Uruguay Sevens

The Uruguay Sevens, branded as Seven Punta, is an annual international rugby sevens tournament. Currently held in the capital Montevideo,[1] it was hosted as the Punta del Este Sevens in the resort city of the same name for three decades from 1989 onwards.[2] The tournament retains that history in its branding.[1]

Uruguay Sevens
Seven Punta logo
SportRugby sevens
Founded1989
No. of teams16 (2020)
Most recent
champion(s)		Japan
(2020)
Brazil and Fiji at Punta del Este in 2017.

The event was formerly part of the IRB Sevens World Series for the inaugural season in 2000. In recent years it has been part of the Sudamérica Sevens Series and the World Sevens Challenger Series.

The tournament is organised by the Old Boys Club, usually in January or February. It attracts the participation of clubs from Uruguay and neighboring countries such as Argentina, as well as selected provincial and national teams.

Internationally, it is the highest profile Uruguayan rugby event,[3] and has attracted players of the calibre of Jonah Lomu in the past,[4][5] as well as teams like Fiji, Argentina, New Zealand, Samoa and Belgium Barbarians

International sevens

The tournament was first played in 1989 and featured mostly club teams from Uruguay and Argentina in the early years. Its history as an international event grew in the 1990s when many of the best players and teams in the world travelled to Uruguay for the Seven Punta.[6]

International 7s and World Series: 1993 to 2001

The inaugural Punta del Este International Sevens tournament in 1993 attracted teams from Australia, France, England and New Zealand, as well as neighbours Argentina and Paraguay, plus Uruguay itself as host. The final was won by New Zealand, defeating Australia in a closely fought match by 26–19.[7] Other national teams including Fiji, Tonga and Samoa were added to the field in subsequent years as the tournament grew in status. Punta del Este was included as a stop on the 1999–2000 World Sevens Series but was dropped from the tour after the inaugural season. After one further event in 2001, won by Argentina who defeated New Zealand by 26–21 in the final,[8] the international sevens at Punta del Este ceased.[9]

Season Venue Cup final Placings Refs
Punta del Este Winner Score Runner-up Plate Bowl
I – IV For club & invitational 1989 to 1992 — See § Early years
V 1993 Estadio Domingo Burgueño
All Blacks​ VII		 26–19
Australia
Buenos Aires
Cuyo		 [7]
[10]
VI 1994 Estadio Domingo Burgueño
Fiji Cavaliers		 35–12
New Zealand
Rosario
Cote d'Aquitaine		 [11]
[12]
VII 1995 Estadio Ginés Cairo Medina [13]
Argentina		 36–19
Aus Barbarians		  FIRA [lower-alpha 1]
Tonga		 [13]
[14]
[15]
VIII 1996 Estadio Domingo Burgueño
New Zealand		 31–26
France
Buenos Aires
Old Boys		 [16]
IX 1997​ RWC Qual. Estadio Domingo Burgueño
France		 35–14
Western Samoa
Argentina
Uruguay		 [17]
X 1998 Estadio Domingo Burgueño
New Zealand		 42–19
Fiji
Western Samoa		 ? [18]
XI 1999 Estadio Domingo Burgueño
New Zealand		 38–44
Argentina
Western Samoa		 n/a [19]
XII 2000 Estadio Domingo Burgueño
New Zealand		 42–19
Fiji
Australia
France		 [20]
XIII 2001 Estadio Domingo Burgueño
Argentina VII		 26–21
New Zealand VII
Uruguay		   [lower-alpha 2]
Paysandú		 [8]
[21]

Key:
 Dark blue line indicates a tournament included in the World Rugby Sevens Series.

Select teams events: 2005 and 2012

After the tournament was restarted in 2003 as an event for club teams, some national and invitational sides began to be attracted back to play against the clubs, and occasionally a parallel international tournament was included again at the Punta del Este Sevens. The first was an IRB satellite competition in 2005 which included several national teams.[22] In 2012, an all-selection tournament for national and invitational teams was played, with Argentina defeating South Africa's academy to win the final.[23]

Season Venue Cup final Placings Refs
Punta del Este Winner Score Runner-up Third Fouth
XVI 2005
(IRB)		 Estadio Domingo Burgueño
Argentina		 38–14   [lower-alpha 3]
Moby Dick
Uruguay		   [lower-alpha 4]
BFL Mercosur		 [24]
[22]
[25]
XXIII 2012 Estadio Domingo Burgueño   [lower-alpha 5]
Argentina VII		 22–5
SA 7s Academy
Uruguay
Chile		 [23]
[26]

