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Latest News
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
Dubai Emirates Airline Rugby Sevens 2021 - Men's
3 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Perfection, not silverware, the focus for South Africa and Selvyn Davids

We caught up with the Blitzboks star, who has helped guide his side to the top of the men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series standings as the countdown continues to their home Rugby World Cup Sevens.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 5 April, 2022
3 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
Super Rugby Pacific
Thursday 17 February, 2022
4 min read

Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika ready to shine in Super Rugby Pacific

World Rugby has backed the admission of the two teams into Super Rugby, with the Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika sharing a three-year funding package of £3.6 million.
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When captain Nemani Nagusa leads out the Fijian Drua against the New South Wales Waratahs on Friday it will end a long wait, and kickstart a new era for Super Rugby.

Six years after World Rugby’s Rugby Committee met in Suva to discuss ways to further support the game in the Pacific Islands, two teams from the region will feature in the southern hemisphere’s premier club competition.

A key priority within this strategy is to bridge the gap between local and international level rugby, raising competitiveness of the national teams and providing an alternative to overseas club careers for players.

Moana Pasifika, who like Fijian Drua have a partnership with Pacific Rugby Players, had been scheduled to get Super Rugby Pacific 2022 underway against the Blues, but the match was postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak in their squad.

If you're going to score a match-winner, make it special! 🤩@Fijian_Drua go coast to coast against Melbourne Rebels in their first-ever trial match ahead of #SuperRugbyPacific pic.twitter.com/76nCkhyuG7

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) February 15, 2022

That ensures Nagusa and his Drua team-mates will kick-off the new season when they take on the Waratahs at CommBank Stadium in Western Sydney.

“It means a lot to us in Fiji, especially for the Fijian spectators,” Nagusa said last week.

“Young Fijians who are playing in the local competitions, they can come and now have a team to work hard and try to get into to play against the world's best in a competition that we look up to and watched as a young kid growing up back at home.

“It means a lot and it's a huge opportunity. I'm really proud to be made captain and to be here as a Fijian.

“[The] first game against the Waratahs will force us to focus on the big plan the coaches have in place, it's a big chance to express ourselves and show Fijian players.”

Developing pathways

Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika will share the £3.6 million funding package from World Rugby over an initial three-year period, which was approved in March 2021. Both teams have received additional support from their respective unions and sponsors, while there has also been New Zealand government support for Moana Pasifika.

Having two teams in Super Rugby will enhance the player development pathway in the Pacific Islands and builds on the progress already achieved through the World Rugby Pacific Challenge and Pacific Combine.

Since its inception in 2018, 75 players have graduated from the Pacific Combine and 17 have gone on to represent the Pacific Islands on the world stage, including seven at Rugby World Cup 2019.  

Nine of the 40-strong Fijian Drua squad for Super Rugby Pacific 2022 have graduated from the Pacific Combine, including six named in the match-day 23 to face the Waratahs.

Second-row Isoa Nasilasila and scrum-half Simione Kurovoli will start while Mesulame Dolokoto, Viliame Rarasea, Vilive Miramira and Caleb Muntz have been named on the bench. Samoa international and ex-Western Force and Brumbies player Henry Stowers is the sole graduate featuring within the Moana Pasifika playing squad.

Coached by former Australia, New Zealand and Scotland skills coach Mick Byrne, the Drua have picked a squad for the season made up largely of locally based talent with an average age of 25.

The squad has been recruited primarily from the on-island Academy and Fiji’s domestic competition, the Skipper Cup, with three Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games gold medallists in Meli Derenalagi, Napolioni Bolaca and Kalione Nasoko included alongside Fiji eligible players involved in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship.

While only two players have previous Super Rugby experience, 10 have already represented Fiji on the international stage and 26 are already captured for the Flying Fijians. The team has been based in Lennox Head on the northern New South Wales coast ahead of their first season in Super Rugby, which has helped to create relationships and a culturally sensitive team environment as well as enable coaches to develop the technical, tactical and physical aspects of what is an inexperienced squad.

Fijian Drua will play ‘home’ matches at stadiums in Brisbane and Sydney while they are scheduled to take on the Highlanders in Suva on 30 April.

