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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
Rugby World Cup 2021
Wednesday 26 January, 2022
3 min read

Colombian Tucanes ready to walk the pathway to Rugby World Cup 2021

Led by new captain Leidy Soto, Colombia will play in Dubai next month in the Rugby World Cup 2021 Final Qualifying Tournament, facing one of their toughest challenges yet against Kazakhstan.
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The Colombian Tucanes have an incredible 2022 ahead of them. It begins in February against Spain A en route to Dubai, where they will play for the final available ticket to Rugby World Cup 2021 and will then continue with their appearance at Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 in Cape Town in September.

A key challenge will be the Final Qualifying Tournament, to be played at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai on 19 and 25 February.

Colombia were scheduled to play Scotland first in Dubai, but due to COVID-19 related travel restrictions, Samoa and Hong Kong – who had been expected to face Kazakhstan in a pre-tournament qualifier – have withdrawn.

As such, Colombia now play Kazakhstan for the right to face Scotland – seeded first as the highest competing team in the World Rugby Women’s Rankings powered by Capgemini as of 20 December, 2021 – in the final.

The winner of that final match will take their place in Pool A at RWC 2021, joining hosts New Zealand, Australia and Wales.

Las Tucanes will face a less experienced team than those in Kazakhstan, but one that will nonetheless pose a challenge.

Colombia reached this stage after beating Brazil on the South American road to qualification and then Kenya in Nairobi. Having beaten the Brazilians in an earlier international, they will start their tour unbeaten at international level.

The trip to Dubai will include a stop in Madrid where they will play against Spain’s second XV, an experience that will allow coach Raúl Vesga to measure the team against a highly competent opponent.

“The game in Madrid will give us a clearer idea of where we are,” said Vesga, in conversation with World Rugby.

Thirty players began working together in Medellín on 17 January. The women worked on reaching physical targets and individual technical goals for positioning skills during their summer holidays. They will then enter a secure bubble the week before travelling, on 1 February.

“Our men’s team was affected by COVID-19 when they arrived in Chile last year and had to cancel their RWC 2023 qualifying game,” recalled Vesga of the plight of Los Tucanes who did not get to play on the road to France 2023. “We are taking no chances.”

Leidy Soto, the new captain

Colombia will also have a new captain with centre-cum-winger Leidy Soto taking over the coveted position.

An original ‘Unstoppable’ in World Rugby’s global ‘Try and Stop Us’ campaign, Soto will replace Nicole Acevedo, who last year announced her retirement from the national team.

Soto was a youth Olympian in 2018 and has since become a member of both the sevens and 15s national teams.

"She is a very humble player who became a benchmark for women's rugby in Colombia. I'm very happy for her, I really want to support her and trust her," added Vesga about her new captain.

Regarding the departure of 2016 Olympian Acevedo, the team loses “a player who gave the group leadership, always motivating them to face any challenge, to trust what they have, to generate confidence in the players. Thanks to her, they believed it and that is why we have had good results."

Missing their Richie McCaw

“She was like our Richie McCaw, always leading the team forward. Obviously, she was an important player in the team’s structure,” said the national coach.

Playing Kazakhstan, a team that has played in six of the eight Rugby World Cups is uncharted territory for Colombia.

Having missed the 2017 tournament in Ireland, they will be keen to set the record straight.

Colombia’s women have never faced a challenge this big. They have worked hard on their defence, which they expect to play a big part.

Having done their homework in terms of analysing the Scots, they will need to readjust for their new opponents.

“We believe that it could be the formula; we have done a lot of work in this area,” Vesga said.

“The game is going to be based on what we can do well and what we have improved on from our last game against Kenya.”

Beating Kazakhstan won’t be easy at this stage of Las Tucanes’ development, though.

“We’ve got our sights on the next World Cup, not the short term. The warrior spirit our team has, has made the difference previously and allowed us to achieve good results

“More than beating Kazakhstan, we believe we can have a great game against them,” concluded Vesga.

READ MORE: Peris Mukoko aiming to use Scholarship platform to raise standards in Kenya and East Africa

Trending News Show all
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
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
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