International sevens: 2017 onward

From 2017 to 2019 the Seven Punta was included on the annual Sudamérica Rugby Sevens series, and contested by selected international teams. In 2020 the tournament was part of the World Sevens Challenger Series. It was relocated for the first time to Montevideo but kept the Seven Punta name.[1] Japan won the cup final in 2020, defeating host nation Uruguay in extra time.[27]

Season Venue Cup final Placings Refs
Punta del Este Winner Score Runner-up Third Fourth
XXVIII 2017 Estadio Domingo Burgueño
Argentina		 22–21
Fiji
Chile
USA Falcons		 [28]
[29]
XXIX 2018 Estadio Domingo Burgueño
SA 7s Academy		 21−5
Chile
France
Uruguay		 [30]
XXX 2019 Estadio Domingo Burgueño
Chile		 7–5
Argentina VII
Portugal
Germany		 [31]
Montevideo Winner Score Runner-up Third Fourth
XXXI 2020 Estadio Charrua [1]
Japan		 5–0
(a.e.t.)
Uruguay
Hong Kong
Chile		 [27]

Key:
  Light blue line indicates a tournament included in the Sudamérica Rugby Sevens series.
  Green line indicates a tournament included in the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series.

Club and invitational tournament

Early years: 1989 to 1992

The first four tournaments featured mainly South American club teams although host club Old Boys organised an invitational team known as "Anzacs Old Boys" which won the Cup in 1991 and 1992.[6] That team featured notable players from Australia and New Zealand, including John Eales, Jason Little, Eric Rush and Frank Bunce alongside players such as South American representative Gabriel Travaglini.[32][33] In 1993 the tournament became the Punta del Este International Sevens and featured selected national teams from around the world.

Season Venue Cup final Refs
Club & Invitational Winner Runner-up
I 1989 Estadio Domingo Burgueño
Old Boys
Banco Nación		 [6]
II 1990 Estadio Domingo Burgueño
Los Tilos
Pueyrredón		 [6]
III 1991 Estadio Domingo Burgueño Anzacs Old Boys
Los Tilos		 [6]
IV 1992 Estadio Domingo Burgueño Anzacs Old Boys
Pueyrredón		 [6]

Gold Cup: 2003 to present
PSG (Pucaru) player chases the ball, 7 Punta 2010.

Following a one year hiatus after the international sevens had ended in 2001, the event was restarted in 2003 as a tournament for club teams in a return to roots.[6] For the fourteen seasons from 2003 to 2016, the tournament was contested mainly by club teams, but with the occasional national representative selections and sponsored invitational teams [9] entered in the same division.[6] Since 2017, club teams have competed in a separate division to international selections.

A Gold Cup is awarded to the champion team. Silver and Bronze Cups were usually awarded to teams winning the lower bracket playoffs,[lower-alpha 6] although the minor placings in the top bracket were given recognition in 2017.

Season Venue Gold Cup Placings Refs
Club  & invitational Winner Score Runner-up Silver Cup Bronze Cup
No tournament in 2002
XIV 2003 Estadio Domingo Burgueño
Old Boys		 13–7
Old Christians
La Tablada
 Pucaru [es]		 [34]
[35]
[36]
XV 2004 Estadio Domingo Burgueño
Hindú		 22–19
La Ballena [lower-alpha 3]
Marista Mendoza
Uruguay		 [37]
[38]
[39]
XVI 2005 Estadio Domingo Burgueño
Alumni		 27–14
Hindú
Old Christians		 n/a [40]
[41]
XVII 2006 Estadio Domingo Burgueño
Moby Dick		 24–5
Jockey de Salta
Old Christians
 Pucaru [es]		 [42]
[43]
XVIII 2007 Estadio Domingo Burgueño
San Isidro CASI		 26–17
Moby Dick
Hindú
San Isidro SIC		 [44]
XIX 2008 Estadio Domingo Burgueño
Samoa		 25–0
Buenos Aires
Tonga
Jockey de Salta		 [45]
XX 2009 Estadio Domingo Burgueño
Samoa		 34–14
Argentina
Tonga
Los Tordos		 [46]
[47]
XXI 2010 Estadio Domingo Burgueño
Buenos Aires		 17–12
Samoa
Tonga		 Bridgestone VII [48]
[49]
XXII 2011 Estadio Domingo Burgueño
Buenos Aires		 19–10
Salta [es]
Córdoba Athletic
Moby Dick		 [50]
XXIII 2012 Estadio Domingo Burgueño   [lower-alpha 7]
Personal VII		 19–10
Moby Dick
Buenos Aires
Paysandú Clubs		 [23]
XXIV 2013 Estadio Domingo Burgueño
Buenos Aires		 39–0
Moby Dick
Uruguay
Jockey de Salta		 [51]
XXV 2014 Estadio Domingo Burgueño
SA 7s Academy		 19–14
Moby Dick
Uruguay VII
Pucará		 [52]
XXVI 2014–15 Punta del Este Polo & Country Club
Moby Dick		 15–7
Chile
Uruguay
Pucará		 [53]
XXVII 2015–16 Punta del Este Polo & Country Club
Córdoba Athletic		 21–5
Moby Dick
Pucará
Liceo Naval		 [54]
[55]
Club  & invitational Winner Score Runner-up Third Fourth
XXVIII 2017 Estadio Domingo Burgueño
Córdoba Athletic		 28–7
La Tablada
Trébol
Carrasco Polo		 [56]
[57]
XXIX No club competition in 2018
XXX 2019 Estadio Domingo Burgueño
 CURNE [lower-alpha 8]		 17–12
Old Boys
La Tablada
Trébol		 [31]
Club –  Seven de Old Boys Winner Score Runner-up Silver Cup Bronze Cup
XXXI 2019–20 Estadio Charrua, Montevideo [1]
Old Boys		 15–10
 CURNE [lower-alpha 8]
Lobos		 ? [58]
[59]

