The History of Rugby Sevens The History of Rugby Sevens 09/11/2014 12:47 The Olympic sport of Rugby Sevens is now 131 years old, having been ‘born’ in 1883 – 10 years after the formation of the Scottish Football Union – in the Scottish Border town of Melrose. The Melrose club had a fine rugby side but was experiencing financial difficulties and the committee, in an attempt to raise much-needed funds, decided to organise an athletic meeting, or a Sports Day, at the end of the 1883 season. With the committee concerned about the financial outlay involved, apprentice butcher Ned Haig and his master David Sanderson proposed cutting down the teams from 15 to seven players (three forwards, two half-backs and two backs) and the playing time to 15 minutes in total (two halves of seven minutes each and one minute half-time break). The Melrose committee agreed unanimously to hold a Sevens tournament, unaware of the historic significance of its decision. Seven Border clubs – Gala, Selkirk, St. Cuthbert’s Hawick, Earlston, Melrose, Gala Forest and St.

Ronan’s Innerleithen – entered the first tournament held on 28 April, 1883 at the now famous Greenyards ground. The leading clubs in the district, Gala and Melrose, reached the final, which ended in a draw after 15 minutes of play. Sanderson scored a try and, as captain, led his team from the field and claimed the Ladies Cup, also giving birth to the modern day concept of sudden-death extra time. Sevens popularity grows Sevens spread quickly in the Scottish Borders with Selkirk, Gala, Hawick, Jedforest, Langholm, Kelso and Earlston launching their own club tournaments and the game is now a major feature at the beginning and the end of the season in the Scottish Borders. It is said that Nelson, the cradle of the game in New Zealand, was the first place to stage a School Sevens tournament outside Scotland around the turn of the century, although documentary evidence is scant. Instead, there is plenty of evidence that 1921 was the year Sevens rugby took off internationally with the North Shields Sevens at Percy Park in England and the Buenos Aires Sevens sharing the distinction of being pioneers of the international short game.

The Middlesex Sevens, launched by Dr Cargill in 1926, became an attractive end-of-season event in England, but the biggest seven-a-side tournament in the world remains the Rosslyn Park Sevens, launched in 1939 by the late Charles Burton, founder of the Public School Wanderers, which every year gathers ever more school teams from around the world. In 1973, the Scottish Rugby Union celebrated its centenary with an international seven-a-side tournament – the first in history. The SRU Centenary Sevens gave a glimpse of the huge potential of the short game. England prevailed by beating an Irish team in the final at Murrayfield, having overcome strong opposition from Wales, Scotland, New Zealand, Australia, France and the Barbarians. Hong Kong seed sown Legend has it that among the keen Murrayfield crowd in May 1973, there were a couple of Hong Kong expatriates, Ian Gow and ‘Tokkie’ Smith, the then Chairman of the Hong Kong RFU.

From there, the idea of a regular Sevens tournament took shape and by the end of 1975 the first Hong Kong Sevens tournament was devised, with the inaugural event played in 1976. By the mid-1980s the event was firmly established on the rugby calendar. With Hong Kong helping to raise the exposure of the game’s shorter form, 20 years after the SRU’s Centenary Sevens, and following the successful staging of two 15-a-side Rugby World Cups in 1987 and 1991, the International Rugby Board accepted the SRU proposal to hold a RWC Sevens tournament in 1993 with the offer of the Melrose Cup, a trophy modelled on the original Ladies Cup of Melrose, as the top prize. The RWC Sevens has since gone from strength to strength and has twice now – in 2009 and 2013 – staged men’s and women’s competitions side by side, mostly recently in Moscow, Russia, when New Zealand claimed both titles.

Olympic future By far the most dramatic and accelerated changes, however, have come in more recent times with Rugby Sevens’ acceptance onto sport’s grandest stage. Ten years after the inception of the IRB Sevens World Series in 1999, in October 2009 in Copenhagen the members of the International Olympic Committee voted almost unanimously to accept Rugby Sevens into the sporting programme of the Olympic Games for 2016 and 2020. Since that time, investment and development in the shorter game has been dramatic, and this in turn has increased the competitiveness across both the men’s and women’s elite games. While New Zealand continues to hold sway in the men’s World Series, and has claimed the title in the first two years of the Women’s Sevens World Series, the number of sides capable of winning tournaments and reaching the final knockout stages has rocketed, with notable emerging forces challenging the status quo, such as Fiji, Samoa, Kenya and Canada in the men’s game and Russia, USA and China in the women’s.

