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World Rugby reveal major shake-up of Sevens format
World Rugby have revealed a major shake-up of the Rugby Sevens World Series format which is set to be introduced at the end of 2023. The new schedule will see the number of host cities reduced to seven as the organisation bids to simplify and improve the current offering. Crucially, both male and female athletes will be paid the same.
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The number of teams competing in the men’s World Series will also drop from 16 to 12, mirroring the number of teams that qualify for the Olympic Games every four years.
As part of the shake-up, there will be the introduction of a two-league system with promotion and relegation. Sides from the elite 12-team World Series can be relegated to the Challenger Series and likewise, Challenger Series contenders can be promoted to the World Series.
Speaking to RugbyPass, Richard Heaselgrave, the World Rugby chief revenue and fan engagement officer, said the new format was about entertainment and simplifying the product for both rugby fans and people new to the sport, summing up the new vision as: “Food, music and mass participation at seven iconic venues around the world, venues you would want to go to.”
Host events will take place over three days and will be as much about entertaining the fans off the field as on it, with festival-style music and off-field entertainment and food central to programming. The aim for each venue is to host at least 80,000 fans across the span of three days.
World Rugby outline an exciting new framework for the future of the Sevens World Series ?
??Remodelled Sevens World Series
??Fully combined and equal Men’s and Women’s Series
??Aligning with the Olympic competition mode— World Rugby 7s (@WorldRugby7s) November 30, 2022
The new vision for the tournament came about as the result of two seasons of forced introspection care of the global pandemic. “After about two years over the course of the pandemic, the rugby world consulted to get Sevens to be more popular. Simple as that. Popular in terms of fan engagement and fans watching and also in terms of the profitability of the series, so that we can pay Sevens players more money to compete so they can have a more aspirational career in rugby.
World Rugby have looked at the current circuit venues – at what has worked and what hasn’t. “We wanted to look at not just the size of the events that could be staged at a venue, but also to introduce the sport to new markets,” continued Heaselgrave.
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Key to the new premise is equal pay for both male and female athletes, with World Rugby paying unions the same amount for the men’s and women’s programmes. “The basic principle of the new model is we pay the athletes 70 per cent more [than current wages], that’s baked into the business model.
“Unless it’s a dream that boys and girls around the world can play sevens and for it to be a viable career, you will lose athletes to other sports. Key to this is no gender difference. We pay the men and the women the same. The conditions are exactly the same for the men and women, and that’s a first for Sevens.”
The venues are yet to be finalised, with the World Series competing in its current format for one more season.
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
1 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
23 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
6 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to comments