117-631: Premier Rugby Sevens ( PR7s ) is an annual American men's and women's rugby sevens competition. The competition follows a touring model and involves 16 teams (8 men's and 8 women's teams) competing against each other across the country. The league was founded in 2021 and is officially sanctioned by USA Rugby as the highest level of rugby sevens in the United States. The League is the first professional rugby union competition in North America to offer contracts to women. Premier Rugby Sevens
234-432: A Sevens tournament was Argentina; arriving again via Scottish expatriates. The Buenos Aires Cricket & Rugby Club hosted their own Sevens event on 9 July 1921. The Buenos Aires club defeated Belgrano Athletic Club in the final. The Buenos Aires club went on to host Sevens tournaments on 9 July every year; however a pitch-invasion tradition at the final meant that no further winners were recorded until 1937. The 9 July
351-618: A break in 2014 to play for the New Zealand fifteen-a-side team and McAlister who had been not available since mid-2014 due to injury. In 2015 the team attended an intensive physical training camp in high temperatures and humidity in Fiji. This was followed by an even more intensive winter camp in Waiouru designed to push them to their physical limits and overseen by the army. With 5am starts, tasks included trying to erect an army canvas tent in
468-936: A combined British sevens team in 2011 for the 2016 Olympics and beyond. Another issue is the status of Northern Ireland. World Rugby recognises the Irish Rugby Football Union as the sport's governing body for the entire island of Ireland. By contrast, the International Olympic Committee recognises the British Olympic Association as the governing body of the UK Olympic team, while the Olympic Council of Ireland usually fields teams representing all of Ireland in sports which are organised on an all-Ireland basis. Northern Irish sevens players play for
585-528: A conference structure and play a five-tournament circuit. Franchises would be split between the Eastern and Western Conferences, with tournaments alternating play each week between the two conferences. Each conference plays two weekends, with the top two men's and women's teams from each conference qualifying for the Championship weekend. Additionally, the 2023 expansion added regional names to the teams for
702-518: A deep cold pool, having to push army trucks for kilometres and in one remote dissolute location having to dig a hole with their entrenching tool which they then had to sleep overnight. To her horror Carla Hohepa dug into the nest of a large spider. For the 2015–2016 season the players with the assistance of the New Zealand Rugby Players Association were able to get their contracts raised, with NZ$ 40,000 on offer for
819-559: A field of the same dimensions as the 15 player game . Whereas a regular rugby union match lasts at least 80 minutes, a normal sevens match consists of two halves of seven minutes with a two-minute half-time break. Previously, the final of a competition could be played over two halves of ten minutes each, but beginning in 2017, final-round matches were limited to seven-minute halves (excluding ties) in an effort to reduce injuries. Sevens scores are generally comparable to regular rugby scores, but scoring occurs much more frequently in sevens, since
936-471: A fulltime commitment, the contracts allowed players the option to work and train part-time. As a result, most of the players had to take paid jobs, which they had to balance with training, overseas travel and often family commitments. By 2014 the squad still under the overall direction of head coach Sean Horan had consolidated around two hubs, one at Auckland under Allan Bunting and the other at Mount Maunganui under Cory Sweeney . A few players were located in
1053-482: A kick for touch and a line out, resulting in the ball being put back in play more quickly. When a player is tackled and a ruck is formed, the ball tends to exit the ruck more quickly, as the attacking team generally has only three players involved in the ruck – the tackled player, one support player, and one scrum-half. At Loretto School in Musselburgh , Scotland, the then headmaster Hely Hutchinson Almond got
1170-582: A long heritage in the seven-a-side game. The world record rugby league crowd for sevens was 80,000 in Roundhay Park, Leeds, 1932, before a royal audience. In the modern era, however, small-sided rugby league has concentrated on the Nines format, which boasts similar adaptations to the league code as sevens does with the union code. Both Bradford and Wigan rugby league sides have defeated rugby union teams in major rugby union sevens tournaments, demonstrating
1287-596: A long wait for any future English Sevens tournaments to arrive, with the exception of a Whitsuntide event, which included sevens, at Hexham in 1894 which seemed to go ahead without official backing. The Hexham Whitsuntide Sports committee tried to invite Hawick RFC as their star guests, but without backing this did not come off. For a long time the English Rugby Union held against rugby sevens being played in England. English clubs, particularly those close to
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#17328025057071404-794: A loss to Russia in pool play at Dubai and a loss to Australia in the quarter-final, Manuel returned in 2016. They were third at São Paulo, then runners up at Atlanta and Langford, Australia and England respectively. They were third at Clermont-Ferrand, with Australia winning the season title. New Zealand was runner up despite not winning a single tournament. In January 2016 a squad of 22 was announced, consisting of Shakira Baker, Michaela Blyde, Kelly Brazier, Gayle Broughton, Sarah Hirini, Honey Hireme, Carla Hohepa, Lesley Ketu, Huriana Manuel, Kayla McAlister, Tyla Nathan-Wong, Shiray Kaka (née Tane), Terina Te Tamaki, Hazel Tubic, Ruby Tui, Janna Vaughan, Stacey Waaka, Jordon Webber, Kat Whata-Simpkins, Niall Williams, Selica Winiata and Portia Woodman. From this squad, it
1521-408: A relaxed atmosphere than fifteen-a-side games, and are often known as "festivals". Sevens tournaments gained their "popularity as an end of season diversion from the dourer and sterner stuff that provides the bulk of a normal season's watching." Fans frequently attend in fancy dress , and entertainment is put on for them. The Hong Kong Sevens tournament has been especially important in popularising
1638-638: A rugby sevens match, as the Dalhousie players favoured rugby union; and the Chamba players, that had already beaten Dalhousie in cricket and association football, confidently obliged. The Dalhousie side unsurprisingly won the match; with the newspaper report seeming to blame Chamba's native players for the loss, a sad reflection of the times. Sevens then spread from Scotland to Dunedin ; a Scottish expatriate city in New Zealand. The first Dunedin Sevens tournament