Alongside the growth of both World Series, Sevens has also continued to grow as a proven attraction among other multisport games, such as the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Pan American Games, All African Games and World University Games. World Rugby Sevens World Series (men’s) – Roll of honour 1999/00 – New Zealand champions World Rugby Sevens Series | Rugby Sevens Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia World Rugby Sevens Series New Zealand (12 titles) The World Rugby Sevens Series, known officially as the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series from the 2015-16 season, and before that as the HSBC Sevens World Series since 2010, through sponsorship from banking group HSBC , [1] is an annual series of international rugby sevens tournaments run by World Rugby featuring national sevens teams. The series, organised for the first time as the World Sevens Series in the 1999-2000 season, was formed to develop an elite-level competition series between rugby nations and develop the sevens game into a viable commercial product for World Rugby.

Teams compete for the World Rugby Sevens Series title by accumulating points based on their finishing position in each tournament. New Zealand had originally dominated the Series, winning each of the first six titles from 1999-2000 to 2004-05, but since then, Fiji, South Africa and Samoa have each won titles. As of the upcoming 2015–16 season, the season's circuit consists of 10 tournaments in 10 countries, and visits five of the six populated continents. Australia , the United Arab Emirates , South Africa , New Zealand , Canada , the United States , Hong Kong , Singapore , France and England each host one event. Argentina was originally planned to begin hosting a tenth event in the 2012–13 season, giving the tour an event on each continent, but those plans have been shelved indefinitely. [2] The 2015–16 season will see the return of two previous host countries, Singapore and France, which respectively replace Japan and Scotland , as well as a completely new tour stop in Canada. Contents Edit The first international Rugby sevens tournament was held at Scotland which was celebrating a century of the Scottish Rugby Union .

[3] Seven international teams took part in the first tournament, which had England taking the trophy. In 1976, the Hong Kong Sevens began before 17 years later the first Rugby World Cup Sevens was held in Scotland. New Zealand has been by far the dominant force in the World Rugby Sevens Series, winning 11 out of the 14 seasons, and winning the first six seasons. However, since 2005, several other teams have successfully challenged New Zealand's dominance. Fiji , long a power in sevens, were winners in 2005-06; South Africa won in 2008–09; and Samoa claimed the 2009–10 crown. Other strong contenders in recent years have included England , Australia , and Argentina , all of whom have won an event within the last two seasons. [4] Many minor rugby nations have become competitive as well. Eight of the current 15 "core teams" that participate in all series events represent nations that are not within the traditional top tier of the 15-man game— Canada , Fiji , Kenya , Portugal , Russia , Samoa , Tonga and the USA .

Prior to the 2012 qualifying tournament, the most recent addition to the roster of core teams was the USA, which replaced its neighbor Canada for 2008–09. [5] Tournaments 9 10 1 The schedule for the 2012–13 Series was released to the general public in late June 2012. At the time, the schedule included a new event to be held in La Plata, Argentina. However, on 16 August, the Argentine Rugby Union pulled out of hosting an event in 2012–13, citing demands associated with the country's 2012 entry into The Rugby Championship. [7] 2 The 2001 Brisbane tournament cancelled by IRB in response to the Australian Government's sporting sanctions against Fiji. [8] 3 The SARS outbreak in Asia prevented the Beijing event being played [9] TV and media Edit The tour received 1,147 hours of air time in 2005–06; 530 of which was live, and was broadcast to 136 countries.

[10] By 2008–09, the hours of air time had increased to over 3,300, with 35 broadcasters airing the series in 139 countries and 15 languages. [11] Broadcast time saw further increases for 2009–10, with 3,561 hours of air time (1,143 hours live) carried by 34 broadcasters in 141 countries and 16 languages. [12] In 2010–11, 3,657 hours of coverage were aired (1,161 hours live), with the same number of broadcasters as the previous season but six new countries added. For that season, Sevens World Series programming was available in 332 million homes worldwide, with a potential audience of 760 million. [13] Sponsorship Edit In October 2010, the International Rugby Board announced that they had concluded a 5-year deal with HSBC which granted them status as the first ever title sponsor of the Sevens World Series.

Through the accord, HSBC acquired title naming rights to all tournaments in the World Series, beginning with the Dubai Sevens on 3 December 2010. [1] HSBC has since opted to sub-license the naming rights to individual tournaments, while retaining its name sponsorship of the overall series. A renewed, 4-year deal was announced before the 2015–16 Series , this deal was also expanded to include the World Rugby Women's Sevens Series [14] Template:Div col end Through the 2011–12 series, the number of core teams was 12, [15] but the number of core teams was expanded to 15 for 2012–13. [16] The three extra teams were determined by a 12-team qualifying tournament held as part of the 2012 Hong Kong Sevens . [17] The increase in the number of core teams did not directly lead to an increase in the size of the existing tournaments. However, two of the events were expanded because they became part of the IRB's new promotion and relegation system for core teams.

