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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
RWC 2021
Tuesday 08 February, 2022
4 min read

Your guide to Rugby World Cup 2021 Final Qualification Tournament

Everything you need to know about this month’s tournament in Dubai.
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Later this month, Scotland, Kazakhstan and Colombia will be competing in Dubai for the 12th and final ticket to New Zealand to compete in Rugby World Cup 2021.

Here’s the lowdown on the make-or-break tournament.

🗣 "They deserve that opportunity to go to Dubai and hopefully get us over that final hurdle"

Bryan Easson talks through his Scotland squad selection for this month’s @rugbyworldcup 2021 Final Qualification Tournament.

Full Interview: https://t.co/X9OkHgCec0 pic.twitter.com/kQekAAakb7

— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) February 2, 2022

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

A place in Pool A at the delayed Rugby World Cup 2021. The Final Qualification Tournament winner will join hosts New Zealand, Australia and Wales.

WHAT’S THE FORMAT?

Asian representatives Kazakhstan meet South American qualifiers Colombia in the semi-final at The Sevens Stadium with the winner going forward to play top seeds Scotland in a one-off match to determine the final qualifier.

The semi-final takes place on Saturday, 19 February (kick-off 16:30 local time / 12:30 GMT), while the final is on Friday, 25 February, (kick-off 19:00 local time / 15:00 GMT).

HOW DID THEY GET THIS FAR?

Scotland earned their place in Dubai after a last-gasp victory over Ireland saw them finish as runners-up to Italy in the RWC 2021 Europe Qualifier in Parma in September.

Colombia defeated African challengers Kenya 16-15 in a play-off in Nairobi at the end of August, in what was their first international since March 2020, while Kazakhstan automatically qualified after the Asia Rugby Championship was cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

WHO ARE FAVOURITES?

According to the formbook and the World Rugby Women’s Rankings powered by Capgemini, Scotland are favourites to progress through to their first Rugby World Cup since 2010.

The Scots are currently ranked at an all-time high of ninth – some six places higher than Kazakhstan and 17 more than Colombia.

WHAT’S THE FORM OF THE TEAMS?

Scotland are on a three-game winning run after victories over Spain (27-22), Ireland (20-18) and Japan (36-12).

Kazakhstan have not played test rugby since 2019 when they drew their series with China one match apiece to remain in the hunt for RWC 2021, so are a bit of an unknown quantity.

Colombia are also short of game time having not had a run out since that victory in Nairobi, although they will play Spain A in a warm-up match on Thursday, 10 February.

HAVE ANY OF THE TEAMS BEEN TO A RUGBY WORLD CUP BEFORE?

Scotland have competed in five tournaments since their first appearance in 1994 when they hosted the event and achieved a best-ever finish of fifth. Their last appearance, however, was in 2010.

Kazakhstan have a rich Rugby World Cup pedigree, too, competing in six consecutive tournaments from 1994 through to 2014 with a best finish of ninth, achieved on two occasions in 1994 and 1998.

Rugby World Cup 2021 would be Colombia’s first tournament.

WHERE CAN I WATCH IT?

The RWC 2021 Final Qualification Tournament will be live-streamed across World Rugby and RWC 2021 digital and social platforms.

HOW ARE THE SQUADS SHAPING UP?

Loughborough Lightning forward Rachel Malcolm will lead an experienced Scotland squad that boasts 629 caps in total, 337 of them in the pack and 292 in the backs.

Malcolm's Loughborough team-mate, Emma Wassell, is the most-capped player with 51 appearances, closely followed by barnstorming number eight and trained firefighter, Jade Konkel (48), fellow forward Lana Skeldon (47) and playmaker Sarah Law (47).

Head coach Bryan Easson includes two uncapped players in Edinburgh University pair, Eva Donaldson and Meryl Smith, while Inverness-born Caity Mattinson is in line to win her first cap for Scotland after making seven international appearances for England.