Notes
  1. Fédération Internationale de Rugby Amateur selection from France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Holland, Morocco, Tunisia.[14]
  2. Recorded as Paysandú (possibly a regional selection) by Rugby7,[21] in other sources as Trébol de Paysandú [es].[8]
  3. La Ballena Moby Dick: a composite team mainly from Argentina,[22] under the banner of local Punta bar, Moby Dick.[9]
  4. BFL Mercosur: a sponsored invitational team of players selected from Argentina and France.[22]
  5. UAR 7s (Argentina VII)
  6. Gold, Silver and Bronze cups are the nominal trophies for many rugby sevens tournaments in South America. These are generally equivalent to the Cup, Plate and Bowl – for first, fifth and ninth place, respectively – as awarded in the traditional sevens tournament with sixteen teams. For an event with a different number of teams or divisions, however, these trophies may awarded differently.
  7. Personal VII: an invitational team sponsored by mobile phone company Telecom Personal.
  8. A university rugby club based in the city of Resistencia in north-eastern Argentina.

References
  1. Arrillaga, Enrique (14 December 2019). "El Seven de Punta del Este y un cambio histórico para el rugby de la región" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 15 December 2019.
  2. Signes, Emil (15 June 1995). "Argentina wins Punta del Este Sevens" (PDF). emilito.org. Rugby Magazine. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 December 2018.
  3. Bath, p 78
  4. NZ wins Uruguay sevens in The Press (Christchurch, New Zealand), published 7 January 1999
  5. The Development of Rugby in the River Plate Region: Irish Influences - Hugh FitzGerald Ryan, part four, retrieved, 10 December 2009
  6. "Punta del Este Roll of Honour". rugby7.com. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  7. Annual Report (PDF) (Report) (in Spanish). Unión Argentina de Rugby. 1993. pp. 36–38. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 September 2018.
  8. Mamone, Pablo (7 January 2001). "Shadow Argentina take Punta del Este Sevens". ESPN Scrum.
  9. Degas, Frankie (27 December 2009). "Rugby in paradise - Seven de Punta del Este". Ultimate Rugby 7s. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013.
  10. "Success at sevens". The Canberra Times. 14 January 1993. p. 21. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  11. Annual Report (PDF) (Report) (in Spanish). Unión Argentina de Rugby. 1994. pp. 32–33. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 September 2018.
  12. Gutierrez, Jose. "La Historia de un Torneo de Rugby que es más que un Mero Torneo". La Semana Activa (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 25 December 2018.
  13. Annual Report (PDF) (Report) (in Spanish). Unión Argentina de Rugby. 1995. pp. 19–20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 June 2017.
  14. Signes, Emil (24 July 2013). "January 7-8, 1995: Atlantis at Punta del Este Sevens (Uruguay)". Emilito. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018.
  15. Signes, Emil (10 March 1995). "Argentina win Punta del Este 7s" (PDF). Rugby: 14 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 December 2018.
  16. Signes, Emil (18 March 1996). "Punte del Este 7s NZ Over France in OT". Rugby Magazine: 18. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018.
  17. 1997 Punta del Este 7s Rugby 7s.
  18. 1998 Punta del Este 7s Rugby 7s.
  19. "National teams results". 7 Punta. 1999. Archived from the original on 11 November 1999. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  20. 2000 Punta del Este 7s Rugby 7s.
  21. 2001 Punta del Este 7s Rugby 7s.
  22. "Argentina ganó la Copa de Oro del "Seven a Side" en Uruguay". La Nación (in Spanish). 10 January 2005. Archived from the original on 27 December 2018.
  23. "Pasó el Seven de Punta". Montevideo Cricket Club (in Spanish). 12 January 2013. Archived from the original on 27 December 2018.
  24. "Rugby: Chile derrota a Colombia en Seven a Side de Punta del Este". Emol (in Spanish). 9 January 2005. Archived from the original on 27 December 2018.
  25. 2005 Punta del Este 7s Rugby 7s.
  26. 2012 Punta del Este 7s Rugby 7s.