In the 2012–13 season, the top 12 core teams in the season table after the next-to-last round of the series in Glasgow retained their status for the following season. The remaining three core teams for 2013–14 were determined in a two-stage qualifying process: [18] The first stage was a World Series Qualifier held as part of the Hong Kong Sevens. Two qualifiers from each of the IRB's six regions competed. The 12 teams were drawn into pools, with the top eight teams advancing to a quarterfinal round. The winners of the four quarterfinal matches advanced to the final qualifying stage. The final qualifying stage, the World Series Core Team Qualifier, was held as part of the London Sevens. The qualifying teams were joined by the winner of the HSBC Asian Sevens Series, plus the bottom three core teams following the Scotland Sevens. The qualifying tournament was conducted with a pool stage followed by knockout play, with the two finalists and the winner of the third-place match becoming core teams for the following season.

The IRB announced significant changes to the core team promotion/relegation process, effective with the 2013–14 series , on 9 October 2013: [19] The number of promotion/relegation places will be reduced from three to one. The Pre-Qualifier will be folded into the Core Team Qualifier, which will involve 12 teams determined in regional qualifying and will be contested entirely at the Hong Kong Sevens. The champion of the Qualifier will receive core team status for the following season's series. Relegation will be determined at the end of the London Sevens. The bottom-placed core team will be automatically relegated, with no opportunity to retain core status. Format Edit Sevens is a stripped-down version of rugby union from Scotland with seven players each side on a normal-sized field. Games are much shorter, lasting only seven or ten minutes each half, and tend to be very fast-paced, open affairs. The game is quicker and higher-scoring than 15-a-side rugby and the rules are far simpler, which explains part of its appeal. It also gives players the space for superb feats of individual skill.

Sevens is traditionally played in a two-day tournament format, with the Hong Kong Sevens (an anomaly as a three-day event) being the most famous. Currently, in a normal event, 16 teams are entered. The Hong Kong Sevens had 24 teams through the 2011–12 series, but has featured 28 teams since 2012–13, with 15 core teams and the winner of the HSBC Asian Sevens Series competing for series points. At the 2013 event, the remaining 12 teams were those in the World Series Pre-Qualifier; [18] from 2014 forward, the remaining 12 teams are those in the Core Team Qualifier. [19] In 2012–13, the season-ending London Sevens expanded to 20 teams, with 12 competing for series points and eight involved in the Core Team Qualifier. [18] With the promotion place now determined at the Hong Kong Sevens, the London Sevens will revert to the traditional 16-team format in 2013–14.

World Rugby operates satellite tournaments in each continent alongside the Sevens World Series which serve as qualifiers for Series events; [5] in 2012–13 they also determined the entrants in the World Series Pre-Qualifier, [18] and from 2013–14 determine the entrants in the Core Team Qualifier. [19] In each tournament, the teams are divided into pools of four teams, who play a round-robin within the pool. Points are awarded in each pool on a different schedule from most rugby tournaments—3 for a win, 2 for a draw, 1 for a loss, 0 for a no-show. In case teams are tied after pool play, the tiebreakers are: [20] Head-to-head result between the tied teams. Difference in points scored and allowed during pool play. Difference in tries scored and allowed during pool play. Points scored during pool play. Coin toss. As of the 2009–10 series, four trophies are awarded in each tournament. In descending order of prestige, they are the Cup, whose winner is the overall tournament champion, Plate, Bowl and Shield.

In Hong Kong, the Shield was awarded for the first time in 2010. [21] Each trophy is awarded at the end of a knockout tournament. In a normal event, the top two teams in each pool advance to the Cup competition. The four quarterfinal losers drop into the bracket for the Plate. The Bowl is contested by the third and fourth-place finishers in each pool, while the Shield is contested by the losing quarterfinalists of the Bowl. Originally, the six pool winners of the Hong Kong Sevens, plus the two highest-finishing second-place teams, advanced to the Cup. In 2010 and 2011, a different system was used: [22] The losing quarterfinalists in the Cup competition contested the Plate competition. The four remaining second-place teams and the four best third-place teams, which contested the Plate in previous years, competed for the Bowl. The remaining eight teams in the competition, which contested the Bowl in previous years, competed for the Shield. In the transitional year of 2012, the Hong Kong Sevens was split into two separate competitions.

