SVNS#Tries
{{merge-from|World Rugby SVNS Series|date=April 2025}}
{{Short description|International series of men's rugby union tournaments}}
{{About|the men's rugby sevens competition|the women's rugby sevens competition|Women's SVNS}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox sports league
| upcoming_season =
| last_season = 2023–24 World Rugby Sevens Series
| title = HSBC SVNS
| current_season = 2024–25 SVNS
| logo = SVNS Logo (2023).svg
| pixels =
| caption =
| sport = Rugby sevens
| formerly = {{plainlist|
- IRB Sevens World Series {{small|(1999–2014)}}
- Sevens World Series {{small|(2014–2015)}}
- {{nowrap|World Rugby Sevens Series {{small|(2015–2023)}}}}
}}
| founded = {{start date and age|df=y|1999||}}
| inaugural = 1999–2000
| teams = 8 (2025–26)
| TV = List of broadcasters
| levels = 1
| qualification = Challenger Series
| champion = {{ru7|South Africa}} (Cup) {{ru7|ARG}} (League) (2024–25)
| most_champs = {{ru7|NZL}} {{small|(14 titles)}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.svns.com/en}}
}}
The SVNS,{{cite web|url=https://www.world.rugby/news/825817/hsbc-svns-set-to-supercharge-rugbys-global-appeal-as-the-ultimate-festival-of-immersive-experiences|title=HSBC SVNS set to supercharge rugby's global appeal as the ultimate festival of immersive experiences|date=18 July 2023|website=world.rugby|publisher=World Rugby }}{{cite news|date=18 July 2023|title=World Rugby launches new sevens series 'SVNS' to be hosted in eight cities|url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/world-rugby-launches-new-sevens-series-svns-be-hosted-eight-cities-2023-07-18/|work=Reuters }} known as the HSBC SVNS for sponsorship reasons, is an annual series of international rugby sevens tournaments run by World Rugby featuring national sevens teams. Organised for the first time in the 1999–2000 season as the IRB World Sevens Series, the competition was formed to promote an elite-level of international rugby sevens and develop the game into a viable commercial product. The competition has been sponsored by banking group HSBC since 2014.
The season's circuit consists of eight tournaments held in five continents, generally beginning in November or December and ending in May or June. All tournaments feature the same 12 teams.
Teams compete for the World Rugby Series title by accumulating points based on their finishing position in each tournament. The bottom four teams play a repechange tournament against the top four teams of the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series.
New Zealand had originally dominated the Series, winning each of the first six seasons from 1999–2000 to 2004–05, but since then, Fiji, South Africa, Samoa and Australia have each won season titles. England, Argentina and the United States have placed in the top three for several seasons but have not won the series title.
The International Olympic Committee's decision in 2009 to add rugby sevens to the Summer Olympics beginning in 2016 has added a boost to rugby sevens and to the World Sevens Series; this boost has led to increased exposure and revenues, leading several of the core teams to field fully professional squads.
History
=International sevens=
The first international rugby sevens tournament was held in 1973 in Scotland, which was celebrating a century of the Scottish Rugby Union.{{cite web|title=Scotland.org – September 2007 Try and Try again|url=http://www.scotland.org/about/entertainment-and-sport/features/culture/scottish-rugby.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091019124148/http://www.scotland.org/about/entertainment-and-sport/features/culture/scottish-rugby.html|archive-date=19 October 2009|url-status=live|access-date=2009-06-23}} Seven international teams took part, with England defeating Ireland 22–18 in the final to take the trophy. The Hong Kong Sevens annual tournament began in 1976.[http://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/sevens/article/1723029/pictures-40-years-hong-kong-sevens-part-1-1976-1980 "How it all began: A jewel discovered"], South China Morning Post, 6 March 2015. Over the next two decades the number of international sevens competitions increased. The most notable was the Rugby World Cup Sevens with Scotland hosting the inaugural event in 1993,[http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/sportscotland/asportingnation/article/0080/ "The first Melrose Sevens match 1883"], BBC along with rugby joining the Commonwealth Games program in 1998.
=World Series early years=
{{multiple image|perrow = 2|background color = white
|image1 = 1x1.png|width1 = 50
|image2 = IRB World Sevens Series logo 1999.png|width2 = 80
|image3=1x1.png|width3=0|image4=1x1.png|width4=0
|image5 = IRB Sevens World Series logo.png|width5 = 175
|image6=1x1.png|width6=0
|image7=1x1.png|width7=0|image8=1x1.png|width8=0
|image9 = 1x1.png|width9 = 25
|image10 = IRB Sevens World Series logo 2011.svg|width10 = 130
|image11=1x1.png|width11=0|image12=1x1.png|width12=0|image13=1x1.png|width13=0
|image14 = World Rugby Sevens Series logo.png
|image_style = border:none;
|footer_background = #F8F9FA
|footer = Former series logos: 1999 (top);
pre–2010 (middle); 2011–2015 (centre-bottom); 2015–2023 (bottom).
}}
The first season of the World Sevens Series was the 1999–2000 season. At the Series launch, the chairman of the International Rugby Board, Vernon Pugh, described the IRB's vision of the role of this new competition: "this competition has set in place another important element in the IRB’s drive to establish rugby as a truly global sport, one with widespread visibility and steadily improving standards of athletic excellence."[https://www.worldrugby.org/sevens-series/news/22534?lang=en "New Zealand take maiden Series crown"], World Rugby, 31 August 2000. New Zealand and Fiji dominated the first series, meeting in the final in eight of the ten season tournaments, and New Zealand narrowly won, overtaking Fiji by winning the last tournament of the series.
New Zealand won the first six seasons in a row from 1999–2000 to 2004–05,[http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10329289 "Sevens: NZ lose semi, but still claim world title"], New Zealand Herald, 6 June 2005. led by players such as Karl Te Nana and Amasio Valence. The number of stops in the series varied over the seasons, but experienced a contraction from 11 tournaments in 2001–02 to 7 tournaments in 2002–03 due to the global recession. In the 2005–06 season Fiji clinched the season trophy on the last tournament of the season finishing ahead of England.{{cite web|title= 2005–06 Season Overview|website= irb.com|access-date= 12 December 2013|url= http://www.irb.com/irbsevens/archive/tcode=1060/season=2005/overview.html|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101024145733/http://www.irb.com/irbsevens/archive/tcode%3D1060/season%3D2005/overview.html|archive-date= 24 October 2010}} New Zealand regained the trophy in 2006–07 season in the last tournament of the season.{{cite web|title= 2006–07 Season Overview|website= irb.com|access-date= 12 December 2013|url= http://www.irb.com/irbsevens/archive/tcode=1050/season=2006/overview.html|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101023094121/http://www.irb.com/irbsevens/archive/tcode%3D1050/season%3D2006/overview.html|archive-date= 23 October 2010}}
South Africa was the next team to win the series after taking home the 2008–09 title.[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2017/12/09/secret-south-africa-sevens-success-country-has-embraced-rugbys/ "The secret to South Africa Sevens' success"], Telegraph, Kate Rowan, 9 December 2017. In the 2009–10 season, Samoa who finished seventh the previous year shocked the world – led by 2010 top try-scorer and World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year Mikaele Pesamino – by winning four of the last five tournaments to overtake New Zealand and win the series.[http://fijisun.com.fj/2013/10/20/caucau-pesamino-team-up/ "Caucau, Pesamino Team Up"], Fiji Sun, 20 October 2013.
