Rugby sevens: Encyclopedia II - Rugby sevens - Rugby union sevens

Rugby sevens - Rugby union sevens

Rugby union sevens is sanctioned by the International Rugby Board (IRB), and is played under substantially the same rules and on a field of the same dimensions as the 15-player game.

While a normal rugby union match lasts upwards of 80 minutes, a normal rugby sevens match lasts approximately 15 minutes (allowing for the one-minute halftime break, injury time and so forth). Competition finals last somewhat more than 20 minutes; each half in a competition final is ten minutes instead of the normal seven minutes. This allows rugby tournaments to be completed in a day or a weekend. However, sevens scores are generally comparable to union scores; scoring occurs with much greater regularity in sevens, since the defenders are more spaced out than in rugby union.

The only major rule change from rugby union regarding events on the field is that conversions must be drop goals.

Rugby sevens developed in Scotland in 1883. Owing to the speed by which matches are resolved and the minimal personnel requirements, there is hope that sevens will be accepted for Olympic competition (it has been in the Commonwealth Games since 1998) and spread amongst nations that are not traditional powers in rugby union.

It was considered a massive blow for Rugby Sevens, as well as Rugby Union in general, that the sport was rejected by the Olympic board for the purposes of the 2012 Olympics to be held in London.

One of the best known sevens competitions is the Hong Kong Sevens, which now makes up part of the IRB World Sevens Series.

Rugby sevens - Major tournaments

• Rugby World Cup Sevens
• Hong Kong Sevens
• Japan Sevens
• Melrose Sevens
• Middlesex Sevens
• World Sevens Series

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Rugby union sevens", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki