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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
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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
#YouthUnstoppable
Friday 01 April, 2022
4 min read

Youth Unstoppable Kabita keen to be a “role model of rugby” in Bangladesh

Kabita, a member of the first Bangladesh women’s national sevens team, shares her inspirational story and hopes it will help convince more young women and girls in Bangladesh to take up sport.
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Youth Unstoppable Kabita is helping to change perceptions of women and sport in her home village in Bangladesh, thanks to her involvement with rugby.

Growing up in the Nilphamari Disctrict of Bangladesh, sport was not considered a suitable pastime for young women and girls, who were actively discouraged from taking part.

But, thankfully for Kabita, her family was “different”. Her parents encouraged their daughter to be active and that grounding in sport proved beneficial when she was called up to the first ever Bangladesh women’s sevens national team.

03:25 mins

Rugby has since enabled Kabita to travel, including by plane for the first time, and has become a central part of her life.

She is now keen to use her story to convince more young women and girls – and their families – of the benefits of sport, and particularly the oval-ball game.

“I have a big hope in rugby! I want to spread this game through my village, to the city and I want to be a good player, so that I can do the best for the country,” Kabita told World Rugby.

“My future planning is to participate as a role model of rugby inside and outside of my country.”

Becoming unstoppable

The seeds of Kabita’s new life as a Youth Unstoppable began when she was a child, growing up in Ungar Village.

Unlike many of their peers, her parents were happy for their daughter to play sport and empowered her to try many different ones, including athletics, cricket and football.

Kabita’s family celebrated her successes at school sports days and didn’t stand in her way when she needed to cycle 10-15km to attend practice.

Riding such distances was “difficult and unsafe” according to Kabita, but it enabled her to develop the athleticism that would come in handy when she started playing rugby in 2019.

“It was tough for Bangladeshi women to [play] sport and that's why I feel that I'm unstoppable,” she said.

The support of her parents was integral to giving her the confidence to follow her sporting ambitions.

“When I received prizes by getting top in school sports events, my parents felt proud and became so happy about it,” Kabita said. “They inspired me more to continue.”

National service

The next defining moment in Kabita’s sporting journey came three years ago when she was invited to take part in a trial for the Bangladesh women’s sevens team in Rangpur.

However, Ungar Village, where Kabita still lives, was suffering from severe flooding at the time and it was with a heavy heart that she made the decision to attend the trial.

“I was depressed when I went, because my family was suffering from the flood,” Kabita, whose father is a farmer, said.

Although she found it difficult to leave her village, once in Rangpur, she endeavoured to make the most of her opportunity.

Kabita had been summonsed due to her athletic abilities and was retained when the group was cut to 25 women and eventually selected in the final 12-player squad for the Asia Rugby Women’s Sevens Trophy.

“If Ferdous Sir didn't summon me, I might not have been able to get into this wonderful sport,” she said.

“I feel so amazing to play rugby where I've made so many good and crazy friends! I want to learn more about rugby, so that I can play well.

“Yes, I played cricket, football and athletics from my childhood. But there's a different feeling about rugby which I just can't describe with my words.”

Changing perceptions

Travelling to Indonesia for the Asia Rugby Women’s Sevens Trophy enabled Kabita to step foot on a plane for the first time, something she describes as “adventurous”.

On the pitch in Indonesia, Bangladesh played four matches and managed to draw against Chinese Taipei – a game in which Kabita scored her first international try.

“I was overwhelmed when I represented my country on the international platform for the very first time,” Kabita said.

“I became so happy when I scored!”

Kabita has since played for several club teams in Bangladesh and has racked up championship medals wherever she has gone.

She currently plays for Bangladesh ANSAR and VDP, but her aspirations for the future extend beyond the pitch.

The Youth Unstoppable wants to “become a better player on the field and a better human off the field” while also spreading the game’s message throughout her country.

“The mentality of people in the village is changing day by day. They're accepting it. I hope in the future it'll be more helpful for girls to join in sports,” Kabita said.

“I’m proud of what I’ve done to change my society’s thinking.

“What I can give to rugby is what matters to me the most! I love to play rugby and want to [help] my country shine in international tournaments.”

01:01 mins

Kabita was always grateful for the support her parents gave her as she chased her sporting ambitions growing up in the Nilphamari Disctrict of Bangladesh.

Their neighbours in Ungar Village did not believe women and girls should play sport. “But my family was different, fortunately,” Kabita said.

Her family encouraged her to try out different sports, including athletics, cricket and football, and celebrated her success when she won prizes at school sports days.

Kabita, in turn, was inspired by her parents to do more and would cycle 10-15km just to attend practice, something that she says was both difficult and unsafe.

The athleticism she had developed in her childhood came in handy in 2019 when she was invited to a trial for the Bangladesh women’s national sevens team.

Kabita was eventually selected to be part of the inaugural Bangladesh women’s sevens squad and flew by plane for the first time as the team travelled to Indonesia for the Asia Rugby Women’s Sevens Trophy.

During the tournament she scored a try as Bangladesh secured a draw against Chinese Taipei.

She has since thrown herself into rugby, representing several clubs while trying her hand at 15s as well as sevens, and adding several medals to her growing trophy cabinet. 

Kabita currently plays for the Bangladesh ANSAR and VDP women’s team and is eager to learn more about rugby and its values “to become a better player on the field and better human being off the field”.

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Following an exciting weekend in Langford we look at seven women’s stars who could light up Toulouse between 20-22 May.

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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.

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