What you need to know about the short format of rugby.
Hundreds of thousands of Rugby fans attend tournaments all around the world every year where any costume goes, the crazier the better!!! (Photo by Getty Images) The fast and thrilling short format of rugby union has captured the imaginations of fans right around the globe. With it's more open and free flowing style, rugby sevens has gained large amounts of support over the past decades. The success of the Hong Kong Sevens in the 70s, the incredible growth of the World Rugby Sevens Series and the tough battles for glory in the Commonwealth Games, the sevens is about to achieve new fetes when it makes its debut at the Rio Olympics later this year.
Despite the Sevens being a new addition to the Olympic Games in 2016, the sport has been around for over 120 years. In 1883, as part of a local sports day in Melrose, Scotland, Ned Haig proposed to local organisers to raise funds by hosting a rugby tournament with a reduced amount of players. They ran with the idea and so it was born a seven-team, seven-a-side, 15-minute-a-half comp resulted, which attracted 1600 onlookers. The game has never looked back with now both Men's and Women's worldwide competitions taking place.
Australia celebrates after winning the Dubai Rugby Sevens. (Photo by Getty Images)The field dimensions for sevens are the same as in a 15-a-side, seven minute halves, three-man scrums instead of eight and normal scoring applies, however the only difference is that all conversions must be taken within 40 seconds of the try being scored and must be taken as a drop goal rather than a place kick. Attacking brilliance is the order of the day from the opening whistle – 80m breaks, phases involving 20 sets of hands, crafty side-stepping and lighting wingers.
The 2016 Sevens tour will see players travel the globe showcasing their flamboyant skills in places such as Dubai, Cape Town, Las Vegas, London, Sydney and the tour will feature the inaugural Singapore Sevens taking place on the 16th and 17th of April. Hosted in the newly opened National Stadium, which features a dome and retractable roof making it the only stadium in the world custom designed to host football, rugby and athletic events.
Fiji's Jerry Tuwai. (Photo by Getty Images)In addition to the worldwide pit stops, Sevens for the first time will be making its inaugural appearance at the Olympic Games in Rio in both men’s and women’s competition. Stars of the 15-man game including Quade Cooper (Australia), Sonny Bill-Williams (New Zealand) and Bryan Habana (South Africa) have made themselves available for the Rio Games as they all strive to win Olympic Gold on the world’s biggest stage.
All Black legend Jonah Lomu, International Rugby Board President Bernard Lapasset of France, Argentinian Rugby President Porfirio Carreras and French Rugby Federation President Pierre Camou celebrate Sevens inclusion at Rio 2016. (Photo by Getty Images)Related Articles
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