The 12 core teams competed for the Cup, Plate and Bowl under a format similar to that of a regular event. The 12 invited teams all competed for the Shield, with the top three sides in that competition also earning core status for 2012–13. From 2013 on, the four trophies in Hong Kong will be contested under the same format used in regular 16-team tournaments. Only the 15 core teams, plus the winner of the HSBC Asian Sevens Series, now compete in the main draw of that event. A third-place match is now conducted between the losing Cup semifinalists in all tournaments; this was introduced for the 2011–12 series. [23] Player awards by season Edit The season championship is determined by points earned in each tournament. World Rugby introduced a new scoring system for the 2011–12 series, in which all teams participating in a tournament are guaranteed points. Initially, World Rugby announced the new points schedule only for the standard 16-team events; the allocations for the Hong Kong Sevens were announced later.

[23] Starting with the 2012–13 series, all events have 16 teams competing for series points, except for the 2013 edition of the London Sevens (in which only 12 teams competed for series points).

Cup winner (1st place): 22 points Cup runner-up (2nd place): 19 points Cup third-place play-off winner (3rd place): 17 points Cup third-place play-off loser (4th place): 15 points Plate winner (5th place): 13 points Plate runner-up (6th place): 12 points Losing Plate semi-finalists (joint 7th place): 10 points Bowl winner (9th place): 8 points Bowl runner-up (10th place): 7 points Losing Bowl semi-finalists (joint 11th place): 5 points Shield winner (13th place): 3 points Shield runner-up (14th place): 2 points Losing Shield semi-finalists (joint 15th place): 1 point If two or more teams are level on series points at the end of the season, the following tiebreakers are used to determine placement: [20] Overall difference in points scored and allowed during the season. Total try count during the season. If neither of the above produces a winner, the teams are considered tied.

See also Rugby sevens | Rugby Union | Fandom powered by Wikia Edit Rugby 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, and the halftime break can be two minutes. (In the IRB Sevens World Series, only the Cup final, which determines the overall winner of an event, is played with 10-minute halves; all finals for lower-level trophies are played with normal 7-minute halves. [1] ) 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. Scrums still exist within sevens, composed of just three players from each team.

Given the speedy nature of the game, players are usually either from the backline or the trio of loose forwards in fifteens rugby. Rugby sevens was initially conceived by Ned Haig , a butcher from Melrose , Scotland as a fundraising event for his local club in 1883 . The first ever sevens match was played at the Greenyards, where it was well received. The largest sevens tournament in the world is the Rosslyn Park Schools tournament, with an attendance of over 3,000 schoolchildren from around the world. Rugby Sevens specialists Wellington College have dominated the rugby sevens festival winning 6 times out of the last 9 years with a five year unbeaten spell between 1998-2003. Results from the tournament can be seen on The Schools' Rugby Website . The first ever officially sanctioned international tournament occurred at Murrayfield as part of the "Scottish Rugby Union's celebration of rugby" centenary celebrations in 1973. Due to the success of the format, the ongoing Hong Kong Sevens was launched three years later. In 1993, the Rugby World Cup Sevens , in which the Melrose Cup is contested, was launched.

Two of the best known sevens competitions are the Hong Kong Sevens and Dubai Sevens , which now make up parts of the IRB Sevens World Series . Variations to the Laws of the Game Edit The emphasis of play in Sevens is speed, skill, and fitness. A team is usually comprised entirely of backs, because of their fitness and agility compared to their forward counterparts. Furthermore, players may need to get more creative in making plays, with only 14-20 minutes to play a single game. There are several variations in laws which apply to Rugby Sevens, [2] primarily to speed up the game and to account for the reduced number of players. The main changes can be summarised as follows: 7 players per team on field (instead of 15). 5 reserves, with only 3 interchanges (instead of 7 and 7). 7-minute halves, 10-minute halves in championships (instead of 40-minute halves). 1-minute halftime, 2 minutes in championships (instead of 10 minutes). Matches drawn after regulation are continued into Sudden Death Extra Time , in 5-minute periods. Conversion attempts must be drop-kicked (instead of having the option to place-kick).

Conversions must be taken within 40 seconds of scoring a try (instead of 60 seconds). 3-man scrums (instead of 8). The scoring team kicks off (instead of the non-scoring team). Yellow cards net a 2-minute suspension (instead of 10 minutes). Suspensions are more severe in Sevens than in Fifteens. The team plays a man down for 1/7th of the match instead of 1/8th, and losing 1 man out of 7 opens up many more holes than 1 man out of 15. Referees decide on advantage quickly (where one play usually ends advantage, not true in fifteens). There are additional officials present (in-goal touch judges) to judge success of kicks at goals and hence the game is not delayed waiting for touch judges to move into position to judge conversion attempts. At the Summer Olympics Edit Template:Catmore1 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 ).