In 2017, World Rugby fully financially supported the Drua’s entry into Australia’s National Rugby Championship (NRC) and the team won the title in only their second season in the competition.

London Irish forward Albert Tuisue and Northampton Saints scrum-half Frank Lomani have used the NRC as a springboard to full test honours, and the current squad highlighted their own potential with an impressive 28-26 defeat of Melbourne Rebels in their only pre-season match.

EXCLUSIVE ACCESS 👀

Watch the moment Sekope Kepu found out he was going to lead Moana Pasifika for the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific season 🏉🌊

The moment was a complete surprise for him and the emotion was felt throughout the room 🧡💙

🎥: @skysportnz pic.twitter.com/91yaDrJXjv

— Moana Pasifika Rugby (@MoanaPasifika_) February 2, 2022

“They fly in every day at training and they've displayed their willingness to dig in,” Byrne said of his players. “It's been a battle for them.

“We've trained probably harder than they've ever done in their lives, so they're being asked to do a lot and they just get up and keep coming.”

Channelling Pasifika culture

Although Moana Pasifika will have to watch on as Super Rugby Pacific gets underway this weekend, their preparation has been no less committed.

Coached by former All Blacks centre Aaron Mauger, the team will be captained by former Australia prop, and test centurion, Sekope Kepu.

Moana Pasifika’s squad is packed full of Samoa and Tongan internationals with 31 of the 38-strong squad eligible for one of the two nations, highlighting the primary focus of aligning with the pathways of Lakapi Samoa and the Tonga Rugby Union.

The squad also features a Fijian in Timoci Tavatavanawai, a player eligible for the Cook Islands in Alex McRobbie and several Australia and New Zealand-born players with Pasifika heritage, such as Kepu and his former Wallabies team-mate Christian Lealiifano.

The team’s mission statement is to empower Pasifika people and culture around the world, and the players have clearly taken that message to heart.

What it means for them to represent Moana Pasifika was evident in the scenes, shared on social media, that greeted the announcement that Kepu would serve as captain this season.

“There is a lot of cultural emotion in everything that’s happened, but it’s learning to channel that,” Kepu said after the team’s pre-season loss to the Chiefs.

“If we can marry the two together in a good mix, that we’re not getting too carried away with emotions that you don’t know your job when we roll in there, then that can sort of hinder and blind you.

“But, if we can do them both nicely, then I can tell you the team culture and morale is unbelievable, so now it’s just about getting those guys to hit the two together.”

READ MORE: Ben Gollings piecing the puzzle together as he attempts to maintain Fiji’s sevens success >>

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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
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Madagascar qualify for rugby world cup sevens
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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
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 Canada Women's Sevens 2022
7 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia clinch overall 2022 series title while late Lily Dick try gives them Cup win in Langford

Hosts Canada took fifth place while Ireland flyer Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe bagged 12 tries as they won bronze in the HSBC Canada Sevens in Langford.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Mon 2 May, 2022
7 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
5 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia edge towards HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series glory in Langford as New Zealand provide thrills on return

Australia are closing in on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series title after a perfect start to the penultimate event of the season in Canada, while the Black Ferns came back with a bang at the Starlight Stadium.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Sun 1 May, 2022
5 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
3 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Captains on top of the world ahead of the HSBC Canada Women's Sevens in Langford

The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series returns to the home of Rugby Canada after a 1,083 day break as Australia look to clinch their first Series title since to 2018.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Fri 29 April, 2022
3 min read
Santiago Gómez Cora
5 min read

rugby sevens

Santiago Gómez Cora: “You have to be patient, trust a lot and do the hard work”

World Rugby caught up with Los Pumas Sevens coach about Argentina’s recent win in the HSBC Canada Sevens and what it means to him going forward.

rugby sevens

Thu 28 April, 2022
5 min read
Charlotte Caslick
3 min read

HSBC Sevens Series

Series title within Australia’s reach as the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series returns to Langford

We spoke to Australia co-captain Charlotte Caslick about her team's mindset heading into this weekend's HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series stop in Langford knowing they can wrap up the series title.

HSBC Sevens Series

Wed 27 April, 2022
3 min read
Global Partners
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