  27. "Sport: Tonga 7s seal spot in World Series Qualifier". Radio New Zealand. 24 February 2020. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020.
  28. Argentina y Fiji, los mejores en el arranque del #SudaméricaRugby7s (in Spanish) Sudamerica Rugby. 7 January 2017.
  29. "Argentina, primer campeón del #SudaméricaRugby7s". Sudamerica Rugby (in Spanish). 7 January 2017. Archived from the original on 8 January 2017. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  30. 2018 Punta del Este 7s Rugby 7s.
  31. "Chile se consagró en el Seven de Punta del Este". ESPN (in Spanish). 7 January 2019. Archived from the original on 11 January 2019.
  32. "Uruguay invitation". The Canberra Times. 11 December 1991. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  33. "100 Years: The British Schools Old Boys and Old Girls Club" (in Spanish). 2014. p. 146.
  34. Tabeira, Martín (6 January 2003). "En clásico oriental Old Boys se quedó con el Seven". Puntaweb (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 21 November 2004. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  35. Tabeira, Martín (5 January 2003). "El Seven regresó con todo". Puntaweb (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 21 November 2004. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  36. "El seven a side vuelve a Punta del Este". LeRed21 (in Spanish). 3 January 2003. Archived from the original on 27 December 2018.
  37. Tabeira, Martín. "Hindú se quedó con el XV Seven de Punta del Este". Puntaweb (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 27 December 2018.
  38. "Hindú se consagro campeón del Seven de Punta del Este 2004". Cordoba XV (in Spanish). 7 January 2004. Archived from the original on 27 December 2018.
  39. Holden, L:ian (6 January 2004). "Hindú, el mejor de todos". Rugbyfun. Archived from the original on 27 December 2018.
  40. "Un rugido estremeció la noche puntaesteña". Puntaweb (in Spanish). 10 January 2005. Archived from the original on 27 December 2018.
  41. "Los Pumas se quedaron con el seven de Punta del Este" (in Spanish). 10 January 2005. Archived from the original on 27 December 2018.
  42. "A los salteños solamente les faltó el final". Clarin (in Spanish). 9 January 2006. Archived from the original on 27 December 2018.
  43. "Los que siguen en el Seven uruguayo". ESPN (in Spanish). 8 January 2006. Archived from the original on 27 December 2018.
  44. "En el Este, CASI campeón". Super Try (in Spanish). 14 January 2007. Archived from the original on 20 June 2015.
  45. "Samoa festejó en el seven de Punta del Este". infobae (in Spanish). 6 January 2008. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018.
  46. "Samoa vence a Argentina y conquista Seven a Side de Rugby" (in Spanish). 4 January 2009. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018.
  47. 2009 Punta del Este 7s Rugby 7s.
  48. "Buenos Aires festejó en el Seven de Punta del Este". La Nacion (in Spanish). 5 January 2010. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  49. 2010 Punta del Este 7s Rugby 7s.
  50. 2011 Punta del Este 7s Rugby 7s.
  51. Matches (in Spanish) 7 Punta. 2013.
  52. Matches (in Spanish) 7 Punta. 2014.
  53. Moby Dick Champion Punta del Este Sevens! Archived 2016-01-29 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish) Rugby Time. 28 December 2014.
  54. "XXVII Seven Punta 2015 Friday". Old Boys. 26 December 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  55. "XXVII Seven Punta 2015 Saturday". Old Boys. 27 December 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  56. "Se define el Seven de Punta del Este: Resultados del viernes". Ovación. 7 January 2017. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  57. "Argentina, el gran campeón del Seven: Los resultados del sábado". Ovación (in Spanish). 8 January 2017. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  58. "Copa de Oro" (in Spanish). OBC Rugby. 15 December 2019.
  59. "Copa de Plata" (in Spanish). OBC Rugby. 15 December 2019.

Bibliography
  • Bath, Richard (ed.) The Complete Book of Rugby (Seven Oaks Ltd, 1997 ISBN 1-86200-013-1)
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