The IRB pointed towards sellout crowds at Commonwealth Games and World Cup sevens as proof of the sport's popularity. In addition, it would provide a competition in which sporting minnows from regions such as the Pacific, who are able to field competitive rugby teams, could genuinely contend for medals. [3] However, the International Olympic Committee turned down the bid for the purposes of the 2012 Olympics to be held in London. One IOC official from Switzerland, Dennis Oswald, dismissed the bid declaring: “When it comes to rugby, I am not a specialist, but people within the sport tell me that rugby sevens is something of a joke.” Oswald later confirmed that he had never in fact watched a game of sevens, or indeed, fifteens rugby. Although disappointed, the IRB responded by pointing out that in terms of the Olympic motto : Citius, Altius, Fortius (faster, higher, stronger), a rugby player was more likely to possess all of these attributes than competitors within other debatable Olympic events, such as rhythmic gymnastics .

The IRB has recently moved to counter criticisms that it only proposed for a male Olympic tournament, establishing a series of Sevens events for women; the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens will include a women's championship for the first time. Major tournaments Edit Portugal defeated Russia 28-26 in a pulsating climax to the Grand Final of the 2005 FIRA European Sevens in Moscow to retain the trophy they have won for the last three years. Spain won the Plate with a 25-14 win over Germany, whilst Lithuania claimed the Bowl. Portugal topped their group on day one, recording four victories and a 7-7 draw, against Italy. In Pool B, Russia delighted the home fans with five wins out of five, including a 33-7 victory over France. They followed that up on day two by defeating Italy 17-0 in the Cup semi finals, whilst Portugal beat France 22-7. Notable Sevens Players Edit 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. Women's Rugby sevens Edit Women's rugby 7s is dominated by New Zealand, with either the New Zealand team (1999-2001) or Aotearoa Maori Women’s Rugby 7’s team (playing as New Zealand) [1] winning all of the Hong Kong 7s to date (as of 2007 ). The inaugural Women’s Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament will be held in 2009 in Dubai in conjunction with the men’s tournament.

Other strong nations in Women's 7s are Australia and the USA. Women's rugby seven's may be added to the Commonwealth Games in 2014 or 2018. References A Beginners’s Guide to Rugby Union : Rugby Sevens - The Olympic dream Rugby Sevens The Olympic dream Rugby Sevens is played on a full size pitch by teams of seven players rather than fifteen. The game is shorter in duration, with each half lasting seven minutes during the pool stages of a tournament, and increasing to ten for the final. Aside from the duration, the Laws vary very little from the 15-a-side game, though, of course, because of the amount of space available on the pitch, it is a very different game to watch. One characteristic of Rugby Sevens is that sometimes teams will choose to retreat towards their own try line initially, drawing the opposition towards them, in an attempt to create space in other areas to then go forward in attack. Demands of Rugby Sevens Because Rugby Sevens is played on a full size pitch, players need to be able to cover a lot of ground during a match. This means that participants need to be incredibly fit and have plenty of speed, skill and stamina.

As a result, Rugby Sevens players are often backs or loose forwards in Fifteens Rugby. The basics of Rugby - running, passing, tackling and decision-making - are key components of Rugby Sevens, as are creating space and keeping possession of the ball. Sevens and the Olympics Rugby rejoins the Olympic Programme at Rio 2016™ when Rugby Sevens makes its eagerly awaited debut. Rugby is a perfect fit for the Olympic Games; it reinforces the Olympic movement’s ideals thanks to its longstanding ethos of fair play and friendship while the vibrant and exciting format of Rugby Sevens appeals to both existing followers of the sport and a wider sports-loving audience worldwide. Rugby sevens Facts for Kids | KidzSearch.com Jump to: navigation , search Melrose RFC Rugby sevens is the shortened version of rugby union in which only seven players per side feature, instead of the full fifteen. The version of rugby union is very popular, with notable competitions including the IRB Sevens World Series and the Rugby World Cup Sevens . It is also played at events such as the Commonwealth Games and rugby league has also adopted the sevens format. Rugby sevens was invented in Melrose , a small town in Scotland .