1755-421: A squad consisting of Lauren Burgess , Marama Davis, Sarah Hirini, Lavinia Gould , Carla Hohepa, Chyna Hohepa, Linda Itunu, Kayla McAlister, Huriana Manuel, Tyla Nathan Wong , Amanda Rasch and Portia Woodman was selected to complete in the inaugural 2012–13 IRB Women's Sevens World Series . Captained by Manuel the team won the opening tournament at Dubai beating South Africa 41–0 in the final. The tournament
1872-586: A squad of 20 was selected, with 18 on full contracts and two on training contracts. With Kayla McAlister pregnant and Huriana Manuel having retired the squad consisted of Sarah Hirini (captain), Shakira Baker, Michaela Blyde, Kelly Brazier, Gayle Broughton, Rebekah Cordero-Tufuga, Lyric Faleafaga (training contract), Theresa Fitzpatrick, Crystal Mayes (training contract), Tyla Nathan-Wong, Cheyelle Robins-Reti, Alena Saili, Terina Te Tamaki, Ruby Tui, Stacey Waaka, Katarina Whata-Simpkins, Renee Wickliffe, Niall Williams, Tenika Willison and Portia Woodman. The latter half of
1989-479: A style that they came to term "Kokirikiri". Hirini remained captain and to support her the coaches encouraged other senior players to take on various roles. Once the coaches had set the overall approach for a game Kelly Brazier and Tyla Nathan-Wong would led general performance preparation and direct on field set plays, especially on attack. They also took on Tui and Williams lead the team off field culture and in defense on field. Waaka and Woodman took responsibility for
2106-476: A team to the event. Joseph agreed to do so. As they were not endorsed by the New Zealand Rugby Union they were unable to receive any funding from charitable trusts. As Joseph and his wife Shelly were considering moving they sold their house and via a mortgage on their new Rotorua home provided NZ$ 64,000 to fund the team. Consisting up of just Māori players this unofficial New Zealand team won
2223-500: A time when standard admission was a shilling , and stand seats cost five shillings. This became England's premier Sevens tournament:- it had some formidable figures on its sub-committee such as Wavell Wakefield and Bill Ramsay ; it was close to London – and 10,000 spectators attended the second Middlesex tournament; and it helped rugby in London develop – featuring the aforementioned Wavell Wakefield, Carl Aarvold (later Recorder of
2340-452: Is Argentina's Independence Day holiday; and a feast is often prepared in celebration. It is said that the pitch invasion tradition started when a bell, announcing that food was ready, rang out during the final. The first-ever officially sanctioned tournament for national teams was the 1973 International Seven-A-Side Tournament held at Murrayfield as part of the " Scottish Rugby Union 's Celebration of Rugby" centenary celebrations. Due to
2457-439: Is an H-shaped goal. There are several variations in laws which apply to rugby sevens, primarily to speed up the game and to account for the reduced number of players. The main changes can be summarised as follows: Teams are composed of seven players – three forwards and four backs. Scrums are made up of three players from each team. The chart below shows a team's typical formation at scrum time, with three forwards bound into
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#17328025057072574-536: The 2002 tournament, defeating the US in the final. They were told that they wouldn't be allowed to return to complete in the 2003 event as members of the team were selected on race and instead the Wild Ducks would be invited. Joseph protested and the team was allowed back, this time with the very blonde haired Stephanie Mortimer in the team, which put an end to the complaint. They won the 2003, 2004 , 2005 , 2006 and
2691-492: The 2007 events. Embarrassed by their success the organisers decreed that only “full national” teams and excluded from the tournament from the 2008 and 2009 events. In 2010 they received a late invitation to attend that years tournament , losing in the semi-final to the eventual tournament winners, the Aussie Amazons. Prior to the 2006 event the organisers obtained to 15 year old Sharn Waru playing in what they claimed
2808-660: The Melrose Cup is contested, was launched in 1993. Rugby sevens continues to be popular in the Scottish Borders , where the ten most prestigious tournaments make up a league competition known as the Kings of the Sevens . In honour of the role of Melrose RFC in the creation of rugby sevens, the club was inducted, along with Haig, to the IRB Hall of Fame in 2008. Top club sides and international sides frequently enter
2925-804: The USA Women's Sevens and USA Men's Sevens compete against a PR7s All-Star Team at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon . Kelly Griffin and Sammy Sullivan were announced as the PR7s Women's All-Star coaches and Richie Walker and Andrew Durutalo were announced as the PR7s Men's All-Star coaches. Rugby Canada also confirmed that the silver medal winning Canada women's national rugby sevens team would also participate in this competition. The league has played single day tournaments since inception, with men's and women's matches interchanging throughout
3042-642: The United States team 22–10 in the final. The New Zealand Rugby Football Union then decided to not fund any subsequent official attendance. Wishing to keep New Zealand involved in the tournament and thus keep up its profile the USA Sevens coach Emil Signes who was one of the tournament organisers approached Bay of Plenty coach Peter Joseph who had been coaching the Aotearoa Māori sevens team since its formation in 2000. Signes asked him to try to bring
3159-569: The World Rugby Sevens Series , Rugby World Cup Sevens , Summer Olympic Games and the Commonwealth Games . The team played for the first time at the 1997 Hong Kong Women's Sevens . They have won 2 World Cups, 7 Women's Rugby Sevens Series, 4 Oceania Women's Sevens Series, 2 Summer Olympic and 1 Commonwealth tournament. The "New Zealand Wild Ducks", an unofficial women's sevens team, represented New Zealand in
3276-581: The 18 official tournaments that they had entered. Of the 81 women who served with Aotearoa Māori over its life 34 were to go on to serve either in the Black Ferns or Black Ferns Sevens. Among the nine who were to go on to serve in the Black Ferns Sevens were Honey Hireme , Sarah Hirini (née Goss) and Selica Winiata . Among those who served in the team at the 2002 Hong Kong Sevens events was Mere Baker, who by 2009, due to injury and her age
