• The HSBC Canada Sevens gets underway 3-5 March, marking the 200th men’s tournament in HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series storied history
• For the first time ever, the top 12 women’s nations are set to join the men at BC Place for a thrilling three-day competition
• New Zealand Black Ferns Sevens lead current women’s Series standings, can officially qualify for Paris 2024 this weekend
• New Zealand All Blacks Sevens sit atop the men’s Series standings having won back-to-back stops in Sydney and Los Angeles
• The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2023 is the most competitive in history with Paris 2024 Olympic qualification the prize for the top four teams
• Play begins at 09:15 local time (GMT-8) on Friday, with the finals on Sunday

The world’s best men’s and women’s rugby sevens players will return to action in Vancouver this weekend with a three-day event from 3-5 March as the race for HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series glory and the all-important Olympic qualification heats up.

The 28 captains who will do battle for the highly coveted HSBC Canada Sevens crowns gathered on Wednesday on the traditional territory of Tsleil-Waututh Nation as they fine tune their preparations ahead of kick off on Friday.

With the popular event returning to the city for the eighth consecutive year, Canada’s men’s and women’s teams will be looking to put on a show for their fans as they enter the field at the BC Place Stadium.

Canada women’s co-captain Breanne Nicholas said: “We’re very excited to be playing on our home turf alongside the men. We know what it’s like in Langford, and we’re ready for the hype of Vancouver. Playing alongside the men is not only positive for the growth of rugby in Canada but the growth of women’s sport in Canada.”

However, New Zealand’s Black Ferns Sevens and All Blacks Sevens lead the current Series standings and arrive in confident mood having won the last three women’s events and two men’s events respectively.

This weekend in Vancouver, if New Zealand’s women’s team reaches the cup finals, they will be the second nation to officially qualify for Paris 2024 after France, who have a spot secured as hosts.

Black Ferns women’s captain Sarah Goss said: “It’s been amazing being in a new city in Canada, we love coming here and to be able to play at BC Place – we went to the stadium yesterday and had a run around against Canada – it’s an amazing stadium and we’re looking forward to the weekend.

“I have only seen that [New Zealand can qualify for Paris 2024] in the media and we haven’t actually talked about that as a team. We’re just trying to get better and better as the tournament goes along and we’re very happy with how we’re sitting but we probably won’t be too happy unless we continue that momentum we’ve already built.”

The 2023 Series is shaping up to be the most competitive in history with the prize of Olympic Games Paris 2024 qualification on offer for the top four women’s and men’s teams in the 2023 Series standings, while hosts France have pre-qualified for next year’s pinnacle event in the nation’s capital.

The men’s Series has seen five different gold medal winners (Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Samoa and South Africa) in the six rounds to date.

New Zealand sit firmly on top of the women’s leader board with 78 points, having won the last three tournaments in Sydney, Hamilton and Cape Town. Australia, the only other nation to have won a tournament in Dubai, are tied with USA at 66 points each. The Americans join New Zealand as the only nation to have medalled at every event this season, while France picked up their first bronze medal in Sydney.

VIEW MEN’S SERIES STANDINGS >>

VIEW WOMEN’S SERIES STANDINGS >>

The stakes couldn’t be higher at the bottom end of the men’s Series this season as well. Following the penultimate event in Toulouse, the 15th ranked team will be relegated to the 2024 Sevens Challenger Series while the 12th through 14th ranked teams will face off against the Sevens Challenger Series 2023 winner for the 12th and final position on the 2024 Series.

Ireland captain Harry McNulty said: “Back-to-back tournaments are always tough, and with the three-day tournament it means one less training day, but we love coming to Vancouver – it’s always a great crowd so we’re excited to push on from last week. For us it was great to get three wins in the pool but disappointing to not win anything on day two, so we’re really looking forward to putting in another good performance this weekend.

“Every tournament you have to take into consideration how hard the pools are because it’s been crazy at the moment when there’s nine teams who can qualify for the four Olympic spots at the end of the season. So we’re going tournament-to-tournament in terms of getting our preparation right but also every tournament means you’re one step closer to the end of the season so we need to make sure we get the most amount of points as we can.”