It is played under the same rules and on a field of the same dimensions as the 15-player game but a rugby sevens match lasts approximately 15 minutes (7 minutes aside with 1 minute half-time break) but the finals last somewhat more than 20 minutes; each half in a final is ten minutes instead of the normal seven minutes and the point system is similar to rugby union where a Try gets a team 5 points and conversion 2 points with 3 points for penalties and Drop-goals (drop-goals are very uncommon in sevens). [1] Points scoring occurs with much greater regularity in sevens compared to fifteens, since there are more spaces for players to run. Scrums still exist within sevens, composed of just three players from each team. Given the speedy nature of the game, players are usually either from the backline or the trio of loose forwards in fifteens rugby. All sevens players, wether in the forwards or otherwise must be fit,agile,relatively strong and demonstrate a high level of fitness in order to compete at an optimum level. Countries such as New Zealand, France, Fiji, England and wales have very successful sevens teams.

References Performance Indicators Related to Points Scoring and Winning in International Rugby Sevens "Rugby sevens is a complex team sport requiring a combination of fitness and physical ability (Higham et al., 2012;), execution of technical skills (Meir, 2012), and tactical and strategic considerations (Hughes and Jones, 2005) for success at the international level. The dynamic match environment can make it difficult for coaches and support staff to identify which elements of physical, technical , and tactical development to target to enhance the probability of successful performance. " [Show abstract] [Hide abstract] ABSTRACT: Identification of performance indicators related to scoring points and winning is needed to inform tactical approaches to international rugby sevens competition. The aim of this study was to characterize team performance indicators in international rugby sevens and quantify their relationship with a team's points scored and probability of winning. Performance indicators of each team during 196 matches of the 2011/2012 International Rugby Board Sevens World Series were modeled for their linear relationships with points scored and likelihood of winning within (changes in team values from match to match) and between (differences between team values averaged over all matches) teams.

Relationships were evaluated as the change and difference in points and probability of winning associated with a two within- and between-team standard deviations increase in performance indicator values. Inferences about relationships were assessed using a smallest meaningful difference of one point and a 10% probability of a team changing the outcome of a close match. All indicators exhibited high within-team match-to-match variability (intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.00 to 0.23). Excluding indicators representing points-scoring actions or events occurring on average less than once per match, 13 of 17 indicators had substantial clear within-team relationships with points scored and/or likelihood of victory. Relationships between teams were generally similar in magnitude but unclear. Tactics that increase points scoring and likelihood of winning should be based on greater ball possession, fewer rucks, mauls, turnovers, penalties and free kicks, and limited passing. Full-text · Article · May 2014 News: Sevens Positions: How to play scrum-half? - Ultimate Rugby Sevens - UR7s NEW ZEALAND V SOUTH AFRICA 2006 CLICK HERE What is required to play scrum-half?

Generally a scrum-half is one of the most skilful players on the field and of course has great fitness. The scrum-half could be a fly-half, scrum-half or wing in XVs rugby. Personally, until playing sevens for America, I had never played scrum-half. While this was daunting, especially going up against the best players in the world it is a position one can learn overtime. It also highlights the fact that one can play several different positions in sevens, which often makes that player a greater asset for the team. The set pieces largely involve the scrumhalf and are vital to the success of that position. Restarts kicked: Sometimes the kicker in the team is the scrum-half, who will then drop back to play sweeper after the kick is taken. We will go over the role of the sweeper in more detail another time. If the scrumhalf isn’t kicking, then off the restart he/she lines up next to the three forwards. The scrum-half can either stay in the same defensive line as the rest of the team when the ball is kicked, or he/she can be slightly ahead of the team and align in-between the opposition scrum-half and fly-half.

This may force the opposition to take the ball straight into contact or throw an intercept pass if you’re very lucky. While we have the use of the above clip, I will point out other items that have been mentioned in previous articles. For example, at 20 minutes 45 seconds, this showcases the importance of winning kick restarts and proves to be the catalyst for this decisive try. SA retains an excellent kickoff through Jonathan Mokwena and it is Tobela Mdaka who scores with a great switch directly from it. One has to love the try celebration afterwards as well - Kenyan style! Restarts received: The scrumhalf stands on the side of the field to which the team is most likely going to kick too, lining up on the 22m line near the touchline. Once your forwards receive the ball, and there is pressure on them, the safest option is to setup a ruck right away. From there the ball can go wide, unless you are on your own tryline and opt for a clearance kick. Lineouts: With the quick lineout rule it means teams can keep possession a lot easier than risk a regular lineout.