3393-722: The 1880s in the Scottish town of Melrose ; the Melrose Sevens tournament is still played annually. The popularity of rugby sevens increased further with the development of the Hong Kong Sevens in the 1970s and was later followed by the inclusion of the sport into the Commonwealth Games for the first time in 1998 and the establishment of the annual World Rugby Sevens Series in 1999 and the World Rugby Women's Sevens Series in 2012. In 2016 , rugby sevens
3510-556: The 2009–10 crown. Other strong contenders include England and Australia , each of whom have had several top four finishes in recent seasons. The 2015 London Sevens , saw the United States win their first-ever tournament in the World Series. Notable World Series players include England's Dan Norton , who has scored more tries (>230) than any other player; and England's Ben Gollings , who has scored more points (2,652) than any other player. The Rugby Women's Sevens Series
3627-442: The 2023 Championship season, with live programming on FS1 , CBS Sports Network and Tubi . The championship finals were aired live on FS1. The 2024 All-Star Game was carried on Fox Sports 2 in the US and on PR7s YouTube . DAZN would acquire the broadcast rights for Europe in 2023. RugbyPass acquired the global rights to the 2024 All-Star Game for distribution outside the US on RugbyPass TV. Samurai Sportswear has been
Premier Rugby Sevens - Misplaced Pages Continue
3744-607: The Black Ferns Sevens team. The All Blacks subsequently announced that other New Zealand stars Stacey Waaka , Kelsey Teneti , Tysha Ikenasio , Manaia Nuku , Rhodes Featherstone and Kitiona Vai would also be competing. Teneti would ultimately not compete due to injury and would be replaced by Alena Saili . For the Eastern Conference, the Kickoff Weekend took place at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas with
3861-554: The Borders spread north throughout Scotland:- Aberdeen hosting Sevens in 1889; Edinburgh hosting Sevens in 1896; Glasgow hosting Sevens in 1898; Dundee hosting Sevens in 1901. The popularity of Sevens exploded in the 1920s and 1930s. From the 19th century to today, over 150 Sevens tournaments in Scotland are known; and though some tournaments have folded; new tournaments continue to be born. Sevens remain popular in Scotland; and
3978-599: The Championship weekend for purposes of determining the United Championship winner. Current Members Former Only Men's Team Former Team Names The 2021 championship matches of the tournaments were aired live on FS2 in the United States, and TSN in Canada. Preliminary matches were aired on FoxSports.com and TSN.ca. All matches from the 2022 Championship were aired live on Fubo Sports Network . In 2023, Fox Sports and CBS Sports televised portions
4095-686: The City of London ) of Blackheath FC , Wick Powell of London Welsh RFC , and John Tallent, who would later become chairman of the Four Home Unions Tours Committee. Invitation sides graced the Sevens tournament:- such as Sale RFC in 1936, which included such players as Wilf Wooller and Claude Davey of Wales and Ken Fyfe of Scotland amongst their backs; and in 1939, Cardiff RFC , which included players such as Wilf Wooller again, and Les Spence and Wendy Davis. The Earl of Dalhousie became Governor-General of India in
4212-721: The Conference Final held at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania . The Western Conference opened at TCO Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota , while the Conference Final took place at PayPal Park in San Jose . The Championship was held at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. The Pittsburgh and Minneapolis events were the first ever professional rugby events in those cities. The Northern Loonies would win
4329-462: The Go for Gold program. After volunteering at various activities Stu Ross joined the coaching team as an analyst. Emphasis now began on improving the squad members skill level, fitness and nutrition. Training of commenced at provincial academes with squad members only paid when the entire squad assembled. The first official Sevens team to see action since the announcement that it would be an Olympic sport
4446-528: The Gold Coast tournament requiring each member of the team to contribute approximately NZ$ 3,000, either out of their own pocket or though fundraising. KUSA ceased to exist after the New Zealand Rugby commenced funding the Black Ferns to compete in the World Series in 2012. In July 2008 Darryl Suasua was appointed coach of an officially sanctioned New Zealand women's sevens side to compete in
4563-537: The Irish team. In the men's competition Fiji won the gold medal in the sport's Olympic debut, with Great Britain taking the silver and South Africa the bronze. The women's gold medal was won by Australia, with New Zealand taking silver and Canada bronze. The Rugby World Cup Sevens is held every four years and is the premier international rugby sevens tournament outside of the Olympic Games. The first tournament
4680-468: The Melrose Sevens annually attracts around 12,000 spectators to the small Borders town. The Melrose Sevens centenary tournament in 1983 attracted 17,500 fans. A rugby sevens tournament was played by St. Helens Cricket Club on 29 May 1886; and the final took place a week later. A rugby sevens tournament was organised by Warrington F.C. (a rugby club) on their athletics day on 14 August 1886 but it
4797-470: The New Zealand Rugby Union at the time, seven players from the "Wild Ducks" (Hirovaana, Kahura, Richards, Rush, Shortland, Wall and Williams) also represented New Zealand at the 1998 Women's Rugby World Cup, where they clinched the World Championship title under the guidance of coach Darryl Suasua. The team won the second tournament in 1999 . The first official New Zealand women's sevens team
Premier Rugby Sevens - Misplaced Pages Continue
4914-776: The Olympics, High Performance Sport New Zealand in 2013 provided funding of $ 800,000 which was increased to $ 900,000 in 2014. New Zealand sent a team containing only five players from that which had won the 2013 World Cup to the 2013 Oceania Women's Sevens Championship which was held in Noosa in October 2013. The team consisted of Michaela Blyde, Sarah Hirini (captain), Honey Hireme, Halie Hurring, Hayley Hutana, Shiray Kaka Crystal Mayes, Tyla Nathan-Wong, Kristina Sue, Alexis Tapsell, Hazel Tubic and Selica Winiata. Being 17 years old, Blyde and Hutana had to be given special dispensation to play in
5031-565: The Scottish border and aware of the game's success in Scotland, wanted to play their own tournaments. Their pleas went in vain. England finally hosted its first Sevens tournament in 1921 as the Scottish game crept south over the border. This was on 23 April 1921 by Carlisle rugby club; they beat a Hawick 'B' side in the final. Next was on 3 September 1921 in north east England at the Percy Park Sevens in North Shields . It
