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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 Europe Women's Trophy
Tuesday 15 March, 2022
2 min read

Sweden beat Switzerland to wrap up “special” Rugby Europe Women’s Trophy title

Matilda Mahlberg and Maja Meuller each scored two of Sweden’s eight tries in Geneva, as Claire Cruikshank’s side claimed the 2021-22 Rugby Europe Women’s Trophy in style.
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Sweden coach Claire Cruikshank hopes her side’s Rugby Europe Women’s Trophy success can act as a springboard for female participation in the Scandinavian country.

The Swedes ran in eight tries to beat Switzerland 48-0 in Geneva on Saturday and wrap up the 2021-22 Women’s Trophy title with a perfect three wins from three.

Victory gave Sweden their first outright piece of 15s silverware, less than three years into Cruikshank’s reign as coach, which has been heavily disrupted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

🇨🇭 v 🇸🇪 | All over. It's a solid performance by Sweden women who are crowned 2022 winners of the Rugby Europe Trophy. 👏 pic.twitter.com/JVV3zn0WMM

— Rugby Europe (@rugby_europe) March 12, 2022

“I don’t even really know how to describe it,” Cruikshank told World Rugby.

“It’s no more than everyone deserves. I’m just absolutely chuffed about it and to do it in the way we did was even more special.”

Cruikshank and her assistant Tamara Taylor want their team to play a fast brand of rugby, and the players certainly started quickly at the Centre Sportif des Cherpines, crossing the whitewash four times in the opening 22 minutes.

Number eight Matilda Mahlberg provided two of those tries, and blindside flanker Maja Meuller went on to touch down twice herself, the second completing the scoring with around seven minutes to go.

“The first 10 minutes [of the second half], they put us under a lot of pressure, but it was really pleasing to see that we held out,” Cruikshank added.

“They were probably camped on our line for five minutes and we managed to not let them score.

“We were quite comfortable at that point, so it allowed us to give the extended squad a good amount of game time as well, which again was really pleasing to see.

“It just grows our depth. We had five players getting their first caps on Saturday and that's 18 first caps in our three games.”

“There’s a real positivity around the squad”

Celebrations following Saturday’s match were muted as Cruikshank and her players only had around an hour and a half together before they all had to head to the airport to board various flights back to Sweden, France and the UK.

On Monday morning, Cruikshank was back at her desk at the University of Edinburgh, where she works as Head of Performance Women’s Rugby, and she will soon shift her focus internationally to Sweden’s women’s sevens team.

She now hopes to harness the upbeat mood that has developed around the national set-up to help grow interest in rugby across Sweden.

“The amount of messages, the support on social media is something I don't think any of the players have experienced before,” she said.

“So, there's a real positivity around the squad, and what we want to do is build on that. So, how can we get more young girls playing? How can we get increased numbers at clubs? How can we support coaches better?

“And, you know, we've got a few ideas about how we can do that. But already the vibe and the positivity around the group is way higher than we've experienced before.”

Although Sweden’s Rugby Europe Women’s Trophy campaign came to end with Saturday’s win in Switzerland, Cruikshank is hopeful of organising a training match for the squad before the end of the season.

Looking further ahead, the former Scotland international is keen to help strengthen the age-grade structures in Sweden so there is a pipeline of talent for the senior team.

“I’m loving what I’m doing, and we’ve just started the journey,” she said. “I’m fully bought into what we’re doing here in Sweden.”

READ MORE: Women’s Six Nations 2022: Who plays who and when >>

(Photo credit: Sportsphoto.ch / DoddsiePhoto.ch)

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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