However, a well-executed lineout provides a great attacking platform with the opposition defense being so far away. The scrum-half is largely responsible for the success of the lineouts by reading the opposition lineout during the game. The scrum-half has two types of lineout throws he/she can use: (1) If the ball is going to the front of the lineout (at the 5m mark) a fast bullet type throw is highly recommended. This is generally the safest lineout throw if your team gets a good lift for its jumper. (2) If the ball is going to the back of the lineout an arched type of lob throw is used. This is of course a lot more dangerous as it requires superb technique not to over-throw the ball, or have a skew lineout called. But on the positive side, it allows for an excellent attacking platform, especially with the opposition backline 10m away. As mentioned in previous positions, the more dynamic a team or player is, the better the results. The lineout has other varieties: the quick throw-in without the lineout being formed; throwing to a single player who jumps for the ball – either in the front or right at the back of the lineout.

Other options include the lineout jumper throwing the ball straight back to the scrumhalf, who then streaks down the touchline. Watch at the 26 minutes 43 seconds mark. This is a great example by SA with a throw to the front and then back to scrumhalf Basson, who burns through for a dramatic score. Scrums: When on attack the timing of putting the ball into the scrum is very important. To simplify things, the ball can be put in on the ‘engage’ call from the referee, or when the hooker signals to the scrum-half. This signal is normally a tap on the props shoulder, closest to the scrum-half. If the opposition are pushing early in the scrum, then a ‘tap’ call is recommended. This may also result in a penalty for your side, as teams are not allowed to push before the ball is in. The scrum-half needs to communicate with the hooker to ensure the required hook is presented. A small or shallow hook of the ball may leave it lying right at the base of the scrum, making it very difficult for the scrum-half to feed the backline.

An example of this is at 6 minutes 23 seconds: NZ push slightly early in the scrum without the halfback putting the ball in. The hook is then not deep enough and the result is a turnover for SA’s Basson. Incidentally Hunt must have said something to the referee after that scrum as he is yellow carded and spends 2 minutes in the bin. Luckily no points are scored against NZ during this time period. If the scrum wheels slightly and the hook is shallow a blindside break can be very effective. Watch the above clip at 9 minutes 15 seconds for this example. This hook is shallow which leads to Hunt going to the short side, which on a dry surface could have been very dangerous for SA. The opposition scrumhalf is normally standing right on you on a defensive scrum; hence the most successful hookers try hooking the ball back several meters. This makes it a lot easier to get the ball to the fly-half. It doesn’t matter how the ball gets there: a flick, slap pass, reverse pass or even a kick.

In fact, watch 24 minutes 25 seconds in which it is classic scrum-half play by Basson who uses his boot to kick the ball from the base of the scrum to his number 10. Now watch 13 minutes 24 seconds: This is a very good example of a deep strike at scrum time, giving the scrumhalf plenty of time to deliver the ball to his fly half, which Hunt decides against in this play. Defence: The role of the scrumhalf during a defensive scrum is to often put as much pressure on his/her opposite number. The closer the opposition hooks the ball to the scrum the better chance for this disruption. The important thing is to stay low and once the opposition scrumhalf is pushed or tackled to the ground they will have to release the ball. If the ball does make it cleanly to the fly-half the role of the scrum-half is then to protect the blindside, followed by dropping back to the sweeper position. As mentioned in my ‘playing hooker’ in the rare situation where a defensive scrum occurs on the far left hand side of the field, the hooker sometimes switches with the scrumhalf/sweeper.

This allows the scrumhalf/sweeper to break out of the scrum, check the blindside, and then move back to become the sweeper. The hooker who is now playing defense at scrum-half and can then pressure the opposition scrum-half, and once he/she passes the ball, join the defensive line. On a defensive lineout the role of the scrumhalf is to protect the touchline – which Hunt doesn’t do in the example shown already (26 minutes 43 seconds). Once the scrum-half sees that the ball is spun wide, he/she then moves into that sweeper position. Attack: The scrum-half is the link between the forwards and the backline, and is often one of the best supporting players. The halfback is generally small by statue, but clever and creative. Watch 10 minutes 2 seconds in the above clip: Penalty to NZ, with Hunt starting the movement. His inside support lines are excellent and receives the ball twice as he crosses for a brilliant score. Nigel Hunt was one of the strongest scrumhalves of his time, which means he can take players on physically and often busts through.

Here at 3 minutes 35 seconds Hunt shows great strength and speed to make an outside break leading up to NZ’s first try. Also in this video at 18 minutes 36 seconds: Watch this passage of play for two pieces of brilliant ruck play. The first one is a counter ruck from NZ’s DJ Forbes who uses his strength to remove Bok Jonathan Mokuena and win the ball. Then Bok Ryno Benjamin reads the play beautifully (the tackled player was not held) and steals it back for SA at the next breakdown. Best scrumhalves in the world? Some of my favourite scrum-halves of all time include: Samoa’s Uale Mai, New Zealander Tomasi Cama, Fiji’s Emosi Vucago, USA’s Nese Malifa and of course South Africa’s Renfred Dazel. All of these players have superior fitness, speed, skill, decision-making, great form on defence – especially at the difficult position of sweeper – and amazing support play. Above all, they possess the ability to change a game single handedly.