5148-673: The Sevens tournaments in Scotland; the Melrose Sevens , as the founding event of the sport, being the most prestigious. Sevens has also taken strong root in the Pacific island nations of Fiji , Tonga , and Samoa , as well as in Kenya . In many minor rugby nations, such as in Poland , development has tended to concentrate on rugby sevens as a means of introducing the sport to people. Rugby sevens has become popular in places such as Hong Kong , Singapore and Dubai , which are not so successful in
5265-539: The USA team in group play and then lost their quarter final game with England. Their early wins however allowed them to retain the series title and with it gain automatic qualification to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro . After Huriana Manuel suffered a serious ankle injury at the 2014 Fifteen-a-side World Cup, which ruled her out of playing for the Sevens team she was replaced as captain by Sarah Hirini. In January 2015
5382-483: The Waikato. In a warmup to the upcoming sevens season the team won the 2014 Oceania Women's Sevens Championship held in Noosa in October 2014, defeating Australia 31–10 in the final. The 2014-15 season commenced with four wins in a row, at Dubai, São Paulo, Atlanta and Langford in Canada before at London they suffered a shock loss to Spain in pool play and they eventually finished fourth. At Amsterdam they lost to
5499-609: The World Cup, with New Zealand losing in the final to Australia 15–10. In October 2009 the International Olympic Committee agreed by 81 to 8 votes to include rugby sevens in the Rio Olympics. Aware that it was important to New Zealand's reputation that they field a competitive team, the decision was made by New Zealand Rugby to establish a high performance woman's sevens squad. Tony Philp who
5616-505: The adaptability of rugby league players generally. The World Series was a series held every season since the 1999–2000 inaugural season. Each season the Sevens Series held from seven to eleven tournaments, from around October and concluding around June. Most tournaments see 16 teams competing – mostly "core teams" that participate in each event, but also some teams that win the right to participate in select events. The last tournament
5733-850: The adoption of nomenclature of "franchises" with each franchise having a men's and women's team. The franchises would then compete for a United Championship which combined the results of the two competitions. The Headliners were the first United Champions and won the Kathy Flores Women's Championship while the Loggerheads won the A. Jon Prusmack Men's Championship. Notable players appearing in 2022 included All Black Sevens star Brady Rush , USA Rugby Stars Alena Olsen , Martin Iosefo , Matai Leuta and Madison Hughes . The League announced in December 2022 that in 2023 it would expand into
5850-713: The best individualists from other clubs to maintain their position. In 1895 the Scottish Referee newspaper was still criticising West of Scotland for not using the collective method. In England, the push for smaller sides eventually resulted in the formation of rugby league; and there was experimentation with numbers in the north of England prior to the split. There was a six-a-side tournament in Huddersfield in September 1879, played under regular rules but with 10 minute halves. Other tournaments were played over
5967-408: The bidding for inclusion in the 2016 program. The event debuted in an Olympic program at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics . Two issues related to differences between the structures of rugby union and the Olympics were sorted out before the 2016 Olympic Games. The issue of a combined British team has proven less of a problem in rugby union. World Rugby chief executive Mike Miller endorsed the concept of
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#17328025057076084-402: The chance to debut the teenage Tenika Williams and give fringe players Rebekah Tufuga-Corden, Katarina Whata-Simpkins and Jordan Webber a run. With no losses they won their first tournament in more than a year despite being reduced by injuries having only 10 players available for the final. Dubai was the last tournament at which a team member was used to bring water to the on field players after it
6201-632: The commencement of the games in order to assist the players in adjusting to the heat of Brazil they had a training camp in Tampa, Florida. At the Rio Olympics the team scored 109 points and conceded 12 in pool play before beating the US in the quarter-finals, Great Britain in the semi-finals, but lost 24–17 to Australia in the final. The loss hit the squad hard. Among the members of the team were Shakira Baker, Gayle Broughton, Woodman, Sarah Hirini, Niall Williams, Manuel, Nathan-Wong and Michaela Blyde (who
6318-456: The day. In the 2021 and 2022 seasons, all teams in the league would be onsite and play group stage matches with results determining participants in the final. The 2022 season had the first two tournaments determine the seeding for the knockout round championship. In 2023, franchises were split between the Eastern and Western Conferences, with tournaments alternating play each week between the two conferences. Each conference plays two weekends, with
6435-523: The defenders are more spaced out. The scoring system is the same as regular rugby union, namely five points for a try, three points for a penalty or drop goal and two points for a post-try conversion. The shorter match length allows rugby sevens tournaments to be completed in a day or a weekend. Many sevens tournaments have a competition for a cup, a plate, a bowl, and a shield, allowing many teams of different standards to avoid leaving empty-handed. Sevens tournaments are traditionally known for having more of
6552-472: The early years of women's rugby sevens. Composed of players such as Anna Richards, Monique Hirovaana, Dianne Apiti (later Kahura), Suzy Shortland, Louisa Wall, Tasha Williams, Annaleah Rush, Mata Young, Sharleen Holden and Ria Ataera, they competed in the inaugural 1997 tournament and emerged victorious. Richards was named Player of the Tournament. Despite not being officially recognised as a national side by
6669-417: The fifteen-a-side code. In addition, seven of the 15 current "core teams" that compete in all legs of the World Series represent nations that are not within the recognised top tier of the 15-man game – Fiji , Samoa , Kenya , the United States , Canada , Portugal , and Japan . Recently there has been the introduction of many new teams to the sevens circuit such as Russia and Germany. Rugby league also has
6786-618: The final of the Sydney Sevens in January 2018 the Black Ferns Sevens were well beaten 31-nil by Australia. This was the last tournament prior to the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in three months time. After a detailed analysis of what had gone wrong the squad began a fitness training regime designed to allow them to play for a third half. In early 2018 the following 23 players were awarded contracts covering
