World Rugby Women's Sevens Series

The World Rugby Women's Sevens Series, is a series of international rugby sevens tournaments for women's national teams run by World Rugby. The inaugural series was held in 2012–13 as the successor to the IRB Women's Sevens Challenge Cup held the previous season.[1] The competition has been sponsored by banking group HSBC since 2015.[2]

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series
Current season, competition or edition:
2019–20 World Rugby Women's Sevens Series
Logo since 2016
FormerlyIRB Women's Sevens Challenge Cup
SportRugby union
Founded2012 (2012)
No. of teams12
CountryWorldwide
Most recent
champion(s)
 New Zealand (2019–20)
Most titles New Zealand (6 titles)
TV partner(s)List of broadcasters
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toChallenger Series

The series, the women's counterpart to the World Rugby Sevens Series, provides elite-level women's competition between rugby nations. As with the men's Sevens World Series, teams compete for the title by accumulating points based on their finishing position in each tournament.

History

The first 2012–13 series consisted of four tournaments on three continents. The first two events were hosted by the United Arab Emirates (specifically Dubai) and the United States, both of which host events in the men's version. The other two events were hosted by China and the Netherlands.

For the second series in 2013–14, five tournaments took place; a sixth had initially been announced, but never materialized. All nations that hosted events in 2012–13 hosted in the second season, with the added event hosted by Brazil.[3]

The series expanded to six events for 2014–15. The Dubai, Brazil, USA, and Netherlands events remained on the schedule. China was not on the 2014–15 schedule. New rounds of the series were launched in Canada (specifically in Greater Victoria) and London.[4]

Logo2015–16

Initially, the 2015–16 series was announced with only four events, with London and the Netherlands dropping from the schedule, but a fifth event was eventually added, hosted by France. Events in Australia and Japan were added in 2016–17. With the USA hosting the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens, the USA was not on the 2017–18 schedule.[5]

The USA Women's Sevens returned to the schedule for the 2018–19 series, but the event was moved within the season to become the opening event. The same season saw three events move to new locations.[6] First, the USA event moved from Las Vegas to the Denver suburb of Glendale, Colorado. The Australian Women's Sevens, as well as the country's corresponding event in the men's Sevens Series, moved within Sydney from Sydney Football Stadium to Sydney Showground Stadium. This was necessary because the Football Stadium was demolished, with an entirely new stadium to be built on the same site.[7] Finally, the France Women's Sevens, originally set for Paris, was moved to Biarritz, with the date also being moved forward two weeks from its original schedule. This change was promoted by both World Rugby and the French Rugby Federation (FFR) as "enabl[ing] the FFR to maximise the visibility, attendance and impact of hosting the final round of the record-breaking series."[8]

Tournaments

Current events

The 2019–20 season has expanded to eight events for the first time. The Japan Women's Sevens was dropped from the schedule, at least temporarily, due to the country's hosting of the 2020 Summer Olympics. Of the eight events, six will be held at the same time and venue as existing events in the men's World Series, with the US and Canada being the only exceptions. New events in New Zealand and South Africa will join the two countries' current men's events, and the Hong Kong Women's Sevens, previously a World Series core team qualifier, will become a full World Series event. Additionally, the France Women's Sevens will return to Paris after having been held in Biarritz in 2018–19.[9] Finally, the Australia events in both series will move again within Sydney to Western Sydney Stadium.[10]

Event Stadium (Capacity) City Joined[lower-alpha 1]
USAInfinity Park (5,000) Glendale (Denver) 2012–13[lower-alpha 2]
DubaiThe Sevens (50,000) Dubai 2012–13
South AfricaCape Town Stadium (55,000) Cape Town 2019–20
New ZealandFMG Stadium Waikato (25,800) Hamilton 2019–20
AustraliaBankwest Stadium (30,000) Sydney 2016–17
Hong KongHong Kong Stadium (40,000) Hong Kong 2019–20
CanadaWesthills Stadium (6,000) Langford (Victoria) 2014–15
FranceStade Jean-Bouin (20,000) Paris 2015–16
  1. Refers to the first event hosted by that country, not necessarily at the current site.
  2. The USA did not host an event in the 2017–18 women's season due to its hosting of the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens, although it hosted the corresponding men's Sevens Series event in that season.