=Olympic era and professionalism=
The number of core teams expanded from 12 to 15 for the 2011–12 series. Qualification for these places was played out at the 2012 Hong Kong Sevens. Canada (returning to core status for the first time since 2008),{{cite press release|url=http://www.irb.com/irbsevens/news/newsid=2026934.html#usa+rugby+receives+major+sevens+boost|title=USA Rugby receives major Sevens boost|publisher=International Rugby Board|date=22 September 2008|access-date=5 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612055717/http://www.irb.com/irbsevens/news/newsid%3D2026934.html#usa+rugby+receives+major+sevens+boost|archive-date=12 June 2009}} Spain and Portugal joined the 12 core teams for the next season. The Japan event also made a return for the first time since 2001 (lasting until 2015). New Zealand continued their dominance by finishing on top.
Argentina was originally planned to begin hosting a tenth event with Mar Del Plata the venue in the 2012–13 season, giving the tour an event on each continent, but when Argentina joined the Rugby Championship those plans were shelved.{{cite news|url=http://www.irbsevens.com/news/newsid=2063382.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823095327/http://www.irbsevens.com/news/newsid=2063382.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=23 August 2012|work=irbsevens.com|title=Argentina Sevens World Series round postponed|date=16 August 2012|publisher=International Rugby Board}}{{cite web|url=http://www.irbsevens.com/news/newsid=2063150.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629091249/http://www.irbsevens.com/news/newsid=2063150.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=29 June 2012|title=HSBC Sevens World Series expands to 10 rounds|date=2012-06-26|work=irbsevens.com}} With the same schedule, New Zealand again were the winners over South Africa. They took it again in 2013–14 with Spain the first team to be relegated after finishing last during that season with Japan replacing them.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}
Heading into the 2014–15 season, the top four teams qualifying to the 2016 Summer Olympics, with Fiji, South Africa, New Zealand and Great Britain all qualifying through.{{cite news|title=Rio 2016: Fiji beat Samoa in sevens to lead race for Olympics|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/29587689|access-date=13 October 2014}} The 2014–15 season and 2015–16 season were won by Fiji – the first time a team other than New Zealand won back-to-back season titles – led by 2015 and 2016 season Dream Team nominee Osea Kolinisau The two seasons also yielded teams winning their first tournaments – the United States won the 2015 London Sevens to finish the season in sixth overall;{{cite web|url=http://usarugby.org/mens-sevens-news/item/men-s-eagles-sevens-win-cup-in-london?category_id=3|title=Men's Eagles Sevens end 2014-15 Series with Cup win in London|work=USA Rugby |date=17 May 2015|access-date=2015-12-15|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222101738/http://usarugby.org/mens-sevens-news/item/men-s-eagles-sevens-win-cup-in-london?category_id=3|archive-date=22 December 2015}} Kenya won the 2016 Singapore Sevens, and Scotland won the 2016 London Sevens.{{cite news|url=http://www.worldrugby.org/sevens-series/news/152965|work=World Rugby|title=Kenya win sensational HSBC Singapore Sevens|date=17 April 2016|publisher=International Rugby Board}}{{cite news|url=http://www.worldrugby.org/sevens-series/news/161490|work=World Rugby|title=Kenya win sensational HSBC Singapore Sevens|date=22 May 2016|publisher=International Rugby Board}} Prior to the 2015–16 season World Rugby did a comprehensive review of all nine tournament hosts and adjusted the schedule, dropping two sites (Japan and Scotland), and adding three sites (France, Singapore and Canada) to the calendar.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}
In the 2016–17 series, a dominant and consistent display by South Africa saw them reach the finals of the 2016–17 series rounds on eight occasions, winning five of these. As a result, South Africa were series champions with victory in the penultimate round in Paris. The season was a qualifier for the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens with the top four teams that had not already qualified, coming from this season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldrugby.org/text/189809|title=World Rugby|access-date=1 September 2017|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612163212/https://www.worldrugby.org/text/189809|url-status=dead }} The teams that made it through to the World Cup via this method were Canada, Argentina, Scotland and Samoa.{{cite news|url=http://www.rwcsevens.com/news/249257|work=World Rugby|title=Four men's teams qualify for RWC Sevens 2018|date=21 May 2017|publisher=World Rugby|access-date=1 September 2017|archive-date=22 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170522051324/http://www.rwcsevens.com/news/249257|url-status=dead}}
Tournament hosts
{{For|a list of previous hosts|World Rugby Sevens Series hosts}}
The World Series will consist of seven scheduled tournament stops from the 2024–25 season, which generally fall in the same order and timeframes. From 2020 to 2022, however, several of these events had to be cancelled due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|date=4 September 2021|title=World Rugby cancels Sevens events in Cape Town and Singapore|url=https://www.espn.com.au/espn/story/_/id/32138544/world-rugby-cancels-sevens-events-cape-town-singapore|website=ESPN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904062502/https://www.espn.com.au/espn/story/_/id/32138544/world-rugby-cancels-sevens-events-cape-town-singapore|archive-date=4 September 2021}}{{cite news|title=Hong Kong Sevens postponed again to November 2022|url=https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/4/183015/Hong-Kong-Sevens-postponed-again-to-November-2022|work=The Standard|date=16 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116213822/https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/4/183015/Hong-Kong-Sevens-postponed-again-to-November-2022|archive-date=16 November 2021}}
= Notes =
{{notelist|group=hosts|refs=
{{efn|group=hosts|name=joined
|Most of these tournaments were established when added to the World Series, with certain exceptions. The two oldest are Dubai, which began in 1970, and Hong Kong which began in 1976. The tournaments in Australia and France date back to 1986 and 1996, respectively.{{cite magazine|date=April 1986|title=All Blacks: World 7s Champs|first=Ed|last=Hagerty|location=New York|pages=6–10|url=http://emilito.org/rugby/USA7s/eagle7s-history/dox/1986-04%20USM%20at%20Sydney7s-p6-10.pdf|magazine=Rugby|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170526050253/http://emilito.org/rugby/USA7s/eagle7s-history/dox/1986-04%20USM%20at%20Sydney7s-p6-10.pdf|archivedate=26 May 2017}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{cite news|date = 13 October 1996|title = In brief: Fiji wins Paris Sevens|work = The Sydney Morning Herald|publisher = Fairfax|url = http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?&docID=news961013_0225_3024|access-date = 15 May 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181226102821/http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=smh&kw=sevens+AND+rugby&pb=all_ffx&dt=enterRange&dr=1month&sd=01%2F01%2F1996&ed=01%2F01%2F1997&so=relevance&sf=text&sf=headline&rc=200&rm=200&sp=adv&clsPage=1&docID=news961013_0225_3024|archive-date = 26 December 2018}}}}
}}
Teams, promotion and relegation
=Core teams=
A group of core teams, currently 8 in number, is announced for each season based on performances in the previous season. Each core team has a guaranteed place in all of that season's events. The core teams have been selected through a designated promotion/relegation process since the 2012–13 season. A new system from the 2023–24 season, will see 12 core teams, with up to 4 being relegated each year. However, as part of the structural reforms from the 2024-25 season, the number of core teams will be further reduced to 8.
