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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 2023 qualification
Friday 18 March, 2022
5 min read

Day of destiny beckons for Rugby World Cup 2023 hopefuls Romania

Andy Robinson's team can clinch a place at the Final Qualification Tournament for Rugby World Cup 2023 with victory over the Netherlands in their final Rugby Europe Championship 2022 fixture in Amsterdam this weekend.
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The European qualification process for Rugby World Cup 2023 finally comes to an end in Amsterdam this Saturday with Romania looking to secure the win that will enable them to take the next step on the journey to France.

Victory over the Netherlands would guarantee them third place in the combined 2021 and 2022 Rugby Europe Championship standings behind Georgia and Spain and see the Oaks enter into the Final Qualification Tournament in November.

The Africa Cup runner-up, the Asia/Pacific Play-off loser and the Americas 2 play-off loser (USA/Chile) will then compete with the European representative for the 20th and final ticket to France 2023.

🏆 The @rugby_europe Championship may be coming to a close, but there's still a Final Qualification Tournament place to be decided #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/a8QtBTtAsL

— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) March 14, 2022

Romania have beaten Russia (34-25) and Portugal (37-27) in the 2022 Championship while losing to Spain (38-21) and Georgia (36-23).

“We make the trip to Amsterdam, fully focussed on performing well against a vastly improving young Netherlands team,” said Romania head coach Andy Robinson.

“The Netherlands have caused many problems to opposition defences with their fluent attacking game, but just lacked the execution in the final third of the pitch.

“Last weekend against Georgia was our best performance of the year, so despite the disappointing loss, the squad come into this final game full of confidence.

“Our goal of RWC 2023 qualification is still alive so there is a lot for the team to play for.”

Oaks change six, while Dutch veteran prepares to bow out

Romania will climb back above USA into 17th place in the World Rugby Men’s Rankings powered by Capgemini with victory over the Netherlands.

Robinson has made six personnel and two positional changes to his starting line-up for the trip to Amsterdam.

Vasile Balan shifts across to loose-head with Costel Burtila promoted from the bench to start at tight-head. Elsewhere in the pack, captain Mihai Macovei shifts to blindside with Andre Gorin back at number eight

In the backs, fly-half Daniel Plai will partner Gabriel Rupanu at half-back with Vladut Popa and Hinckley Vaovasa forming a new centre pairing

With Marius Simionescu injured, Paul Popoaia comes onto the left wing to join Ionut Dumitru and Ionel Melinte in the back three.

Having recently said farewell to former national team captain Dirk Danen a few weeks ago, the Netherlands hand a swansong appearance to another veteran in Storm Carroll.

The 37-year-old is set to win his 38th and final cap for the Dutch and will retire as his country’s second most-capped player behind Hugo Langelaan if he is called up from the bench.

Netherlands coach Zane Gardiner has retained only six players from their last starting line-up, including the back three of Daan van der Avoird, Jordy Hop and Te Campbell.

Prop Hugo Langelaan goes again and is joined in the front row by brothers Mark and Andrew Darlington.

Koen Bloemen and Marijn Huis form the second-row partnership with Louis Bruinsma and Niels van der Ven joining Spike Salman in the back row

Caleb Korteweg and David Weersma will start at half-back with captain Bart Wierenga joined by Daily Limmen in the centres.

Kieran Hogg and Blake Nightingale are both set for their first appearances of the 2022 Championship, the former having last played for the Dutch in March 2019.

Romania have won all eight previous encounters against the Dutch, by an average winning margin of 37 points, so anything other than an away win would be a major shock. But if the Dutch do break their duck and win, they will move up to 25th place in the rankings at Russia’s expense.

The Netherlands have lost all eight matches played since returning to the Rugby Europe Championship in 2021 after a 19-year absence and are only kept off the bottom of the table by Russia.

It’s all on the line in Madrid

Fans of the Rugby Europe Championship will have to wait until Sunday to find out if there is to be a new name on the trophy as Spain and Georgia, the two most recent qualifiers for Rugby World Cup 2023, meet in Madrid.

Spain have never won the Rugby Europe Championship before, while Georgia will be intent on maintaining their monopoly of the competition with a fifth straight title.

Spain currently topping the standings with 17 points, two more than Georgia, and it should be a full-blooded encounter with both teams in form and silverware on the line.

Los Leones are on a six-game winning streak dating back to November 2021 and Georgia are unbeaten in 23 matches so something has to give.

The Lelos have won their last 10 meetings with Spain, dating back to a 25-18 loss in Madrid on 11 February, 2012, and if they make that 11, they will move above Samoa and into 12th place in the rankings.

Georgia coach Levan Maisashvili has made four changes to his starting line-up, all of them in the forwards

Guram Gogichashvili gets the nod at loosehead in a front row featuring Shalva Mamukashvili and Beka Gigashvili, while Nodar Cheishvili will start alongside Konstantine Mikautadze in the second row

Beka Saginadze is the only player retained in the back row with Otar Giorgadze and Beka Gorgadze coming into the team. It will be Gorgadze’s first appearance for Georgia since the 15-15 draw with Fiji in November

Spain, who announce their match-day squad on Friday, will climb to a new record high of 14th if they beat the Lelos for only the fourth time in history – as long as Italy don’t win their final Six Nations 2022 encounter against Wales the day before.

Los Leones will be the highest-ranked nation in the Rugby Europe Championship if they beat Georgia by more than 15 points, lifting them above the Lelos into 13th. This would be the first time since November 2013 that Georgia have not been the competition's leading team in terms of the rankings.

Top two go head-to-head in Trophy

There is also a top-of-the-table match to look forward to in the Rugby Europe Trophy as leaders Poland take on Belgium.

Poland have won all three of their fixtures to date and are on 12 points, one more than Belgium who lost to Switzerland in their most recent game back in the third tier of European competition

Poland will be the higher-ranked of the two nations if they beat the Black Devils, climbing as high as 27th. Belgium could fall as low as 31st if the margin of defeat is more than 15 points

Defeat would cost unbeaten Poland one to three places depending on the scoreline. Belgium cannot improve on their present position of 27th in victory.

In the weekend’s other game, Germany will swap places with Switzerland if they win their meeting in Heusenstamm, with a further rise possible if the margin is sufficiently big.

Switzerland are currently ranked one place higher than the Germans in 31st but will lose the four places they gained by beating Belgium last weekend if they are beaten by more than 15 points.

WHERE TO WATCH THE ACTION

Rugby Europe Championship 2022, Round 5

Saturday 19 March

Netherlands v Romania, kick-off 13:00 (local time), live on ZiggoTV (Netherlands), TVR1 (Romania), Sportall (France), North America (FloSports), Rugbyeurope.TV (other territories)

Sunday 20 March

Spain v Georgia, kick-off 18:00 (local time), live on TeleDeporte (Spain), IMEDI TV/RugbyTV (Georgia), Sportall (France), North America (FloSports), Rugbyeurope.TV (other territories)

 

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
Global Partners
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