The men’s pools for Vancouver have HSBC Los Angeles winners New Zealand in Pool A alongside Cape Town champions Samoa, Spain and the United States. Pool B includes silver medal winners Argentina with South Africa France and Japan. Bronze medal winners Fiji will meet Great Britain, Uruguay and Kenya in Pool C, while Australia lead Pool D alongside Ireland, Canada and Chile.

VIEW MEN’S MATCH SCHEDULE >>

The women’s pools for Vancouver have New Zealand, Fiji, Great Britain and Colombia in Pool A. Reigning Series champions Australia will be looking to bounce back in Pool B against France, Japan and Spain. Pool C sees the USA together with Ireland, hosts Canada and Brazil.

VIEW WOMEN’S MATCH SCHEDULE >>

The action begins at 09:15 local time (GMT-8) on Friday, beginning three days of action-packed world-class rugby sevens, which concludes with the finals on Sunday evening.

Tickets for the HSBC Canada Sevens are available from Home – Canada Sevens

Rugby sevens fans around the world can watch the action via live stream on World Rugby digital platforms including www.world.rugby, YouTube and Facebook in countries where there is no national broadcaster covering the event.

WHERE TO WATCH >>

The post HSBC Canada Sevens set for historic weekend appeared first on Asia Rugby.

On 2 December, 1999 the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series was born in Dubai.

Fittingly, current men’s Series leaders New Zealand had the honour of competing in the very first match and former sevens star turned World Rugby commentator Karl Te Nana scored in a 14-0 win against Tonga.

To this day, Te Nana remembers the thrill of being involved from the very first blast of Australian referee George Ayoub’s whistle.

“When the Series first launched, there was so much excitement amongst all the countries to have an organised series created,” he said.

“The chance to continuously match yourself against the best in the world in 10 tournaments was a real new and fresh concept that both players and fans gravitated to.”

Dubai is one of the two original venues still used to this day (Hong Kong is the other) and was also the location for the opening tournament when the women’s Series was launched in 2012-13.

We go again in Vancouver!

3-5 March

Get your tickets to #Canada7s: https://t.co/deBxy6tqyi#HSBC7s pic.twitter.com/CjDVjTF5nh

— World Rugby 7s (@WorldRugby7s) February 28, 2023

For Te Nana, it was a natural choice as the launchpad for the Series because it was already a renowned sevens destination.

“The first tournament in Dubai was always a vibe because of its already established history. It was like playing in a major at golf,” he said.

“So when New Zealand had the honour to play the first game of the Series against Tonga, we as a team knew the significance of that, and for me to score the first try ever on the World Sevens Series, at the time I didn’t take much notice but now as I look back, I’m very proud of that moment.”

New Zealand went on to be crowned champions in that first tournament in Dubai following a 38-14 win over Fiji, another of the sport’s powerhouses long before the Series was initiated.

SOUTHERN DOMINANCE

A fierce rivalry had already developed between the countries from the first two editions of Rugby World Cup Sevens in 1993 and 1997 and that was translated into the Series.

Those two countries claimed all the titles on offer between them throughout the inaugural Series and, by the end of it all, the All Blacks Sevens came out on top in the final standings by just six points.

It was the first of six consecutive overall Series titles for New Zealand, who won just over half (26) of the first 50 tournaments played.

Of the 30 different nations that have played and scored in the Series, New Zealand and Fiji are to date the only ones to reach 3,000 points.

Fiji became Series champions for the first time in 2005-06 but it was still New Zealand who largely held the upper hand as the Series continued to grow, their run of seven consecutive tournament wins between London in 2007 to Hong Kong the following year being a record that still exists today.

BLITZBOKS’ BREAKTHROUGH

2009 was not only a significant year for sevens in terms of it winning the vote to become an Olympic sport but it also marked the emergence of South Africa as a threat to New Zealand and Fiji, the Blitzboks claiming the first of their four Series titles that year.

Samoa threw their hat into the ring by taking the next title in 2010 and England were always a threat with record Series points scorer Ben Gollings dictating play. But for the most part, it was New Zealand, Fiji and South Africa who continued to fight it out for top honours.

The next 11 Series titles, from 2011 to 2021, were shared by the southern hemisphere trio with New Zealand claiming five, and Fiji and South Africa three apiece, the latter benefitting from the absence of their main rivals due to COVID-19 in their 2021 Series win.

For a 10-year period between 2004 and 2014, that trio and England, Samoa, Argentina, Australia and France were the only teams to win a tournament in the Series.