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;" | |||
| {{tooltip|#|Core team rank based on previous season finish}} | Team | style="width:5.5em;"| Core since | Best Series finish (Last) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | align="left"|{{ru7|ARG}} | 1999–00 | 1st (2023–24, League) |
| 2 | align="left"|{{ru7|FIJ}} | 1999–00 | 1st (2018–19) |
| 3 | align="left"|{{ru7|ESP}} | 2024–25 | 3rd (2024–25) |
| 4 | align="left"|{{ru7|RSA}} | 1999–00 | 1st (2021) |
| 5 | align="left"|{{ru7|FRA}} | 1999–00 | 1st (2023–24, Cup) |
| 6 | align="left"|{{ru7|AUS}} | 1999–00 | 1st (2021–22) |
| 7 | align="left"|{{nowrap|{{ru7|NZL}}}} | 1999–00 | 1st (2022–23) |
| 8 | align="left"|{{ru7|GRB}} | 2022–23 | 2nd (2021) |
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;" | ||
| + Former core teams | ||
| style="width:9.3em;"|Team | Last season as core | style="width:5.5em;"|Best Series finish (Last) |
|---|---|---|
| align="left"|{{ru7|KEN}} | 2024–25 | 3rd (2021) |
| align="left"|{{ru7|URU}} | 2024–25 | 12th (2022–23) |
| align="left"|{{ru7|USA}} | 2024–25 | 2nd (2018–19) |
| align="left"|{{ru7|IRE}} | 2024–25
|2nd (2023-24) | |
| align="left"|{{ru7|SAM}} | 2023–24
|1st (2009–10) | |
| align="left"|{{ru7|CAN}} | 2023–24
|4th (2021) | |
| align="left"|{{ru7|JPN}} | 2022–23
|{{nowrap|12th*{{thinsp}}(1999–00)}} | |
| align="left"|{{ru7|ENG}}{{efn|group=core-teams|name=GB-core}} | 2021–22
|2nd (2016–17) | |
| align="left"|{{ru7|SCO}}{{efn|group=core-teams|name=GB-core}} | 2021–22
|7th (2016–17) | |
| align="left"|{{ru7|WAL}}{{efn|group=core-teams|name=GB-core}} | 2021–22
|6th (2006–07) | |
| align="left"|{{ru7|RUS}} | 2017–18
|14th (2016–17) | |
| align="left"|{{ru7|POR}} | 2015–16
|{{nowrap|14th (2014–15)}} |
Key: * indicates a tied placing
;Notes
{{notelist|group=core-teams
{{efn|group=core-teams|name=GB-core|Great Britain, formed as a merger of England, Scotland and Wales, became a core team in 2022–23 but the three predecessor teams had core status from the early years of the series.}}
}}
= Invited teams =
Non-core teams are also invited to compete in every season of the World Rugby Sevens Series under previous formats. With 15 core teams, there was generally only one invited team at each 16-team tournament.{{cite news|last1=Johnston|first1=Patrick|title=HSBC Canada Rugby Sevens return: Seven things you should know this weekend|url=https://theprovince.com/sports/rugby/hsbc-canada-sevens-return-to-vancouver-seven-things-to-know|work=The Province|date=13 April 2022}} Before 2012–13, when there were only 12 core teams,{{cite press release|url=http://www.irbsevens.com/destination/edition=5/news/newsid=2061539.html#who+will+join+sevens+elite|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327192203/http://www.irbsevens.com/destination/edition=5/news/newsid=2061539.html#who+will+join+sevens+elite|url-status=usurped|archive-date=27 March 2012|title=Who will join the Sevens elite?|publisher=International Rugby Board|date=22 March 2012|access-date=28 March 2012}} four places at each tournament were usually available to invited teams.{{cite press release|url=http://www.irbsevens.com/destination/edition=9/news/newsid=2048923.html#teams+announced+gold+coast+kick|title=Teams announced for Gold Coast kickoff|publisher=International Rugby Board|date=8 September 2011|access-date=22 September 2011|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011152812/http://irbsevens.com/destination/edition%3D9/news/newsid%3D2048923.html#teams+announced+gold+coast+kick|archive-date=11 October 2011}}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-bottom:0;" | ||
| + Invited teams with a Top-15 Series finish | ||
| style="width:10em;"|Team | Last season played | Best Series finish (Last) |
|---|---|---|
| {{ru7|CHI}} | align=center|2021
|{{Ordinal|11}} (2021) | |
| {{ru7|CHN}} | align=center|2010–11
|{{Ordinal|14}} (2005–06) | |
| {{ru7|CKI}} | align=center|2011–12
|{{Ordinal|13}} (2001–02) | |
| {{ru7|GEO}} | align=center|2008–09
|style="padding:5px 1px;"|{{nowrap|{{Ordinal|10}}*{{thinsp|(1999–00)}}}} | |
| {{ru7|GER}} | align=center|2021–22
|{{Ordinal|7}} (2021) | |
| {{ru7|HKG}} | align=center|2022–23
|{{Ordinal|8}} (2021) | |
| {{ru7|ITA}} | align=center|2009–10
|{{Ordinal|15}} (2002–03) | |
| {{ru7|JAM}} | align=center|2021–22
|{{Ordinal|10}} (2021) | |
| {{ru7|KOR}} | align=center|2019–20
|{{Ordinal|11}} (2000–01) | |
| {{ru7|MAR}} | align=center|2011–12
|{{Ordinal|15}} (2001–02) | |
| {{ru7|MEX}} | align=center|2021
|{{Ordinal|12}} (2021) | |
| {{ru7|NAM}} | align=center|2010–11
|{{Ordinal|14}} (2001–02) | |
| style="padding-right:2px;"|{{nowrap|{{ru7|PNG}}}} | align=center|2017–18
|style="padding:5px 1px;"|{{nowrap|{{Ordinal|12}}*{{thinsp|(1999–00)}}}} | |
| {{ru7|TON}} | align=center|2018–19
|style="padding:5px 1px;"|{{Ordinal|10}}* (1999–00) | |
| {{ru7|TUN}} | align=center|2009–10
|{{Ordinal|11}} (2004–05) | |
| {{ru7|ZIM}} | align=center|2018–19
|{{Ordinal|14}} (2000–01) |
Key: * indicates a tied placing
=Promotion and relegation=
{{Further|World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series}}
In 2019, World Rugby announced a plan to create a second-tier competition that would allow the best thirteen sevens teams, with the addition of three invited teams, from their region to compete in a similar style format to the Sevens Series for the potential of gaining promotion to the World Rugby Sevens Series and becoming a core team.{{cite news|date=17 December 2019|title=New Challenger Series to boost rugby sevens' expansion|url=https://www.world.rugby/challenger-series?lang=en|work=World Rugby|access-date=7 January 2020 }} This breaks from the usual format of promotion and relegation in the sevens series.
