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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
rugby sevens
Thursday 28 April, 2022
5 min read

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.
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The assistance of social media allowed sevens icon and Los Pumas Sevens coach Santiago Gómez Cora to identify Lautaro Bazán Vélez and Felipe del Mestre as those who showered him with isotonic drink after his team had won the HSBC Canada Sevens recently.

The culprits have been identified and their spot on the Argentina team hangs in the balance, jokes their coach.

“They said they had seen it done so many times on television,” laughs Gómez Cora, after a long-awaited win in a circuit he has been involved in as a player and now coach for over two decades.

“With the adrenaline rushing, I was wet for about three hours before I could shower; I knew that I would get ill.”

That illness came in the form of angina. 

“It hurt a lot whenever I swallowed, my body ached and I had a high fever,” he tells World Rugby about his, understandable, unavailability to speak last week.

“If that is what winning a tournament takes, I’m happy to continue getting wet!” he smiles.

Santi Gómez Cora, who first played in the HSBC Sevens Series in 2001, was in the team that won in Los Angeles in 2004 and captained the team that won in San Diego in 2009.

“Such moments are like your children - how can you choose which you love the most?” he answers when asked about his favourite moment.

“The first one was the first one, in 2009 I was captain and this time around I had other responsibilities.”

From player to coach

A couple of years after retiring as the Series’ top try-scorer, with 230, he was back in the mix, first as an apprentice coach of Argentina’s women and then from 2013 leading a sevens programme that has steadily grown since.

No longer used as a rite of passage on the path to the Pumas’ 15s team, the programme continues to produce quality players and the core of the team stays together much longer than in previous eras, like when Gómez Cora was part of the team with his older brother Pablo and others that went on to become full internationals.

“Things do not happen by chance,” adds Santi, as everybody knows him.

“Some three years ago we changed structures quite a bit. You have to be patient, trust a lot and do the hard work.

“Many are happy with the fact that the Argentine Rugby Union was patient with our programme.”

The hard work paying off

Gómez Cora managed the tricky schedule and used his professional nous to get everything done. Winning in Vancouver, and the way his side did it, is proof of this.

“It is like an exam you’re unprepared for but might still pass if you’re lucky. You are happy you passed but take no pride.

“This time we knew we did everything to pass the exam, worked on it from end to end, grew from tournament to tournament, and just put in the hours. 

“Every day we go out to win and we prepare for that, but it’s not easy and it's good when you come through at the end of that process.”

When sevens made its entrance in the Rio Olympics, Argentina lost against Great Britain in the quarter-finals, with Gastón Revol missing the kind of penalty goal he can, and does, convert with his eyes closed.

“Up until then, everything was about winning,” explains Gómez Cora. “In Rio I was frustrated with the loss, I was very sad, but right away we had to go out and play again. All those are lessons.”

Back in 2016, the team had come to the point of needing a renewal. Revol, entering his thirties, had to fight hard to keep his place.

“Gastón is still on the team for what he contributes on the field as he is one of the most effective players in the circuit when it comes to using the foot,” Gómez Cora says. 

“Off the field he knows how to carry the team's legacy, he shares the team's culture. He is the soul and spirit of the team.

“A team needs everything – level heads, mental strength, charismatic leaders, space to enjoy, and commitment.”

He adds: “The team is based on these elements: level heads, mental fortitude, resilience. The mental strength that comes from this has allowed us to bounce back in several games we were losing; we trust ourselves.”

As an example, with Revol sent off and the team down to five players, Los Pumas sevens still managed to defeat the Blitzboks in Tokyo last year and eventually secure silver at the Olympic Games.

What it takes

“We need people with passion, work ethic and conviction. With these three factors you can win, without them you cannot.”

Argentina has grown their game-plan. A year ago, they would score a try every nine phases – this ranked them highly for possession but ninth in tries scored. 

Now, the team has a far better strike rate, an average of two rucks per try. The team now knows how, where and when to break. 

“It happens that teams are very good and it doesn’t always go your way,” Gómez Cora says. “Against Australia in the semis, we couldn't find a way around them; they had beaten us in Spain and Singapore, so in Vancouver we had to work hard on it. 

“The boys have a variety of attack and defence tools that now come naturally to them in the heat of the battle, when pulses are very high.”

Gómez Cora likens sevens to chess as players have many options they need to analyse and handle. They have to turn defence into attack and all must possess the ability to perform different actions.

Take World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year 2021 in association with HSBC Marcos Moneta. “His first try in the semi-final saw him first defend, then turn over possession, open the ball quickly and then score.

“Individuality is welcomed but we do not believe in having heroes on the team because they do not help build a team over time. They do however help you advance to better conditions or give you a boost in a game, such as a try that comes faster than expected. We are conscious of this.”

Analyse Moneta and you’ll see how he possesses more than a try-scoring instinct second to none.

With Leo Gravano assisting him for the past nine years, the win in Vancouver is, says Gómez Cora, thanks to an army of people that help in many different ways. 

“It is much more than one person,” he says, recognising that Gravano has provided excellent support as an assistant over the years.

As celebrated as the bronze Olympic medal was, winning on the circuit has a different meaning. “The Olympics are special, but the circuit is where I grew, where I played, where I coach.”

The memory that will stay the longest is when the team arrived back in Buenos Aires. Family members were there to pick up loved ones; as the team walked through the gates, non-travelling squad members were there to surprise them.

And, his son Milo also skipped school to pick up his dad. “It was incredible. I couldn’t stop crying.”

A measure of the man Gómez Cora is, came at the airport when he went to injured captain Santiago Alvarez Fourcade and put the medal around his neck.

Gestures like this make him one of the many stars of an HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series that continues to capture the imagination of so many.

READ MORE: Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe keen to drive Ireland onto Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

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2018 Commonwealth Games women's final
3 min read

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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.

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Wed 11 May, 2022
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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.

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Wed 11 May, 2022
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HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
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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
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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.

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Tue 3 May, 2022
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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
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HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
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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
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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
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HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
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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
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