In a move that will align the annual series with the Olympic Games, World Rugby has also announced an exciting restructuring of the final competition day, driving greater meaning for teams and fans.
The traditional Cup, Plate, Bowl and Shield winner’s format on the men’s series will be replaced by two competitions. The top two teams in each pool will progress to the Cup competition and the chance to win a gold medal, while lower ranked teams will contest a new Challenge Trophy competition.
The restructure means that each series event will climax with the 13th-place positional play-off, followed by the Challenge Trophy (ninth place), the fifth place play-off, bronze medal match and the gold medal match (Cup winners).
In the 12-team women’s sevens series, the top two teams along with the two best third-place finishers will progress to the Cup competition, while the other four teams will play off for the Challenge Trophy, replacing the Bowl competition.
World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said: “Rugby sevens continues to go from strength to strength after a hugely successful Olympic Games debut and we are very much looking forward to what promises to be a very exciting and competitive men’s and women’s series.
“This is the first season within the Tokyo 2020 cycle and therefore the timing of these adjustments makes sense. They are designed to enhance fan understanding of the schedule and format, while providing teams with the opportunity to win a medal, as is fitting with an Olympic sport.”
With series anticipation and interest on a high after what was widely regarded as a hugely successful Olympic Games debut, the men’s and women’s series kick off in Dubai on 1 December, before the men’s series moves on to Cape Town, South Africa.
Wales sevens star Sam Cross will be keen to add to his silver medal claimed while representing Team GB in the Rio Olympics. He won’t lack for support, after his local club, Brynmawr, honoured his achievement by naming the players’ lounge after him.
After watching his dad captain the Gwent club, Cross has Brynmawr blood coursing through his veins. He played for the Youth side for three years before joining the senior ranks. The rest, as they say, is history.
“The club have been fantastic to me throughout my rugby career and to see what they have done since coming back from the Olympics is quite overwhelming,” said the 23-year-old.
“The transformation of the room is incredible and to have my own bar in a club I grew up in and which is very close to my heart is surreal,” he said.
“My father captained the club, my brothers currently play for here alongside my cousin. I played here and it really is a family club and I can’t thank the chairman Anthony Apperley and the committee enough for what they have done for me – not just with the bar but throughout my career.”