From 2013–14 series to 2018–19 the promotion/relegation was as follows:
- One team is relegated and one team is promoted each year.
- The core team that finishes bottom of the table at the end of the season series is relegated.
- The team that wins the 12-team qualifying tournament at the Hong Kong Sevens is promoted.
From 2020 to 2023 the style of promotion/relegation was as such:
- One team is relegated and one team is promoted each year.
- The core team that finishes bottom of the table at the end of the season series is relegated to the Challenger Series.
- Eight teams will compete for promotion in the Hong Kong Sevens event after qualifying through the Challenger Series.
From 2024 to 2025 the style of promotion/relegation will be as such:
- Teams ranked 9–12 will play in the promotion/relegation part of the grand final where they will be joined by the top 4 teams from the Challenger Series
- Top 4 teams from this event are promoted to the SVNS Series
- The bottom 4 teams are relegated to the Challenger Series
| class = "wikitable sortable" |
| Season
!Core teams !Relegated !Promoted |
|---|
| align=center|2011–12
|align=center|12 |style="background:#ececec;" align=center|None |{{ru7|CAN}}, {{nowrap|{{ru7|POR}}}}, {{nowrap|{{ru7|ESP}}}} |
| align=center|2012–13
|align=center|15 |colspan=2 align=center {{N/A|No relegation or promotion}} |
| align=center|2013–14
|align=center|15 |{{ru7|ESP}} |{{ru7|JPN}} |
| align=center|2014–15
|align=center|15 |{{ru7|JPN}} |{{ru7|RUS}} |
| align=center|2015–16
|align=center|15 |{{ru7|POR}} |{{ru7|JPN}} |
| align=center|2016–17
|align=center|15 |{{ru7|JPN}} |{{ru7|ESP}} |
| align=center|2017–18
|align=center|15 |{{ru7|RUS}} |{{ru7|JPN}} |
| align=center|2018–19
|align=center|15 |{{ru7|JPN}} |{{ru7|IRE}} |
| align=center|2019–20
|align=center|15 |style="background:#ececec;" align=center|None{{efn|group=promo-releg|There was no relegation from the 2019–20 core teams due to the curtailed season. Therefore, Wales, who would have been relegated as the lowest placed core team, retained core team status. Japan was promoted as the winner of the Challenger Series, making it 16 core teams for the following series.}} |{{ru7|JPN}} |
| align=center|2021
|align=center|16{{efn|group=promo-releg|Only 6 of the 16 core teams took part in the 2021 Series, which consisted of two tournament events played in Canada.}} |colspan=2 align=center{{N/A|No relegation or promotion}}{{efn|group=promo-releg|All 16 core teams from the truncated 2021 season retained their core status for the 2021–22 season, with no promotion or relegation.{{cite web|title=HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series to double-up in Canada and Dubai|url=https://www.world.rugby/sevens-series/news/660782?lang=en|website=World Rugby|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904075208/https://www.world.rugby/sevens-series/news/660782?lang=en|archive-date=4 September 2021|date=3 September 2021}}}} |
| align=center|2021–22
|align=center|16{{efn|group=promo-releg|The first two events in Dubai will be played with only 14 teams, as England, Scotland and Wales will be replaced for Great Britain.}} |align=center {{N/A|No relegation}} |{{ru7|URU}} |
| align=center|2022–23
|align=center|15{{efn|The teams that make up Great Britain combined for the 2022–23 season from three teams to one.}} |{{ru7|JPN}}, {{ru7|KEN}}, {{ru7|URU}} |align=center {{N/A|No promotion}} |
| align=center|2023–24
|align=center|12 |{{ru7|SAM}}, {{ru7|CAN}} |{{ru7|URU}}, {{ru7|KEN}} |
| align=center|2024–25
|align=center|12 |{{ru7|IRE}},{{ru7|URU}}, {{ru7|KEN}},{{ru7|USA}} |align=center {{N/A|No promotion}} |
;Notes
{{notelist|group=promo-releg|refs=}}
=Other qualifying=
The World Series results are sometimes used as a qualifier for other tournaments. For example, the top four teams of the 2014–15 series automatically qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Similarly, certain teams from the 2016–17 series qualified for the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens.
Historical results
=Top 6 placings by season - League=
Summary of the top six placegetters for each series:
| class = "wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%;"
! style="width:4.2em; padding-right:2px; text-align:left;"|Series ! style="width:4.7em; padding-right:2px; text-align:left;"|Season ! style="width:2.7em; padding-right:2px; text-align:left;"|{{Tooltip|Rds|Rounds}} ! Champion ! Second ! Third ! Fourth ! Fifth ! Sixth ! style="width:2.7em; padding-right:2px; text-align:left;"|{{Tooltip|Ref|Reference}} |
| {{roman|1}}
|10 |style="padding:8px 5px 0;"|{{su|a=c|w=1em|lh=1.3em |p={{ru7-big|NZL}}|b=(186 pts)}} |{{ru7-big|FIJ}} |{{ru7-big|AUS}} |{{ru7-big|SAM}} |{{ru7-big|RSA}} |{{ru7-big|CAN}} |
| {{roman|2}}
|9 |style="padding:8px 5px 0;"|{{su|a=c|w=1em|lh=1.3em |p={{ru7-big|NZL}}|b=(162 pts)}} |{{ru7-big|AUS}} |{{ru7-big|FIJ}} |{{ru7-big|SAM}} |{{ru7-big|RSA}} |{{ru7-big|ARG}} |
| {{roman|3}}
|11 |style="padding: 8px 5px 0;"|{{su|a=c|w=1em|lh=1.3em |p={{ru7-big|NZL}}|b=(198 pts)}} |{{ru7-big|RSA}} |{{ru7-big|ENG}} |{{ru7-big|FIJ}} |{{ru7-big|AUS}} |{{ru7-big|SAM}} |
| {{roman|4}}