Former hosts of current events

Event Stadium (Capacity) City First held Last held
AustraliaSydney Football Stadium [lower-alpha 1]Sydney2016–172017–18
Sydney Showground Stadium [lower-alpha 2]Sydney2018–19
FranceStade Gabriel MontpiedClermont-Ferrand2015–162016–17
Parc des Sports AguiléraBiarritz2018–19
USABBVA Stadium [lower-alpha 3]Houston2012–13
Fifth Third Bank StadiumKennesaw (Atlanta)2013–142015–16
Sam Boyd StadiumWhitney (Las Vegas)2016–17
  1. Most recently known for sponsorship reasons as Allianz Stadium; demolished and in process of replacement by a new stadium on the same site.
  2. Known for sponsorship reasons as Spotless Stadium when it hosted the series in 2018–19.
  3. Known as BBVA Compass Stadium when it hosted the series in 2012–13.

Event on hiatus

Event Stadium (Capacity) City Joined[lower-alpha 1]
JapanMikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu (15,066) Kitakyushu 2016–17
  1. Refers to the first event hosted by that country, not necessarily at the current site.

Previous events

Event Stadium (Capacity) City Joined Ended
ChinaGuangzhou University City Stadium (50,000) Guangzhou 2012–132013–14
São PauloArena Barueri (35,000) Barueri (São Paulo) 2013–142015–16
LondonTwickenham Stoop (14,800) London 2014–15
NetherlandsNRCA Stadium (10,000) Amsterdam 2012–132014–15

Sponsorship

Unlike the men's Sevens Series, which has enjoyed title sponsorship by banking giant HSBC in recent years, the Women's Sevens Series did not have a title sponsor until 2015–16. HSBC is now the title sponsor of both the men's and women's series.

Historical results

Results by season

Summary of the top six placegetters for each series:

Series Season Events Champion Second   Third  Fourth Fifth Sixth
I 2012–13 4
New Zealand

(74 pts)

England

Canada

United States

Russia

Australia
II 2013–14 5
New Zealand

(96 pts)

Australia

Canada

England

Russia

Spain
III 2014–15 6
New Zealand

(108 pts)

Canada

Australia

England

United States

France
IV 2015–16 5
Australia

(94 pts)

New Zealand

Canada

England

France

United States
V 2016–17 6
New Zealand

(116 pts)

Australia

Canada

Fiji

Russia

United States
VI 2017–18 5
Australia

(92 pts)

New Zealand

France

Canada

United States

Russia
VII 2018–19 6
New Zealand

(110 pts)

United States

Canada

Australia

France

England
VIII 2019–20  5[lower-alpha 1]
New Zealand

(96 pts)

Australia

Canada

France

United States

Russia

Season placings by team

Tally of top six placings in the series for each team, updated after the 2019–20 season:

Team Champ­ion Runner-up Third Fourth Top-3 Apps Top-6 Apps
 New Zealand 6 2 8 8
 Australia 2 3 1 1 6 8
 Canada 1 6 1 7 8
 England 1 4 1 5
 United States 1 1 1 7
 France 1 1 1 5
 Fiji 1 1 1
 Russia 5
 Spain 1

Notes

  1. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the three remaining rounds of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2020, scheduled for Langford, Paris, and Hong Kong, were cancelled.[11]

Format

Rugby sevens is a version of rugby union, invented in Scotland in the 19th century, with seven players each side on a normal-sized field. Games are much shorter, generally lasting only seven 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 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.

The women's series features 12 teams in each tournament. The remaining participants are invited on the basis of regional tournament rankings.[12]

Each tournament uses a format similar to that of the men's series, adjusted for the lower number of teams, with pool play followed by three separate knockout tournaments.

Core teams

Prior to the inaugural season, a group of "core teams" that are guaranteed places in all series events was announced. This concept is taken directly from the men's series. Unlike the men's series, which features 15 core teams as of the 2012–13 season, the women's series began with only six.

For the 2013–14 series, the number of core teams was increased to eight, all reached the quarter final from the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens:[3]

Brazil was invited to participate in all events for the 2013–14 series. This was part of an IRB initiative to help jump-start women's rugby development in the country, which is set to host the 2016 Summer Olympics.[3]

For the 2014–15 series, the number of core teams increased to 11, and qualification was extensively revamped, changing to a system more similar to that currently used in the men's World Series. The top seven teams in the 2013–14 series retained core team status. Four additional core teams were determined in a 12-team qualifying tournament held in Hong Kong on 12–13 September 2014.[13] World Rugby did not initially announce full details of the qualification system for future series, but eventually determined that the top nine teams from the 2014–15 series would retain their status for 2015–16, with a world qualifier following in September 2015.[14]