6903-595: The final of the 2011 Roma International Rugby Sevens Tournament in June 2011 by Aotearoa Māori. The KUSA went on to win the Byron Bay tournament held in October 2011 and a development side (featuring a young Ruby Tui) completed in a Gold Coast tournament in November 2011, losing in the quarter finals to Tonga. As they had no official backing the team had to fund raise to play in tournaments with for example participation in
7020-587: The first time in league history. The rebranded Texas Team and New York Locals would rejoin the men's competition, and add women's teams for the first time. Additionally, the league announced that the Golden State Retrievers and the Pittsburgh Steeltoes would join the league as expansion franchises. On May 2, New Zealand Black Ferns star Ruby Tui announced that she had signed for the 2023 competition alongside her return to
7137-425: The following players were contracted for the next 12 months: Michaela Blyde, Kelly Brazier, Gayle Broughton, Sarah Goss, Honey Hireme, Carla Hohepa, Huriana Manuel, Shiray Kaka, Kayla McAlister, Morgan Morrow, Tyla Nathan-Wong, Charlotte Scanlan, Alexis Tapsell, Hazel Tubic, Ruby Tui, Jordon Webber, Katarina Whata-Simpkins, Selica Winiata, Portia Woodman. The list was notable for the return of Hireme after she had taken
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#17328025057077254-508: The game in Asia, and rugby sevens has been important as a form of international rugby "evangelism"; hence it is perhaps the most widely played form of the game, with tournaments in places as far apart as Bogota and Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Kenya, Singapore and Scandinavia, as well as the countries in which rugby union is well known. Sevens is played on a standard rugby union playing field. The field measures up to 100 metres (330 ft) long and 70 metres (230 ft) wide. On each goal line
7371-412: The game, sevens players are often backs or loose forwards in fifteens rugby. The differences are most notable on game restarts. Because scrums in sevens involve three players forming one row instead of eight players forming three rows, scrums tend to assemble more quickly, require fewer restarts, and the ball exits the scrum more quickly. Penalties in sevens are generally taken with a quick tap, instead of
7488-843: The inaugural Women's Rugby Sevens World Cup which was to held in Dubai in 2009. As a part of the New Zealand's preparations a squad of 29 players assemble in Auckland on 12 July for a three-day trial camp, which would be reduced to 12 to compete in the qualifying tournament in Samoa, on 25–26 July. Selected for the trial squad were: Billy Jean Ale, Fa'anati Aniseko, Victoria Blackledge, Kelly Brazier, Kendra Cocksedge, Exia Edwards, Julie Ferguson, Honey Hireme, Carla Hohepa, Linda Itunu, Jennifer James, Justine Lavea, Vaniya Lavea, Stacey Lene, Huriana Manuel, Angela McGregor, Hannah Porter, Amiria Rule, Melissa Ruscoe, Aroha Savage, Aimee Sutorius, Karley Te Kawa, Teresa Te Tamaki, Ngahuri Thompson, Mallory Townsend, Hazel Tubic, Shaan Waru, Renee Wickliffe and Selica Winiata. Sixteen teams turned up in Dubai to compete in
7605-453: The inaugural tournament in 1976. They also provided a level of cosmopolitan international competition, which tended not to exist in rugby before the first Rugby World Cup in 1987, especially since Hong Kong was not seen as one of the "Big Eight". By 1986, the Hong Kong Sevens were held up as a positive example to others, although many of the smaller nations' teams were largely made up of expatriates. The Rugby World Cup Sevens , in which
7722-430: The league announced GoodSport as the official hydration partner. In 2022, the league named its women's and men's championship trophies after Kathy Flores and A. Jon Prusmack , respectively. Rugby sevens Rugby sevens (commonly known as simply sevens and originally known as seven-a-side rugby ) is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players playing seven-minute halves, instead of
7839-399: The league would be officially sanctioned as the highest level of rugby sevens in the United States. The league's Inaugural Championship took place at AutoZone Park in Memphis, Tennessee , on October 9, 2021. The League initially began with 10 teams with 6 men's and 4 women's teams. The Experts , Loggerheads , Loonies and Headliners would have a men's team and women's team competing in
7956-402: The line, the attacking team often attempts to move the ball to create an overload. The defensive line can be put under pressure if the defending team makes a tackle and commits players to the ruck; with fewer players in the defending line, it leaves more space for the attacking team to exploit. Rugby sevens tends to be played at a faster pace than rugby fifteens. Because of the faster nature of
8073-443: The middle of the nineteenth century. He took his summers in the Indian western Himalayas. His base there, also called Dalhousie, and the neighbouring Khajjiar region, remains known as a 'Little Scotland of India'. Teams from Dalhousie and Chamba played various sports against one another at the Khajjiar Gymkhana. The Chamba side was a mixed civilian and native side; the Dalhousie side was a military side. On 29 June 1886 at 1am they played
8190-702: The morning after a party and be driven by her to what she thought would be a "dumb trial". The 60 most promising then attended a camp at Waiouru in mid-2012. This group was further reduced to 30, who then attended a second training camp at Waiouru. Among those selected were Shakira Baker, Blyde, Broughton, as well as Huriana Manuel , Carla Hohepa , Linda Itunu , and Hazel Tubic who had already represented their country in test rugby while Sarah Hirini had played with Aotearoa Maori, Ruby Tui and Tyla Nathan-Wong who were playing club rugby. Also at Waiouru were semi-professional netballers Kayla McAlister and Portia Woodman , who without telling their coach had enrolled in
8307-410: The most dominant team in the series since its establishment by winning four of the six competitions held up to and including 2018. In 2023 World Rugby re-branded the Sevens series to a new World Rugby SVNS Series (known for sponsorship reasons as the HSBC SVNS). World Rugby announced it will fully combine the men’s and women’s tours aligning with the Olympic competition model, with both taking place on
8424-461: The next 12 months, Shakira Baker, Michaela Blyde, Kelly Brazier, Gayle Broughton, Lyric Faleafaga (who graduated from a training to a full contract), Rhiarna Ferris (who was new to the squad), Theresa Fitzpatrick, Stacey Waaka, Sarah Hirani, Huia Harding (who was new to the squad), Jazmin Hotham (training contract), Shiray Kaka, Natahlia Moors (training contract), Tyla Nathan-Wong, Risi Pouri-Lane (who