|{{pad|0.5em}}7{{hsp}}{{efn|group=results|name=sars|Due to concerns in 2003 about the SARS virus, tournaments scheduled for China, Malaysia, and Singapore were cancelled.{{cite news|author=|title=SARS fear hits sports|url-access=registration|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/179424236/?terms=rugby|work=The Indianapolis Star|location=Indianapolis|date=24 April 2003|access-date=25 June 2019}}{{cite news|author=|title=2 teams skip event over fears of mystery disease|url-access=registration|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/127867933/?terms=rugby|work=The Indianapolis Star|location=Indianapolis|date=22 March 2003|access-date=25 June 2019}}}} |style="padding: 8px 5px 0;"|{{su|a=c|w=1em|lh=1.3em |p={{ru7-big|NZL}}|b=(112 pts)}} |{{ru7-big|ENG}} |{{ru7-big|FIJ}} |{{ru7-big|RSA}} |{{ru7-big|AUS}} |{{ru7-big|SAM}} |
| {{roman|5}}
|8 |style="padding: 8px 5px 0;"|{{su|a=c|w=1em|lh=1.3em |p={{ru7-big|NZL}}|b=(128 pts)}} |{{ru7-big|ENG}} |{{ru7-big|ARG}} |{{ru7-big|FIJ}} |{{ru7-big|RSA}} |{{ru7-big|SAM}} |
| {{roman|6}}
|7 |style="padding: 8px 5px 0;"|{{su|a=c|w=1em|lh=1.3em |p={{ru7-big|NZL}}|b=(116 pts)}} |{{ru7-big|FIJ}} |{{ru7-big|ENG}} |{{ru7-big|RSA}} |{{ru7-big|ARG}} |{{ru7-big|AUS}} |
| {{roman|7}}
|8 |style="padding: 8px 5px 0;"|{{su|a=c|w=1em|lh=1.3em |p={{ru7-big|FIJ}}|b=(144 pts)}} |{{ru7-big|ENG}} |{{ru7-big|RSA}} |{{ru7-big|NZL}} |{{ru7-big|SAM}} |{{ru7-big|ARG}} |
| {{roman|8}}
|8 |style="padding: 8px 5px 0;"|{{su|a=c|w=1em|lh=1.3em |p={{ru7-big|NZL}}|b=(130 pts)}} |{{ru7-big|FIJ}} |{{ru7-big|SAM}} |{{ru7-big|RSA}} |{{ru7-big|ENG}} |{{ru7-big|WAL}} |
| {{roman|9}}
|8 |style="padding: 8px 5px 0;"|{{su|a=c|w=1em|lh=1.3em |p={{ru7-big|NZL}}|b=(154 pts)}} |{{ru7-big|RSA}} |{{ru7-big|SAM}} |{{ru7-big|FIJ}} |{{ru7-big|ENG}} |{{ru7-big|ARG}} |
| {{roman|10}}
|8 |style="padding:6px 5px 0;"|{{su|a=c|w=1em|lh=1.3em |p={{ru7-big|RSA}}|b=(132 pts)}} |{{ru7-big|FIJ}} |{{ru7-big|ENG}} |{{ru7-big|NZL}} |{{ru7-big|ARG}} |{{ru7-big|KEN}} |
| {{roman|11}}
|8 |style="padding: 8px 5px 0;"|{{su|a=c|w=1em|lh=1.3em |p={{ru7-big|SAM}}|b=(164 pts)}} |{{ru7-big|NZL}} |{{ru7-big|AUS}} |{{ru7-big|FIJ}} |{{ru7-big|ENG}} |{{ru7-big|RSA}} |
| {{roman|12}}
|8 |style="padding: 8px 5px 0;"|{{su|a=c|w=1em|lh=1.3em |p={{ru7-big|NZL}}|b=(166 pts)}} |{{ru7-big|RSA}} |{{ru7-big|ENG}} |{{ru7-big|FIJ}} |{{ru7-big|SAM}} |{{ru7-big|AUS}} |
| {{roman|13}}
|9 |style="padding: 8px 5px 0;"|{{su|a=c|w=1em|lh=1.3em |p={{ru7-big|NZL}}|b=(167 pts)}} |{{ru7-big|FIJ}} |{{ru7-big|ENG}} |{{ru7-big|SAM}} |{{ru7-big|RSA}} |{{ru7-big|AUS}} |
| {{roman|14}}
|9 |style="padding: 8px 5px 0;"|{{su|a=c|w=1em|lh=1.3em |p={{ru7-big|NZL}}|b=(173 pts)}} |{{ru7-big|RSA}} |{{ru7-big|FIJ}} |{{ru7-big|SAM}} |{{ru7-big|KEN}} |{{ru7-big|ENG}} |
| {{roman|15}}
|9 |style="padding: 8px 5px 0;"|{{su|a=c|w=1em|lh=1.3em |p={{ru7-big|NZL}}|b=(180 pts)}} |{{ru7-big|RSA}} |{{ru7-big|FIJ}} |{{ru7-big|ENG}} |{{ru7-big|AUS}} |{{ru7-big|CAN}} |
| {{roman|16}}
|9 |style="padding: 8px 5px 0;"|{{su|a=c|w=1em|lh=1.3em |p={{ru7-big|FIJ}}|b=(164 pts)}} |{{ru7-big|RSA}} |{{ru7-big|NZL}} |{{ru7-big|ENG}} |{{ru7-big|AUS}} |{{ru7-big|USA}} |
| {{roman|17}}
|10 |style="padding: 8px 5px 0;"|{{su|a=c|w=1em|lh=1.3em |p={{ru7-big|FIJ}}|b=(181 pts)}} |{{ru7-big|RSA}} |{{ru7-big|NZL}} |{{ru7-big|AUS}} |{{ru7-big|ARG}} |{{ru7-big|USA}} |
| {{roman|18}}
|10 |style="padding:6px 5px 0;"|{{su|a=c|w=1em|lh=1.3em |p={{ru7-big|RSA}}|b=(192 pts)}} |{{ru7-big|ENG}} |{{ru7-big|FIJ}} |{{ru7-big|NZL}} |{{ru7-big|USA}} |{{ru7-big|AUS}} |
| {{roman|19}}
|10 |style="padding:6px 5px 0;"|{{su|a=c|w=1em|lh=1.3em |p={{ru7-big|RSA}}|b=(182 pts)}} |{{ru7-big|FIJ}} |{{ru7-big|NZL}} |{{ru7-big|AUS}} |{{ru7-big|ENG}} |{{ru7-big|USA}} |
| {{roman|20}}
|10 |style="padding: 8px 5px 0;"|{{su|a=c|w=1em|lh=1.3em |p={{ru7-big|FIJ}}|b=(186 pts)}} |{{ru7-big|USA}} |{{ru7-big|NZL}} |{{ru7-big|RSA}} |{{ru7-big|ENG}} |{{ru7-big|SAM}} |
| {{roman|21}}
|{{pad|0.5em}}6{{hsp}}{{efn|group=results|name=covid|The last four rounds of the 2020 World Rugby Sevens Series, scheduled for London, Paris, Singapore, and Hong Kong, were cancelled due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|title=2020 Sevens series standings|url=https://www.world.rugby/sevens-series/news/572989|website=Sevens.Rugby|date=2020}}}} |style="padding: 8px 5px 0;"|{{su|a=c|w=1em|lh=1.3em |p={{ru7-big|NZL}}|b=(115 pts)}} |{{ru7-big|RSA}} |{{ru7-big|FIJ}} |{{ru7-big|AUS}} |{{ru7-big|ENG}} |{{ru7-big|FRA}} |
| {{roman|22}}
|2021 |{{pad|0.5em}}2{{hsp}}{{efn|group=results|Due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, only two tournaments were played during the 2021 series (instead of the usual ten) and most of the top teams from the 2019–20 series did not compete.}} |style="padding: 8px 5px 0;"|{{su|a=c|w=1em|lh=1.3em |p={{ru7-big|RSA}}|b=(40 pts)}} |{{ru7-big|GBR}} |{{ru7-big|KEN}} |{{ru7-big|CAN}} |{{ru7-big|USA}} |{{ru7-big|IRE}} |
| {{roman|23}}
|9 |style="padding: 8px 5px 0;"|{{su|a=c|w=1em|lh=1.3em |p={{ru7-big|AUS}}|b=(126 pts)}} |{{ru7-big|RSA}} |{{ru7-big|FIJ}} |{{ru7-big|ARG}} |{{ru7-big|IRE}} |{{ru7-big|USA}} |
| XXIV
|11 |{{su|a=c|w=1em|lh=1.3em|p={{ru7-big|NZL}}|b=(200 pts)}} |{{ru7-big|ARG}} |{{ru7-big|FIJ}} |{{ru7-big|FRA}} |{{ru7-big|AUS}} |{{ru7-big|SAM}} |
| XXV
|7 | style="padding: 8px 5px 0;" |{{su|a=c|w=1em|lh=1.3em |p={{ru7-big|ARG}}|b=(106 pts)}} |{{ru7-big|IRE}} |{{ru7-big|NZL}} |{{ru7-big|AUS}} |{{ru7-big|FIJ}} |{{ru7-big|FRA}} |
| XXVI
|6 |{{su|a=c|w=1em|lh=1.3em |p={{ru7-big|ARG}}|b=(104 pts)}} |{{ru7-big|FIJ}} |{{ru7-big|ESP}} |{{ru7-big|RSA}} |{{ru7-big|FRA}} |{{ru7-big|AUS}} |
;Notes
{{notelist|group=results}}
= Top 6 placings by team - League =
Tally of top six placings in the series for each team, updated after the most recently completed 2024–25 season (obtained by summing the placings of each team as recorded in the above table of results by season).