Core teams I II III IV V VI VII VIII
 Australia                
 Brazil    
 Canada                
 China    
 England                
 Fiji            
 France            
 Ireland            
 Japan    
 Netherlands  
 New Zealand                
 Russia              
 South Africa  
 Spain              
 United States                
Total 6[12] 8 11 11[15] 11 11 11 11

Player awards by season

Season Rounds Most points Most tries Player of the Year
2012–13 4 Portia Woodman (105) Portia Woodman (21) Kayla McAlister
2013–14 5 Emilee Cherry (195) Emilee Cherry (33) Emilee Cherry
2014–15 6 Portia Woodman (?) Portia Woodman (52) Portia Woodman
2015–16 5 Ghislaine Landry (158) Portia Woodman (24) Charlotte Caslick[16]
2016–17 6 Ghislaine Landry (269) Michaela Blyde (40) Michaela Blyde
2017–18 5 Portia Woodman (215) Portia Woodman (43) Michaela Blyde
2018–19 5 Tyla Nathan-Wong (207) Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (35) Ruby Tui

Points schedule

The overall winner of the series was determined by points gained from the standings across all events in the season.[17] The points schedule is similar to that of the men's Series, with the differences noted above.[18][19]

In Series V, 2016–17 the awards changed. At each event teams compete for gold, silver and bronze medals while lower ranked teams will contest a new Challenge Trophy competition.[20] In the first four Series teams played, after the pool stage, for a Cup (1st four teams), a Plate (second 4 teams) and a Bowl (last 4 teams)

Twelve teams competed at each event; nine being "core" teams, with three teams invited to participate in particular events (similar to previous women's series as well as the men's counterpart).

Place Status Points
Cup winner and gold medalist 20
Cup runner-up and silver medalist 18
3rd-place play-off winner and bronze medalist 16
4 3rd-place play-off loser 14
5 5th-place play-off winner 12
6 5th-place play-off loser 10
7 7th-place play-off winner 8
8 7th-place play-off loser 6
9 9th-place play-off winner 4
10 9th-place play-off loser 3
11 11th-place play-off winner 2
12 11th-place play-off loser 1

Tie-breaking: Should teams finish equal on series points at the end of the season, the tiebreakers are the same as those in the men's series:[18]

  1. Overall scoring differential in the season.
  2. Total try count in the season.
  3. If neither produces a winner, the teams are tied.

See also

Notes and references

  1. "The History of Rugby Sevens". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  2. "HSBC partners with World Rugby for record-breaking sevens properties" (Press release). World Rugby. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  3. "Schedule announced for 2013/14 Women's Series" (Press release). International Rugby Board. 22 August 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
  4. "Host cities announced for women's series" (Press release). International Rugby Board. 31 July 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  5. "Sevens Series 2018 to finish in Paris as women's dates confirmed". World Rugby. 29 September 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  6. "Schedule confirmed for HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2019" (Press release). World Rugby. 7 July 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  7. "Sydney 7s has a new home in 2019" (Press release). Rugby Australia. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  8. "Biarritz to host HSBC World Rugby Women's Sevens Series finale" (Press release). World Rugby. 19 December 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  9. "World Rugby announces new-look men's and women's HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2019-23" (Press release). World Rugby. 13 March 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  10. "HSBC Sydney 7s heads to Bankwest Stadium" (Press release). Rugby Australia. 2 June 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  11. "2020 Sevens series standings". Sevens.Rugby. 2020.
  12. "IRB announces Women's Sevens World Series" (Press release). International Rugby Board. 4 October 2012. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  13. "Women's Sevens Series places up for grabs" (Press release). International Rugby Board. 8 July 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  14. "Team GB secure Olympic qualification as Canada claim Amsterdam Sevens" (Press release). World Rugby. 23 May 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  15. "Japan and Ireland qualify for Women's Sevens Series" (Press release). World Rugby. 20 August 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  16. "Caslick crowned Women's Sevens Player of the Year by World Rugby". The Daily Telegraph. 4 November 2016.
  17. "Women's Sevens Series tournament rules". World Rugby. 2016. Archived from the original on 30 May 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  18. "Women's Sevens Series Tournament Rules". World Rugby. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  19. "IRB Sevens World Series: Rules". International Rugby Board. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  20. "Men's and women's sevens winners to strike gold". World Rugby.org. 3 October 2016.
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