Watch this highlight clip to see NZ’s Tomasi Cama (number 6) in action: Watch this highlight clip to see Samoa’s Uale Mai (number 6) in action. Watch this highlight clip to see South Africa’s Renfred Dazel (number 7) in action. --- Rugby IQ.com focuses on the technical aspects of rugby all from specific player positions, conditioning, psychology and drills and skills! Dallen Stanford played 7s for the USA from 2006 to 2009, including 13 IRB tournament appearances and the 2009 Sevens World Cup. He currently resides in Austin Texas, writes several rugby columns ( ; ) and works for the Tackling Cancer Foundation ( ) UR7s Newsletter IRB Sevens World Series | Rugby Union | Fandom powered by Wikia IRB Sevens World Series Share Ad blocker interference detected! Wikia is a free-to-use site that makes money from advertising. We have a modified experience for viewers using ad blockers Wikia is not accessible if you’ve made further modifications. Remove the custom ad blocker rule(s) and the page will load as expected.

IRB Sevens World Series New Zealand The IRB Sevens World Series, known officially as the IRB Sevens before the 2006-07 season and also sometimes called the World Sevens Series, is a series of international rugby union sevens tournaments organised for the first time in the 1999-2000 season. The tournaments, run by the International Rugby Board , feature national sevens teams. The series was first formed to develop an elite-level competition series between rugby nations and develop the Sevens game into a viable commercial product of the IRB. In 2005-06, the tour received 1147 hours of air time, 530 of which was live, and was broadcast to 136 countries. [1] Teams compete for the Sevens World Series title by accumulating points based on their finishing position in each tournaments. The tournaments span the globe.

In 2005-06, the most famous Sevens event, the Hong Kong Sevens , returned to the series after a one-year hiatus, in the 2004-05 season, for the IRB Rugby World Cup Sevens , which was held in Hong Kong in March 2005 and won by Fiji . Sevens is a stripped-down version of rugby union with seven players each side on a normal-sized field, rather than the normal fifteen. Games are much shorter, lasting only seven or ten minutes each half, and tend to be very fast-paced, open, affairs. Sevens is traditionally played in a two-day tournament format, with the Hong Kong Sevens (an anomaly as a three-day event) being the most famous. The game is quicker and higher-scoring than 15-a-side rugby and the rules are far simpler, which explains part of its appeal. It also gives players the space for superb feats of individual skill. New Zealand and Fiji are traditionally the strongest teams, although in recent years Argentina , Australia , England , France and South Africa have all won tournaments, and Samoa ran the two favourites very close for the World Series title in the 2006-07 season .

Contents Edit In a normal event, 16 teams are entered; in Hong Kong, 24 teams enter. In each tournament, the teams are divided into pools of four teams, who play a round-robin within the pool. Points are awarded in each pool on a different schedule from most rugby tournaments—3 for a win, 2 for a draw, 1 for a loss, 0 for a no-show. In case teams are tied after pool play, the tiebreakers are: [1] Head-to-head result between the tied teams. Difference in points scored and allowed during pool play. Difference in tries scored and allowed during pool play. Points scored during pool play. Coin toss. Four trophies are awarded in each tournament, except for Hong Kong. In descending order of prestige, they are the Cup, whose winner is the overall tournament champion, Plate, Bowl and Shield. In Hong Kong, the Shield is not awarded. Each trophy is awarded at the end of a knockout tournament. In a normal event, the top two teams in each pool advance to the Cup competition. The four quarterfinal losers drop into the bracket for the Plate.

The Bowl is contested by the third-place finishers in each pool, while the Shield is contested by the last-place teams from each pool. In Hong Kong, the six pool winners, plus the two highest-finishing second-place teams, advance to the Cup. The Plate participants are the eight highest-ranked teams remaining, while the lowest eight drop to the Bowl. Points schedule The season championship is determined by points earned in each tournament. For a 16-team event, applicable to all current legs in the series except for Hong Kong, points are awarded on the following schedule: [1] Cup winner (1st place): 20 points Cup runner-up: 16 points

Question: What is the duration of each half of a "rugby sevens" game in minutes, when played in the IRB Sevens World Series?
Answer: 7