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" | ||||||
| style="width:6.0em;"|Team
!style="width:6.0em;"|Champ{{shy}}ion !style="width:6.3em;"|{{nowrap|Runner{{wbr}}-up}} !style="width:4.8em;"|Third !style="width:4.8em;"|Fourth !style="width:5.0em;"|Top-3 {{tooltip|Apps|Appearances}} !style="width:5.0em;"|Top-6 {{tooltip|Apps|Appearances}} | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=left|{{nowrap|{{ru7|NZL}}}} | 14 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 20 | 23 |
| align=left|{{ru7|RSA}} | 4 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 14 | 24 |
| align=left|{{ru7|FIJ}} | 4 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 19 | 25 |
| align="left"|{{ru7|ARG}} | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 10 |
| align=left|{{ru7|AUS}} | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 18 |
| align=left|{{ru7|SAM}} | 1 | – | 2 | 4 | 3 | 14 |
| align="left" |{{ru7|ENG}} | – | 4 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 18 |
| align="left" |{{nowrap|{{ru7|USA}}}} | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | 7 |
| align="left" |{{ru7|IRE}} | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | 3 |
| align="left" |{{ru7|GBR}} | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | 1 |
| align="left" |{{ru7|KEN}} | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 3 |
| align="left" |{{ru7|ESP}}
|– |– |1 |– |1 |1 | ||||||
| align="left" |{{ru7|FRA}} | – |– | – | – | 1 | –
|4 | |
| align=left|{{ru7|CAN}} | – | – | – | 1 | – | 3 |
| align=left|{{ru7|WAL}} | – | – | – | – | – | 1 |
= Top 6 placings by season - Cup =
Summary of the top six placegetters for each cup:
| class="wikitable"
|+ ! !Location !Champion !Second !Third !Fourth !Fifth !Sixth !{{Tooltip|Ref|Reference}} |
| 2023–24
|{{Flagdeco|ESP}} Madrid |{{ru7-big|FRA}} |{{ru7-big|ARG}} |{{ru7-big|FIJ}} |{{ru7-big|NZL}} |{{ru7-big|IRE}} |{{ru7-big|RSA}} |
| 2024–25
| {{flagicon|USA}} Los Angeles |{{ru7-big|RSA}} |{{ru7-big|ESP}} |{{ru7-big|NZL}} |{{ru7-big|ARG}} |{{ru7-big|FRA}} |{{ru7-big|GBR}} |
= Top 6 placings by team - Cup =
Tally of top six placings in the Cup for each team, updated after the most recently completed 2024–25 season (obtained by summing the placings of each team as recorded in the above table of results by season).
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Team !Champ{{shy}}ion !{{nowrap|Runner{{wbr}}-up}} !Third !Fourth !Top-3 {{tooltip|Apps|Appearances}} !Top-6 {{tooltip|Apps|Appearances}} |
| align="left" |{{ru7|FRA}}
|1 |– |– |– |1 |2 |
| {{ru7|RSA}}
|1 |– |– |– |1 |2 |
| align="left" |{{ru7|ARG}}
|– |1 |– |1 |1 |2 |
| {{ru7|ESP}}
|– |1 |– |– |1 |1 |
| {{ru7|New Zealand}}
|– |– |1 |1 |1 |2 |
| align="left" |{{ru7|FIJ}}
|– |– |1 |– |1 |1 |
| {{ru7|IRE}}
|– |– |– |– |– |1 |
| align="left" |{{ru7|GBR}}
|– |– |– |– |– |1 |
= Events won =
{{more citations needed section|date=May 2022}}
List of legs won by each team since 1999.
Updated on 6 April 2025.
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Legs won since 1999 ! Titles ! Country ! Last time |
| align=center|69
|{{ru7|NZL}} | align=center|2024 |
| align=center|47
|{{ru7|FIJ}} | align=center|2025 |
| align=center|41
|{{ru7|RSA}} | align=center|2024 |
| align=center|19
|{{ru7|ENG}} | align=center|2017 |
| align=center|12
|{{ru7|ARG}} | align=center|2025 |
| align=center|11
|{{ru7|SAM}} | align=center|2022 |
| align=center|9
|{{ru7|AUS}} | align=center|2022 |
| align=center|3
|{{ru7|USA}} | align=center|2019 |
| align=center|3
|{{ru7|FRA}} |align=center|2024 |
| align=center|2
|{{ru7|SCO}} | align=center|2017 |
| align=center|1
|{{ru7|CAN}} | align=center|2017 |
| align=center|1
|{{ru7|KEN}} | align=center|2016 |
Format
Rugby sevens is a fast-paced version of rugby union with seven players each side on a full-sized rugby field. Games are much shorter, lasting seven minutes each half. The game is quicker and faster-scoring than 15-a-side rugby, 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. Currently, in a normal event, 16 teams are entered.
World Rugby operates satellite tournaments in each continent alongside the Sevens World Series which serve as qualifiers for Series events; in 2012–13 they also determined the entrants in the World Series Pre-Qualifier, and since 2013–14 determine the entrants in the Core Team Qualifier.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}
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:{{cite web|url=http://www.irbsevens.com/NR/rdonlyres/7A7C20FC-056B-4CE6-B5A5-D4F6ECBF40F7/0/061026SL7sguidegeneric.pdf|title=2006–07 IRB Sevens World Series Media Guide|publisher=International Rugby Board|access-date=10 February 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703041321/http://www.irbsevens.com/NR/rdonlyres/7A7C20FC-056B-4CE6-B5A5-D4F6ECBF40F7/0/061026SL7sguidegeneric.pdf|archive-date=3 July 2007|url-status=usurped}}
- 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. 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.
