:: ::

The key skills of the Sevens game are running, handling and contact making for a fast moving and exciting game for the fans as well as the players. With seven players per team playing seven minutes each way matches, the winning team is the one scoring the most points - 5 for a try and 2 for a "conversion" after the try. There are 1800 clubs across England where you are welcome to give the game a "TRY".

Did you know...?

England will host the Rugby World Cup in 2015. After the Olympics and football World Cup, this is the third biggest event in the world sporting calendar. This will be the second Rugby World Cup in England in 5 years after the biggest and best Women's World Cup yet was staged in London in 2011. New Zealand retained their crown as world champions as they pipped England in a repeat of the 2007 final. Rugby Sevens is a fast growing game in itself with the World Sevens Series staged on every continent throughout the season and the 2016 Rio Olympics will be the first games to include both men's and women's rugby after the IOC's overwhelming vote to include the sport.

2012/13 saw the first International Rugby Board Series of international 7s tournaments for Women. The top teams went head to head across four countries and 2013 sees the both the Women's and Men's Rugby 7s World Cup take place in Moscow.

Structure

Traditionally Sevens was considered a bit of fun to wind down the season. Nowadays, however, it is seen as an extension to the season with more and more Sevens activities taking place.

Sevens is viewed as an important stage in the development of future England internationals. It truly is a global sport with a huge worldwide following.

Basic Rules

• Seven-a-side contact rugby

• Three-person scrum (instead of eight)

• Tournaments generally held in the summer months

• Seven-minute halves, one-minute half-time

• Recognised at international level

The key factor in Sevens is that, as the name cleverly suggests, there are only seven players in each team. This means more ground for each person to cover, but also more possession of the ball for each player.

There are just three people in a scrum and two or three in a lineout, whereas in the full game there can be up to eight players in each.

As a result, technical offences are less common and play is faster and freer flowing. In addition, set pieces are a lot simpler to understand, which is great if you can't get your head around all those scrum laws!

With fewer players on the pitch, there is plenty of space for individuals to show off their skills. It is a game that really exploits the basics of rugby - running, passing, tackling and decision-making. To be successful you need speed, skill and stamina.

Rugby Selection Policy 2013

Events List