Rugby sevens
Rugby sevens is a variant of rugby football in which only seven players per side feature. Both rugby union and rugby league have sevens versions
Rugby union sevens
Rugby union sevens is sanctioned by the International Rugby Board (IRB), and is played under substantially the same rules and on a field of the same dimensions as the 15-player game.
While a normal rugby union match lasts upwards of 80 minutes, a normal rugby sevens match lasts approximately 15 minutes (allowing for the one-minute halftime break, injury time and so forth). Competition finals last somewhat more than 20 minutes; each half in a competition final is ten minutes instead of the normal seven minutes. This allows rugby tournaments to be completed in a day or a weekend. However, sevens scores are generally comparable to union scores; scoring occurs with much greater regularity in sevens, since the defenders are more spaced out than in rugby union.
The only major rule change from rugby union regarding events on the field is that conversions must be drop goals.
Rugby sevens developed in Melrose, Scotland in 1883. Owing to the speed by which matches are resolved and the minimal personnel requirements, there is hope that sevens will be accepted for Olympic competition (it has been in the Commonwealth Games since 1998) and spread amongst nations that are not traditional powers in rugby union.
It was considered a massive blow for Rugby Sevens, as well as Rugby Union in general, that the sport was rejected by the Olympic board for the purposes of the 2012 Olympics to be held in London.
One of the best known sevens competitions is the Hong Kong Sevens, which now makes up part of the IRB World Sevens Series.
Major tournaments
- Hong Kong Sevens
- Japan Sevens
- The National Schools 7's, (Rosslyn Park, London)
- Melrose Sevens
- Middlesex Sevens
- Rugby World Cup Sevens
- World Sevens Series
- Commonwealth Games
Rugby league sevens
Rugby league may also be played under seven-a-side rules, though this is less common as an alternative when compared with Rugby league nines (played on a nine-a-side basis). The game is substantially the same as full rugby league, however scrums involve only three players per team, and all kicks at goal must be made by drop-kicks. The major tournament was the World Sevens played prior to the start of the National Rugby League season in Sydney, but the tournament has been cancelled.
Rugby league sevens is particularly popular with pub teams — formed from the regulars at a particular public house, the reason for this is that it is often difficult for a single Pub (particularly in the north of England where rugby league is popular, as are pubs) to form a full squad of 13 players and four substitutes of willing players.
See also
- Ned Haig - founder of sevens game
- Rugby Sevens at the 2006 Commonwealth Games