A third-place match is now conducted between the losing Cup semifinalists in all tournaments; this was introduced for the 2011–12 series.{{SA Rugby Article|id=1141551|leagueid=1021|title=New Points System for HSBC Sevens World Series|date=25 November 2011|access-date=6 June 2016|url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=1141551&leagueid=1021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160606094939/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=1141551&leagueid=1021|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 June 2016}}
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. With the promotion place now determined at the Hong Kong Sevens, the London Sevens returned to the traditional 16-team format in 2013–14.
The 2024 Rugby Perth Sevens features nine men's and six women's rounds over six months. The calendar includes stopovers in many of the usual destinations, from London to Langford, plus three new cities (Malaga, Seville and Toulouse) to replace traditional hosts Australia and New Zealand.{{cite web|last1=Bashirian|first1=Delta|title=HSBC World Rugby Sevens|url=https://thedailyrugby.com/world-rugby-7s-live-streams/|website=the daily rugby|publisher=08/01/2024|access-date=9 January 2024}}
=Hong Kong 7s=
The Hong Kong Sevens (an anomaly as a three-day event) is the most famous sevens tournament.
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;{{cite press release|url=http://www.irbsevens.com/archive/tcode=1270/season=2012/news/newsid=2065481.html#pools+confimed+hong+kong+sevens|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131011232556/http://www.irbsevens.com/archive/tcode=1270/season=2012/news/newsid=2065481.html%23pools+confimed+hong+kong+sevens|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 October 2013|title=Pools confirmed for Hong Kong Sevens|publisher=International Rugby Board|date=21 February 2013|access-date=11 October 2013}} from 2014 forward, the remaining 12 teams are those in the Core Team Qualifier.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}
In Hong Kong, the Shield was awarded for the first time in 2010.{{cite press release|url=http://www.irb.com/irbsevens/news/newsid=2034177.html#overhaul+sevens+world+series+point+system|title=Overhaul for Sevens World Series point system|publisher=International Rugby Board|date=5 November 2009|access-date=6 November 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091109144828/http://www.irb.com/irbsevens/news/newsid%3D2034177.html#overhaul+sevens+world+series+point+system|archive-date=9 November 2009}}
Originally, the six pool winners of the Hong Kong Sevens, plus the two highest-finishing second-place teams, advanced to the Cup.
- 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 Hong Kong Sevens was played under the same 16-team format used in the rest of the series, with typically 15 core teams plus an invited team (for Hong Kong, usually the winner of the HSBC Asian Sevens Series) competing in the main draw of the tournament. In line with changes which began at the start of the 2016–17 World Rugby Sevens Series, the duration of the Cup final was reduced from 20 minutes to 14 minutes in 2017. In that season, the number of trophies was also reduced to two; the main Cup contested by the top eight teams from the pool stage, and a Challenge Trophy contested by the bottom eight teams from the pool stage.
= Points schedule =
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. A new scoring system was introduced in 2019–20 requiring teams to play for 7th, 11th and 15th places, previously teams had tied for 7th–8th 11th–12th and 15th–16th places.
The points schedule used at each standard event until 2023 is summarised below.
:
| class = "wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |
| Place
! Status ! Points |
|---|
| {{gold1}}
|Cup winner, gold medalist |22 |
| {{silver2}}
|Cup runner-up, silver medalist |19 |
| {{bronze3}}
|3rd-place winner, bronze medalist |17 |
| 4
|3rd-place loser |15 |
| colspan=3| |
| 5
|5th-place winner |13 |
| 6
|5th-place loser |12 |
| 7
|7th-place winner |11 |
| 8
|7th-place loser |10 |
| colspan=3| |
| 9
|9th-place winner |8 |
| 10
|9th-place loser |7 |
| 11
|11th-place winner |6 |
| 12
|11th-place loser |5 |
| colspan=3| |
| 13
|13th-place winner |4 |
| 14
|13th-place loser |3 |
| 15
|15th-place winner |2 |
| 16
|15th-place loser |1 |
From 2023–24 the following points schedule is used for each event:
:
| class = "wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |
| Place
! Status ! Points |
|---|
| {{gold1}}
|Cup winner, gold medalist |20 |
| {{silver2}}
|Cup runner-up, silver medalist |18 |
| {{bronze3}}
|3rd-place winner, bronze medalist |16 |
| 4
|3rd-place loser |14 |
| colspan=3| |
| 5
|5th-place winner |12 |
| 6
|5th-place loser |10 |
| 7
|7th-place winner |8 |
| 8
|7th-place loser |6 |
| colspan=3| |
| 9
|9th-place winner |4 |
| 10
|9th-place loser |3 |
| 11
|11th-place winner |2 |
| 12
|11th-place loser |1 |
{{anchor|Tiebreakers}}
Tie-breaking: If two or more teams are level on overall series points, the following tie-breakers are used:
- 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.
Business
=TV and media=
The tour received 1,147 hours of air time in 2005–06; 530 of which was live, and was broadcast to 136 countries.{{cite news|url=http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/160101/irb-announces-record-tv-figures|title=IRB announces record TV figures|work=sportbusiness.com|date=25 July 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818132826/http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/160101/irb-announces-record-tv-figures|archive-date=18 August 2012|url-status=dead}} 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.{{cite press release|url=http://www.irb.com/irbsevens/news/newsid=2032795.html#record+numbers+tune+sevens+rugby|title=Record numbers tune in to Sevens rugby|publisher=International Rugby Board|date=24 July 2009|access-date=26 July 2009|archive-date=27 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727173518/http://www.irb.com/irbsevens/news/newsid=2032795.html#record+numbers+tune+sevens+rugby|url-status=dead }} Broadcast time increased further in 2009–10, with 3,561 hours of air time (1,143 hours live) carried by 34 broadcasters in 141 countries and 16 languages.{{cite press release|url=http://www.irb.com/irbsevens/news/newsid=2040175.html#sevens+enjoys+more+record+broadcast+figures|title=Sevens enjoys more record broadcast figures|publisher=International Rugby Board|date=10 September 2010|access-date=5 October 2010|archive-date=19 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100919151611/http://www.irb.com/irbsevens/news/newsid=2040175.html#sevens+enjoys+more+record+broadcast+figures|url-status=dead }} 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.{{cite press release|url=http://www.irbsevens.com/news/newsid=2044708.html#more+tv+records+hsbc+sevens+world+series|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927045314/http://www.irbsevens.com/news/newsid=2044708.html#more+tv+records+hsbc+sevens+world+series|url-status=usurped|archive-date=27 September 2011|title=More TV records for HSBC Sevens World Series|publisher=International Rugby Board|date=10 August 2011|access-date=10 August 2011}}
=Sponsorship=
The International Rugby Board reached a 5-year deal with HSBC in October 2010 that granted them status as the first-ever title sponsor of the Sevens World Series. Through the agreement, HSBC acquired title naming rights to all tournaments in the World Series, beginning with the Dubai Sevens on 3 December 2010.{{cite press release|url=http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/mediazone/pressrelease/newsid=2040495.html#hsbc+first+sevens+world+series+title+sponsor|title=HSBC first Sevens World Series title sponsor|publisher=International Rugby Board|date=5 October 2010|access-date=5 October 2010|archive-date=12 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101012234929/http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/mediazone/pressrelease/newsid=2040495.html#hsbc+first+sevens+world+series+title+sponsor|url-status=dead }} HSBC has since sub-licensed 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.world.rugby/sevens-series/news/78453?lang=en|title=HSBC partners with World Rugby for record-breaking sevens properties – HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series|website=www.world.rugby}}
File:Crowd cheering, Hong Kong Sevens 2009.jpg.]]