Colombia are captained by Leidy Soto. One of the original World Rugby ‘Unstoppables’, Soto has taken over the captaincy from Nicole Acevedo, who led Las Tucanes to the 16-15 victory against Kenya in Nairobi that confirmed their place in Dubai.

The 29-player squad contains three players who appeared at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Alejandra Betancur, Camila Lopera and Isabel Romero.

Lopera, Romero and Soto, meanwhile, are among eight women included who played in the World Rugby Sevens Repechage in Monaco last June.

After her match-winning exploits against Kenya in Nairobi, Colombia will look to exciting winger Maria Isabel Arzuaga to give them a cutting edge out wide. Arzuaga scored all 16 of her side’s points in that win over the Lionesses.

Unlike Scotland and Colombia, Kazakhstan’s squad contains players with previous Rugby World Cup experience.

Lyudmila Sherer, the most-capped player with 30 appearances, Veronika Stepanyuga, Nigora Nurmatova, Kundyzay Baktybayeva, Balzhan Koishybayeva and Natalya Kamendrovskaya have all competed on the game’s greatest stage.

Centre Alina Askerova and full-back Yekaterina Kamenkova scored tries in Kazakhstan’s last outing, a 15-0 win over China in 2019, and are also included in the touring party.

All bar three of the squad come from Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest metropolis.

FINAL QUALIFICATION TOURNAMENT SQUADS:

Colombia

Alejandra Betancur, Angela Alzate Moncada, Natalia Barajas, Ailyn Carolina Andrioly Gonzalez, Maribel Mestra, Julieth Tatiana Hernandez, Laura Valentina Alvarez Silva, Catalina Arango, Yamileth Andrea Ramirez Agudelo, Camila Lopera, Laura Mejia, Valentina Tapias, Valeria Muñoz Cuartas, Isabel Romero, Leidy Soto (captain), Maria Isabel Arzuaga, Leidy García, Yina Marcela Quintero Verjel, Annagith Marsellis Vargas Torres, Juliana Soto, Gales Daian Avendaño, Gisel Tatiana Gomez Gomez, Silvia Juliana Olave Garrido, Lizbeth Joanna Brant Restrepo, Maira Alejandra Martínez, Maira Atonia Cortes, María Camila Castrillón, Angie Manyoma, Gloribeth Campos.

Kazakhstan

Veronika Stepanuyga, Nigora Nurmatova, Alina Askerova, Daiana Kazibekova, Galina Krassavina, Yekaterina Kamenkova, Kundyzay Baktybayeva, Anzhelika Pichugina, Akzharkynay Zholdaspayeva,  Balzhan Koishibayeva, Darya Tkachyova, Lyudmila Sherer, Karina Sazintova, Natalya Kamendrovskaya, Liliya Kibisheva, Adina Makhsutova, Moldir Ashkat, Xeniya Kim, Alyona Drobovskaya, Milana Alayeva, Svetlana Malezhina, Blazhan Akhbayeva, Darya Simakova, Anastassiya Khodus, Yekaterina Ardashirova, Anna Melnikova, Amina Tulegenova, Diana Abisheva, Yelena Yurova, Svetlana Obukhoya.

Scotland:

Forwards: Leah Bartlett, Christine Belisle, Sarah Bonar, Lisa Cockburn, Katie Dougan, Eva Donaldson, Evie Gallagher, Jade Konkel, Rachel Malcolm (captain), Rachel McLachlan, Louise McMillan, Lyndsay O’Donnell, Lana Skeldon, Emma Wassell, Molly Wright, Anne Young.

Backs: Shona Campbell, Megan Gaffney, Coreen Grant, Sarah Law, Rhona Lloyd, Caity Mattinson, Jenny Maxwell, Mairi McDonald, Musgrove, Helen Nelson, Chloe Rollie, Meryl Smith, Lisa Thomson, Evie Wills.

Read more: Rugby World Cup is “the biggest prize” – Paula Chalmers >>

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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
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HSBC France Sevens 2022 Men's
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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
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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
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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
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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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