#Dubai7s ✅

Malaga Sevens 🔜

The pools are now locked in 🔒

First up, the men’s ⤵️

Pool A: 🇿🇦 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇫🇯 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Pool B: 🇦🇺 ☘️ 🇯🇵 🇳🇿
Pool C: 🇦🇷 🇺🇸 🇪🇸 🇼🇸
Pool D: 🇫🇷 🇰🇪 🇨🇦 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 #HSBC7s pic.twitter.com/5ambIKn5Xe

— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) December 4, 2021

Busy year of sevens ahead

Wales line up alongside France, Kenya and Canada in Pool D in Malaga at the start of what promises to be a busy year with a Commonwealth Games to look forward to and potentially Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022, if the team secures one of the four regional qualification places.

First up though is the World Series and Pugh expects his team to grow as the season pans out.

“Two weeks of preparation isn’t a great deal of time from a physical point of view but I believe the longer we can keep this nucleus of players together, we can get better and better and push for top eight places and then podium finishes,” he said.

“We have to go in with the mindset that we are good enough to do that, and I believe we are.

“We are definitely capable of doing it but the reality is we are going to be undercooked for the first two tournaments. 

“Saying that, it is the same for a lot of teams in that transition period out of the Olympics cycle and the back-end of the pandemic.

“We have a great opportunity to start from scratch and push forward with the boys we’ve got.”

Still got the cheat code on hey? @joyce_jaz

Another magic score from the speedster🪄⚡️#HSBC7s | #Dubai7s | @GBRugbySevens pic.twitter.com/Bx4Co5RWw9

— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) December 3, 2021

Giving Joyce the stage she deserves 

Pugh is also overseeing the development of the Wales Women’s Sevens team, which includes the shining star of Welsh rugby, Jasmine Joyce.

Once Joyce and her dual-code team-mates have played at the delayed Rugby World Cup 2021 in 15s, their focus will turn to improving the fortunes of the sevens team.

Joyce recently experienced the World Series as a Great Britain player in back-to-back tournaments in Dubai but England, Scotland and Wales will compete as separate entities for the remainder of the Series.

As Wales women are not currently involved in the World Series, Joyce and her team-mates will have to make do with lower-level international rugby in Rugby Europe’s competition structure. Pugh says that is something they want to put right.

“The long-term picture is to get Wales Women in the World Series,” said the former Wales, Ospreys, Scarlets and Exeter flanker.

“Apart from the Olympic Games, our girls are missing out on that top-flight environment.

“We can’t rely on those two-year cycles for GB, we have to give her (Jas) a platform and the girls who want to be future Jas Joyces an opportunity to thrust themselves on that stage wearing the three feathers.”

Read more: A potted history of sevens at the Commonwealth Games >>

Trending News Show all
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
HSBC London Sevens 2022
3 min read

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
3 min read
RWC 1995: trophy presentation
2 min read

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
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
2 min read

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
3 min read

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
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