| class="wikitable"
|+ Tournament Naming Rights |
| Tournament
! Sponsor |
|---|
| Sydney
|HSBC |
| Dubai |
| South Africa |
| New Zealand |
| USA
|No named sponsor |
| Hong Kong |
| Japan
|No named sponsor |
| Scotland |
| London |
Player contracts and salaries
In the year after the International Olympic Committee announced in 2009 that rugby sevens would return to the Olympics in 2016, most of the "core teams" on the Series began offering full-time contracts to their players. These annual salaries can range from €18,000 to €100,000. England offers among the more generous salaries, ranging from an estimated €25,000 to over €100,000. New Zealand has a graded system with salaries ranging from €23,000-plus to about €52,500 for its four top earners. The basic salary for Scottish sevens players ranges from €22,500 to €40,000. The Australian sevens players are estimated to be on a basic salary of about €27,000-plus. Toward the bottom end of the scale is Ireland, offering its players a €18,000 to €23,750 development contract, less than minimum wage.[https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/salaries-of-men-s-sevens-players-to-remain-below-minimum-wage-1.3902505 "Salaries of Men’s Sevens players to remain below minimum wage"], Irish Times, Gerry Thornley, 24 May 2019.
Player awards by season
|style="text-align:center; padding:0; line-height:0.5;"|
|-
|align=center|9
|{{flagdeco|FIJ|}} Joji Nasova (158)
|{{flagdeco|FIJ|}} Joji Nasova &
{{flagdeco|ARG}} Marcos Moneta (26)
|{{flagdeco|ARG|}} Luciano González
|style="text-align:center; padding:0; line-height:0.5;"|
|}
Player records
Players in bold are still active.
=Tries=
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Most career tries ! Rank ! Player ! Nationality ! Tries | |
| 1
|{{sortname|Dan|Norton}} |{{ru7|ENG}} | align=center|358 | |
| 2
|{{sortname|Perry|Baker}} |{{ru7|USA}} | align=center|293 | |
| 3
|{{sortname|Collins|Injera}} |{{ru7|KEN}} | align=center|279 | |
| 4
|{{sortname|Tim|Mikkelson}} |{{ru7|NZL}} | align=center|240 | |
| rowspan=2|5
|{{sortname|Seabelo|Senatla}} |{{ru7|RSA}} | align=center|230 | |
| {{sortname|Santiago|Gómez Cora | Gomez}}
|{{ru7|ARG}} | align=center|230 |
| 7
|{{sortname|Ben|Gollings}} |{{ru7|ENG}} | align=center|220 | |
| 8
|{{sortname|Carlin|Isles}} |{{ru7|USA}} | align=center|217 | |
| rowspan=2|9
|{{sortname|Cecil|Afrika}} |{{ru7|RSA}} | align=center|179 | |
| {{sortname|Fabian|Juries}}
|{{ru7|RSA}} | align=center|179 |
{{Col-end}}
Updated: [https://www.world.rugby/sevens-series/stats/mens/alltime/players?metric=tries 1 July 2024]
=Points=
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Most career points ! Rank ! Player ! Nationality ! Points |
| 1
|{{sortname|Ben|Gollings}} |{{ru7|ENG}} | align=center|2,652 |
| 2
|{{sortname|Tomasi|Cama|Junior Tomasi Cama}} |{{ru7|NZL}} | align=center|2,028 |
| 3
|{{sortname|Nathan|Hirayama}} |{{ru7|CAN}} | align=center|1,859 |
| 4
|{{sortname|Dan|Norton}} |{{ru7|ENG}} | align=center|1,804 |
| 5
|{{sortname|Madison|Hughes}} |{{ru7|USA}} | align=center|1,596 |
| 6
|{{sortname|Tom|Mitchell|dab=rugby union, born 1989}} |{{ru7|ENG}} | align=center|1,595 |
| 7
|{{sortname|Perry|Baker}} |{{ru7|USA}} | align=center|1,467 |
| 8
|{{sortname|Cecil|Afrika}} |{{ru7|RSA}} |align=center|1,462 |
| 9
|{{sortname|Branco|du Preez}} |{{ru7|RSA}} | align=center|1,447 |
| 10
|{{sortname|Collins|Injera}} |{{ru7|KEN}} | align=center|1,443 |
{{Col-end}}
Updated: [https://www.world.rugby/sevens-series/stats/mens/alltime/players?metric=points 1 July 2024]
=Matches=
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Most career matches ! Rank ! Player ! Nationality ! Matches |
| 1
|{{sortname|Gaston|Revol}} |{{ru7|ARG}} |align=center|492 |
| 2
|{{sortname|Tim|Mikkelson}} |{{ru7|NZL}} |align=center|488 |
| 3
|{{sortname|Dan|Norton}} |{{ru7|ENG}} |align=center|470 |
| 4
|{{sortname|DJ|Forbes}} |{{ru7|NZL}} |align=center|450 |
| 5
|{{sortname|Branco|du Preez}} |{{ru7|RSA}} |align=center|431 |
| 6
|{{sortname|Jonathan|Laugel}} |{{ru7|FRA}} |align=center|427 |
| rowspan=2|7
|{{sortname|James|Rodwell}} |{{ru7|ENG}} |align=center|424 |
| {{sortname|Collins|Injera}}
|{{ru7|KEN}} |align=center|424 |
| 9
|{{sortname|Folau|Niua}} |{{ru7|USA}} |align=center|387 |
| 10
|{{sortname|Chris|Dry}} |{{ru7|RSA}} |align=center|373 |
{{Col-end}}
Updated: [https://www.world.rugby/sevens-series/stats/mens/alltime/players?metric=matches 1 July 2024].
See also
References
{{reflist|30em|refs=
|date=1999
|title=The Official World Sevens Series Website
|website=irbsevens1999.irb.org
|access-date=2 April 2018
|url=http://irbsevens1999.irb.org:80/
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030214172528/http://irbsevens1999.irb.org:80/
|archive-date=14 February 2003
}}
}}
External links
- [https://sevens.rugby/ Official site]
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{{International rugby union}}
{{International sports tours}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:World Rugby Sevens Series}}
Category:Rugby sevens competitions