Rugby 7s: It's Awesome

Rugby sevens, the seven-a-side form of fifteen-a-side rugby union, is taking the world by storm. A global game, sevens is played throughout the South Pacific, Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas. It has been a fixture of the Commonwealth Games since 1998, although that has been won all four times by New Zealand. Now Rugby Sevens has reached the pinnacle, with its introduction as an Olympic Sport.

Sevens games are much shorter and there is extra space from fewer players, rugby sevens is known for its open running and quick scoring. The players themselves are renowned for their running lines, passing and handling skills. Many famous players cut their teeth in rugby sevens, such as:

All Blacks:

• Jonah Lomu
• Christian Cullen
• Zinzan Brooke

Wallabies:

• George Gregan
• Joe Roff

England:

• Lawrence Dallaglio
• Matt Dawson

South Africa

• Bryan Habana

Argentina:

• Augustin Pichot

Just to name a few

Because of the exciting nature of the game, rugby sevens is a fantastic spectator sport. Game results are more unpredictable in rugby sevens, with less of a gap between the best teams, unlike in rugby union which is traditionally dominated by a few teams at a time.

Live audiences love rugby sevens. The short length of each game, only fifteen minutes, allows entire tournaments to be played over a weekend. Tournaments will often have second or even third tier of finals, such as a plate final, allowing teams who are knocked out early still remain active in the tournament.

For all these reasons, rugby sevens tournaments are known for their festival, mardi gras-like atmosphere, with lots of dressing up and partying. Stadiums are usually filled with groups of people dressed in outrageous themes and dancing in the aisles.

In 2009 the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to include Rugby Sevens at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Previously the premier competition for Rugby Sevens had been the Rugby Sevens World Cup, a four-yearly tournament contested since 1993. 16 teams vywe for the world cup following a vigorous qualifications schedule. However, as a condition of Olympic entry the 2013 Rugby Sevens World Cup will be the last.

The Similarities between Rugby Union and Rugby Sevens:

• The tackle ball/ruck and lineout is the same, but with fewer players contesting.
• The scrum is the same, but instead of nine players on each side, there are only three.
• In both rugby union and sevens, tries are worth five points plus a two point conversion. Penalties and drop goals are worth three points.
• The same sized field is used for both, 100m by 70m.
  

The Differences Between Rugby Union and Rugby Sevens

• Seven players on each side instead of 15.
• Each half of rugby sevens is seven minutes, with a half time break of one minute. For a tournament final, each half is often extended to ten minutes each with two minutes for half time. Rugby Union has 40 minute halves and 10 minutes for half time.
• Yellow cards take a player out of the game for 2 minutes instead of 10. However, this represents a much larger percentage of the overall game so is a harsher penalty.
• The team who has just scored kicks off in sevens instead of the other way around in rugby union.
• Conversions must be drop kicked in sevens but can be place kicked in rugby union.

The Hong Kong Sevens Tournament is the crown jewel of the IRB Sevens World Series. Running since 1976, it was one of the first international rugby tournaments in the world. It takes place on the last weekend of March, from Friday afternoon to Sunday evening. Since 1982 it has been played at the Hong Kong Government Stadium.

In a tournament series full of parties, atmosphere and fancy dress, the Hong Kong Sevens Tournament is the one everyone wants to be at. The infamous South Stand holds the most raucous of party goers, and is even restricted to R18.

While the other tournaments on the sevens circuit are contested by 16 teams, Hong Kong is a 24 team event. It is also worth more points for a tournament win, 30 instead of 24. Including the 2010 tournament, Fiji have won the most Hong Kong Sevens , with 12, New Zealand have won 9, Australia 5 and England 4.

For more information about the Hong Kong Sevens, check out this article.

With over 2400 points and still climbing, Ben Gollings international sevens scoring records may never be surpassed.In 2006 he bacame the first player to score 1500 points, and in 2009 the first to score 2000. No other player is close to either landmark. He is second on the all time try scoring list, behind Argentina's Santiago Gomez Cora.

Ben Gollings debuted for the England Sevens team in 2000.

Santiago Gomez Cora leads the rugby sevens try scoring list with 230 tries. He is third all time point record holder, behind Ben Gollings and Fijian rugby legend Waisale Serevi.

Cora has also played for the Argentina Rugby Union international team at full back.

I am based in New Zealand and enjoy writing about rugby, movies and music and am also interested in property investment and travel. I operate a rugby blog and a site dedicated to Tarantino movies and merchandise and contribute to a Property Investment Tips site.