8541-523: The next few years across the North before being replaced by a nine-a-side game. Matches attracted large crowds and raised thousands to support the clubs or local hospital charities. In August 1890, Yorkshire suspended 8 teams and in September Lancashire banned games with less than 15-a-side over allegations of professionalism ; short sided games effectively ended in England. Rugby sevens
8658-479: The official kit and ball supplier since the league began in 2021. Samurai has provided the match kits for all teams and referees. The league has had a data partnership with Sports Info Solutions (SIS) since 2022. The Loggerheads franchise has been licensed by Rhinos Rugby Academy since 2022. In 2023, the Loggerheads were referred to as the Rhinos x Loggerheads as a part of the licensing agreement. In January 2024,
8775-419: The remaining contracted players NZ$ 15,000 to NZ$ 20,000. The 19 contacted players were Shakira Baker, Michaela Blyde, Kelly Brazier, Gayle Broughton, Sarah Hirini, Vaine Greig, Honey Hireme, Carla Hohepa, Hayley Hutana, Linda Itunu, Shiray Kika, Kayla McAlister, Huriana Manuel, Tyla Nathan-Wong, Alexis Tapsell, Hazel Tubic, Ruby Tui, Selica Winiata and Portia Woodman. While the amounts were not sufficient to allow
8892-512: The same weekends in the same cities and venues starting in December 2023 in Dubai and will conclude in Madrid in June 2024. The idea is to bring about a festival type atmosphere in each city across the world. Both men and women's teams will earn the same with equal participation fees. The new format will showcase the twelve best men's and women's teams, which will conclude in a Grand Final weekend where
9009-486: The schoolboys to play short-sided matches in the 1860s and 1870s. This was to improve the players' passing. A full rugby union match, at the time, was twenty-a-side and individualism was the style. Almond stated that he: urged on his boys in the sixties that if only they would pass constantly and systematically to each other, they would baffle any side unaccustomed to such tactics. Almond, a pioneer in collectivism in rugby union, struggled to get his schoolboys to get used to
9126-418: The scrum, a scrum-half waiting to retrieve the ball once it exits the scrum, and three backs positioned to receive a pass. The numbers shown here are for illustrative purposes only. Unlike rugby fifteens, where a player's number corresponds to his position, numbering in rugby sevens is more flexible. In a squad of twelve players, the players will be numbered one through twelve. The starting players can have any of
9243-596: The season was disrupted when a number of players including Kelly Brazier, Theresa Fitzpatrick, Sarah Hirini and Portia Woodman were recruited for the Black Ferns fifteen-a-side team to compete in that teams ultimately successful 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup campaign in August of that year. Despite the loss of some of their best-known players the rest of the Sevens team won in Canada in May, then in France in June and thus ensured that
9360-456: The senior players. By the start of the 2015–16 season other teams were starting to catch up the team. This coupled with the hub system reducing their off-field connection, conflicts over the style of play between Horan and the players unsettled the team and their performances became inconsistent. Rejoining the team was Lavinia Gould following the completion of her two-year drug suspension which had ended in May 2015. The season commenced with
9477-491: The squad's Māori culture. As the team culture developed Māori culture and language began to become more and more integrated into the team. With half the team of Samoan descent, there is a strong Samoan influence as well. Waaka created a team song by writing lyrics to "Te KapaRapango Takiwhitu" in English which her cousin translated into Māori. The first chance to try the new approach was at Dubai in December 2016 which gave
9594-500: The success of the format, the Scottish connection continued in the establishment of the Hong Kong Sevens in the 1970s. Founded largely by expats such as "Tokkie" Smith , the Hong Kong Sevens were ahead of their time and an influential force in the modernisation of rugby union. For example, the Hong Kong Sevens was one of the first rugby union tournaments to attract major sponsorship when the airline Cathay Pacific sponsored
9711-522: The system. The schoolboys stated this was 'funking'; but by 1872 he was organising eleven-a-side matches with Edinburgh Academicals . In 2007, Almond was nominated for the IRB Hall of Fame but was not inducted. Collectivism did eventually take hold with new clubs, and Scotland exported it through Sevens around the world, and sides like New Zealand and South Africa quickly realised the benefits of collectivism. The bigger clubs in Scotland were reluctant to change their ways. They were winning, and could attract
9828-507: The team received a grant of $ 25,000. In May 2008 they played in the first ever women's seven match held at Twickenham, losing 14–10 to England. Aotearoa Māori also won the Roma International Rugby Sevens Tournament in 2010, 2011 and 2012. In the final of the 2012 event they defeated a Russian team, 24–21. Between 2002 and 2007 they won 33 games in a row. Between 2000 and 2012 the team won 14 of
9945-410: The team won the World Series with 118 points compared to the next closest team which was Australia with 108 points. The 2017–18 World Rugby Women's Sevens Series didn't get off to the best start when at Dubai New Zealand was beaten 14–12 by the US in the quarter-finals, despite having beaten them 45–14 in pool play. This was Kayla McAlister's first tournament after returning from maternity leave. In
10062-468: The top eight teams will compete to be crowned Series champions. The teams ranked ninth to twelfth will compete against the top four teams from a new Challenger Series in a relegation play-off to see who secures their place in the 2024–2025 season. The International Olympic Committee voted in 2009 to include rugby sevens on the program for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro , Brazil. There were two open spots for sports and initially seven sports began
10179-493: The top two men's and women's teams from each conference qualifying for the Championship weekend. The league eliminated group stage play and instead moved to a knockout only format with semifinal matches leading into consolation and finals. Points are allocated based on finish, with the two conference kickoff weekends would award 13, 6, 3, 1 points for 1st through 4th place, respectively while the conference finals would award 19, 11, 5, 2. Teams would also be awarded points for finish in
