World Rugby Outlines Plans for Sevens 2021 Series

Despite having just postponed the Women's Rugby World Cup, which had been scheduled to take place in New Zealand from 18 September - 16 October 2021, World Rugby has given sevens fans around the world something to look forward to.

A condensed 2021 Series schedule includes five women’s and four men’s rounds, with the addition of a further two potential men’s events under discussion.

The 2021 Series is scheduled to kick off with back-to-back women’s events in Marcoussis, Paris on 15-16 and 22-23 May. The Series will then take a break for the countdown to the Olympic Games and recommence with a men’s event in Singapore on 29-30 October, followed by joint men’s and women’s rounds in Hong Kong on 5-7 November, Dubai on 3-4 December, followed by an exciting climax in Cape Town on 10-12 December.

Detailed discussions are continuing with London and Vancouver on the viability of hosting men’s events in the window following the Olympic Games and prior to the HSBC Singapore Sevens in October.

New Zealand are the reigning champions of both the women's and men's Series after being crowned winners of the 2020 edition, which was brought to an early conclusion with five of the eight women’s rounds and six of the 10 men’s rounds successfully completed prior to the onset of the pandemic.

In the men’s Series, Japan will join as a core team following their promotion from the inaugural HSBC World Rugby Challenger Series in 2020, while it has been agreed that in this Olympic year, the England, Scotland and Wales teams will combine to compete as ‘GB Sevens’ in both the men’s and women’s Series’ in 2021. This will create two additional invitational places for teams to participate in the men’s 2021 Series events, with invitational teams to be announced in due course.

Planning is also at an advanced stage for a number of other events, including a joint women’s and men’s event in Los Angeles over the weekend of 25-27 June as Olympic qualified teams look to intensify their preparations for the Games in Tokyo with high quality competition opportunities.

Monaco will host the World Rugby Sevens Repechage, the final qualification event for the Olympic Games in Tokyo, on 19-20 June 2021. With 21 of the 24 teams already qualified for the Olympic rugby sevens competition, the remaining two women's and one men’s spots will be determined in Monaco.

The Olympic competition will take place on 26-31 July 2021 at Tokyo Stadium.

World Rugby Interim Chief Executive Alan Gilpin said, “As a key driver of game growth, particularly in emerging markets, the continued success of rugby sevens and the Sevens Series is a strategic priority for World Rugby and our US$4 million funding to support sevens programmes is a clear demonstration of our commitment. This unique Olympic year provides a huge opportunity to reach new audiences around the world and introduce them to the speed, skill and excitement of rugby sevens, encouraging them to become future fans of the Series.

“Above all, the health, safety and wellbeing of players, fans and the wider community remains our top priority and all stakeholders will continue to closely monitor global developments with the COVID-19 pandemic and work closely with host governments and health agencies to ensure a safe, secure and highly impactful return to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.”

Given the unique and unprecedented nature of the global COVID-19 pandemic and its various international travel restrictions and quarantine measures, it is accepted that some teams may not be able to travel or participate in all 2021 Series events. Where possible, World Rugby will invite replacement teams to fill the places of any core Series team unable to participate in a Series event.

The Women's Rugby World Cup is now expected to take place in 2022.

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