10296-741: The tournament beating the Waratahs and the Berserkers. In Ireland, Douglas RFC of Cork attempted to host a Sevens tournament on 8 December 1900. However, due to inclement weather this did not come off. The first Sevens tournament in Ireland was then the Belfast tournament of 30 April 1921 in aid of the Warriors Day fund. This was run by the northern branch of the IRFU. The next country to host
10413-527: The tournament, which gained New Zealand entry to the 2013 World Cup in Moscow, Russia, which they won. Following the teams return to New Zealand canoeist Lisa Carrington visited one of their training camps and bought along her gold medal from London Olympics to inspire them. While they were not on any salary each team member received a payment of NZ$ 2,000 per tournament. Following the Oceania tournament
10530-709: The tournament. They came third, behind Australia and Fiji, with Michaela Blyde scoring five tries in the playoff for third against Samoa. The 2013–2014 season commenced with a loss to Australia in the final of the Dubai Sevens before going on to win in Atlanta, followed by a runner up in São Paulo before the squad won the next six tournaments to win that year's title. In January 2014 contracts were awarded with at least four “tier one” players getting NZ$ 30,000 for, at least four “tier two” players getting NZ$ 25,000 and
10647-424: The twelve numbers, not necessarily one through seven. No set numbers differentiate positions; for example, numbers one through three are not reserved for forwards, but can be worn by any squad player. In open play, a typical defensive formation involves a line of six defenders, with one sweeper behind the line. With the attacking team using all seven players against the defending team's six in
10764-639: The two separate tournaments while the Locals and Team would play with only a men's team entered into the competition. The women's Loonies coached by Olympian Kelly Griffin won the women's tournament, with standout play from Alev Kelter and tournament MVP and Canadian international Delaney Aikens . The men's Experts won the Inaugural Championships behind performances from Perry Baker and tournament MVP Logan Tago . Tago would go on to receive his first USA cap shortly after. The men's final
10881-559: The usual 15 players playing 40-minute halves. Rugby sevens is administered by World Rugby , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide. The game is popular at all levels, with amateur and club tournaments generally held in the summer months. Sevens is one of the most well distributed forms of rugby, and is popular in parts of Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, and especially in the South Pacific. Rugby sevens originated in
10998-646: The women's championship while the Rhinos x SoCal Loggerheads would win the men's. The Rocky Mountain Experts would win the United Championship by virtue of being the only franchise to have both the men's and women's teams qualify for the Championship tournament. The league announced that the 2024 season would be shifted to after the Olympics . On October 22nd, the league announced that it would be hosting an All-Star Weekend in conjunction with USA Rugby that would have
11115-635: Was contested in the Summer Olympics for the first time. It has also been played in events such as the Games of the Small States of Europe , Pan American Games and the Asian Games , and in 2018 a women's tournament was played for the first time at the Commonwealth Games . Rugby sevens is sanctioned by World Rugby , and is played under similar laws (with exceptions noted below ) and on
11232-444: Was a former Black Fern. Blyde was heavily involved in playing soccer at the time and was upset when attendance at a second trial meant missing out on a soccer tournament. A naturally talented sportswoman Gayle Broughton had a troubled childhood, which had led to her being expelled at the age of 16 from high school. Her grandmother promised to give her $ 10 if she would attend a trial. This was enough to tempt her to meet her grandmother
11349-527: Was a travelling reserve). Broughton ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) at the São Paulo tournament in February 2016 and after opting for a non-surgical treatment played at Rio without ligaments in the effected knee. Following Rio Sean Horan resigned as coach. Allan Bunting and Cory Sweeney both applied for the head coaching position, agreeing that regardless of who got the job, the other would serve as others assistant. In early November 2016 Bunting
11466-609: Was an over 18 year old event. Despite it being pointed out that a 17 year old was playing for China and Waru having a clearance to play from the New Zealand Rugby Foot Union it wasn't until a letter was produced from her uncle Tana Umaga that she was allowed to play. She went on to score the winning try in the final. At one point when the Māori Party was in a coalition government with the National Party
11583-425: Was appointed as the new head coach with Sweeney as his assistant, while Stu Ross accepted the position of analyst and set-piece coach. There were changes among the players with Huriana Manuel retiring and Kayla McAlister taking a year away from the game in order to have a child. Bunting and Sweeney decided to play games using a player lead approach that used space and relentless attack, even from while on defense,
11700-404: Was called "Go for Gold" and used the tag "Got what it takes to Go for Gold" in advertising targeted at young woman. Philip was of the opinion that compared with other countries most New Zealand woman even if they had never played the game would have seen a game and thus had an innate understanding of the game and its terminology. Allan Bunting who had played men's sevens and had started coaching
11817-481: Was close to the Scottish Borders and Scottish sides were invited to play in the tournament with local English sides. The final was contested between Selkirk and Melrose ; with Selkirk winning the event. First played in 1926, the Middlesex Sevens were set-up by Dr J.A. Russell-Cargill, a London-based Scot. The tournament was intended as a fundraiser for King Edward VII Hospital . It raised £1,600; at
11934-577: Was held at Murrayfield in 1993 with England becoming the first team to win the event. Fiji and New Zealand are the most successful, with Fiji winning two World Cups and New Zealand winning three World Cups. In the men's competition teams compete for the Melrose Cup and in the women's competition, launched in 2009, teams compete for the Women's Rugby World Cup Sevens Trophy. New Zealand women%27s national rugby sevens team The New Zealand women's national rugby sevens team represents New Zealand in
12051-424: Was held every season since the 2012–13 inaugural season. Each season the Sevens Series held from five to six tournaments, usually starting around November and concluding around June. Most tournaments see 12 teams competing – mostly "core teams" that participate in each event, but also some teams that win the right to participate in select events. The last series was held in the 2022–2023 season New Zealand have been
12168-462: Was held in the 2022–2023 season. New Zealand has been the dominant force in the Sevens Series, winning 13 out of the 23 seasons, including the first six seasons from 1999–2000 to 2004–05. In recent years, however, several other teams have challenged New Zealand's dominance. Fiji won the Series in 2005–06 and again in 2014–15 and 2015–16; South Africa won in 2008–09 and 2016–17; and Samoa claimed
12285-554: Was initially conceived in 1883 by Ned Haig and David Sanderson, who were butchers from Melrose , Scotland as a fund-raising event for their local club, Melrose RFC . The first-ever sevens match was played at The Greenyards , the Melrose ground, where it was well received. Two years later, Tynedale was the first non-Scottish club to win one of the Borders Sevens titles at Gala in 1885. Rugby union sevens' popularity in
12402-469: Was intended that 12 players would be selected for the New Zealand sevens team to compete at the 2016 Olympic Games. The New Zealand Women's Rugby Sevens team for the Rio Olympics was: Shakira Baker, Kelly Brazier, Gayle Broughton, Theresa Fitzpatrick, Sarah Hirini (captain), Kayla McAlister, Huriana Manuel, Tyla Nathan-Wong, Terina Te Tamaki, Ruby Tui, Niall Williams, Portia Woodman with the travelling reserves being Michaela Blyde and Shiray Tane. Prior to
12519-631: Was launched in 2021 by CEO and Founder Owen Scannell. Former USA Men's XV head coach Mike Tolkin joined the league in 2021 as general manager. In May 2021, the league announced 10 ambassadors from the USA Men's and Women's Rugby Sevens teams would join, including Perry Baker , Naya Tapper , Alev Kelter , Danny Barrett , Folau Niua , Stephen Tomasin , Kevon Williams , Abby Gustaitis , Ilona Maher and Carlin Isles . Neither Maher nor Isles would compete in 2021. In August 2021, USA Rugby announced that
12636-505: Was mired by Lavinia Gould failing a drug test which led to her being suspended for two years by the IRB . Gould had tested positive for methylhexaneamine (MHA), which was found in a dietary supplement she had used during the tournament. Putting this behind them the team went on to win the series with a fourth at Houston and wins at Guangzhou and Amsterdam having scored 169 points and conceded 34. Because of their potential to win gold at
12753-649: Was no longer being selected by Aotearoa Māori. To provide them with competition Baker with the support of Ernie Goodhue helped establish the KUSA (Kiwi/USA) Superclub Sevens. Initially most of its players were sourced from those who had missed out on selection for Aotearoa Māori, plus others from Canterbury and the USA. Coached by Baker and Goodhue among those who played for the team were Black Ferns such as Zoey Berry , Kelly Brazier , Olivia Coady, Lavinia Gould , Halie Hurring, Kendra Cocksedge , Amiria Rule , Anika Tiplady and newcomers such as Ruby Tui . The KUSA were beaten in
12870-535: Was not repeated. A rugby sevens match was played in Chorley, Lancashire as part of the Chorley Rugby and Athletic club's sports day on 22 July 1888; another match looks to have taken place the following year on 24 August 1889. The Rainford Athletics Club hosted a Sports Day on 7 August 1888 with a 3 team rugby sevens tournament, but this was a one-off and not repeated. Sevens then ended in England and it would be
12987-532: Was notably in that it was decided by a drop goal contest with a similar format to association football. The competition scaled to a three stop circuit in 2022, with tournaments held in San Jose, California , at PayPal Park , Washington, D.C. , at Audi Field , and the 2022 Championship at Q2 Stadium . The League scaled back to include only the men's and women's teams, with the Team and Locals removed from competition. The parity between men's and women's teams led to
13104-415: Was observed that the exuberant "chatter" from an injured Niall Williams who was on water-duty ran the risk of giving away too much information to their Australian rivals. Following on from the success of the 2012 "Go For Gold" talent identification programme, New Zealand Rugby held 18 trials in February 2017 throughout New Zealand to identify potential athletes for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In January 2017
13221-406: Was recruited in 2012 to assist Philp and Horan. In addition to radio, television and print advertising the trio used their contacts to assist with talent spotting. One thousand online applicants were received of whom 800 attended the trials where they were put through various fitness, rugby skills and character assessment activities. Michaela Blyde was made to attend a trial by her mother Cherry who
13338-443: Was responsible for New Zealand Rugby's men's sevens was allocated NZ$ 50,000 and assigned the task. Soon after Sean Horan was appointed fulltime coach with support to be provided by the regional sevens resource coaches. The decision was soon made to have the country's 14 national provincial unions host open trials targeted at woman between the ages of 16 and 24 irrespective of whether they had any prior rugby experience. The programme
13455-412: Was selected in 2000 and was coached by Darryl Suasua . They won the 2000 Hong Kong Sevens after defeating Australia 36–10 in the final. the team consisted of Lavinia Gould, Sherry Hansen, Dianne Kahura, Noi Kurei, Sharleen Nathan (née Holden),Hannah Porter (née Myers), Anna Richards, Annaleah Rush, Suzy Shortland and Tammi Wilson. They returned the next year to win the 2001 tournament by defeating
13572-740: Was the Charity tournament in aid of Dunedin hospital on 28 September 1889. From Dunedin, sevens spread north to Christchurch where Canterbury Rugby Union held a Sevens tournament on 16 September 1893. On 23 May 1894, sevens had almost reached the North Island with a tournament in Nelson . The first notice of a Sevens tournament in Australia is that of Central Queensland Rugby Union's tournament in Rockhampton on 4 July 1891. The Wanderers won
13689-465: Was the team which participated in the 2012 Oceania Women's Sevens Championship which was held in Fiji on 3–4 August 2012. The team of 12, consisting of Shakira Baker, Kendra Cocksedge , Moana Forbes, Sarah Hirini (vice-captain), Charlene Halapua, Linda Itunu, Huriana Manuel (captain), Kayla McAlister, Tyla Nathan-Wong, Hazel Tubic, Ruby Tui and Portia Woodman was a mix of newcomers to rugby and experienced fifteen-a-side international players. The team won
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