But as sevens’ Olympics debut in Rio in 2016 drew ever closer new teams came to the fore with the USA enjoying the first of their three tournament successes in London in the 2014-15 Series. Over the next two years, they were joined by Scotland and Canada in adding their names to the roll of honour.

In total, 12 different teams have now won a tournament in the Series.

With the general competitiveness of sevens going up several notches following the sport’s inclusion in the Olympic Games, New Zealand’s almost total dominance from those early years will be very hard to replicate.

But while Australia became the first new overall Series winner in 12 years in 2022, the All Blacks Sevens remain the team to beat in most people’s eyes.

Their overall tally of 64 tournament wins, and 100-plus  final appearances, from the 199 men’s tournaments played to date easily eclipses what any of the other teams can muster.

Fiji are next best with 44 tournament wins and South Africa are third on 40.

A SHOWCASE FOR SKILLS

Once considered a means of improving fitness for 15s or for an end-of-season jamboree, sevens has become huge in its own right and the Series has played a big part in its evolution into an Olympic sport that helps spread the rugby gospel far and wide.

Ever-evolving, the Series will be remodelled next year and will include seven festival-style events, in seven iconic global destinations, across seven months, featuring the 12 best men’s and women’s teams in the world.

Te Nana was one of the first to leave his mark on the Series and is still taken aback by how big and far-reaching it has become.

“It’s amazing how from the inception to what the beast of a product and spectacle the sevens has become. It is just amazing,” he said.

“World Rugby have done a fantastic job creating a platform for men’s and women’s teams and athletes to thrive and showcase their abilities to help connect, inspire and bring joy to audiences across the globe.”

The post HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series hits major milestone appeared first on Asia Rugby.

For the second time in less than six months, the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series returns to Los Angeles this weekend with a two-day event from 25-26 February as the race for Series glory and the all-important Olympic qualification heats up.

The 16 men’s team captains who will do battle for the highly coveted HSBC Los Angeles Sevens crown gathered outside Dignity Sports Health Park on Thursday afternoon alongside participants from HSBC’s World of Opportunity Programme.

Related Link: Back to Full Schedule, Enthralling Year of Rugby in the Offering: Asia Rugby Releases 2023 Calendar

The 2023 Series is shaping up to be the most competitive in history with the prize of Olympic Games Paris 2024 qualification on offer for the top four women’s and men’s teams in the 2023 Series standings, while hosts France have pre-qualified for next year’s pinnacle event in the nation’s capital.

The Men’s Series has seen nine different teams reach the Cup Semi-Final stage, with all nine nations medaling across the first five tournaments. There have been five different gold medal winners (Australia, Samoa, South Africa, Argentina and New Zealand), four different silver medalists (Fiji, South Africa, Ireland and New Zealand twice) and four bronze medalists (France, New Zealand, Fiji and USA twice).

New Zealand currently sit atop the Series standings with 85 points, followed by South Africa at 76 points and five nations (Samoa, France, Fiji, Argentina and USA) are separated by just two points between 68 and 66 in the race for the final two spots for Paris 2024.

VIEW SERIES STANDINGS >>

The USA will look to use their home field advantage and passionate fans as an added boost when they continue their quest of qualifying for Paris 2024 next year. The Americans have tasted victory twice in front of their home supporters, having won back-to-back cup titles in 2018 and 2019 in Las Vegas before the event moved back to California.

Currently in seventh place on the Series standings, the Eagles have won two bronze medals this year in Cape Town and Hamilton and sit just two points back of a tie for third place in the race for qualification.

USA men’s captain Kevon Williams said: “The season is at stake this weekend. We’re three points behind third place with the top four qualifying for Paris so this weekend is a real big weekend for us as far as staying in contention for qualifying for the Olympics.

“We’ve been known in the history that this tournament is our best tournament. Whether it’s been in Las Vegas or Los Angeles we’ve always played well at home. The USA has three cup wins and two of them are on home soil so we play big when it comes here.”

The men’s pool draw for Los Angeles sees Sydney champions New Zealand take their place in Pool A alongside Cape Town champions Samoa, hosts USA and invitational team Chile.

New Zealand men’s captain Sam Dickson said: “We know how fast the points situation can change. We started in ninth after Hong Kong so we’ve done well to bounce back and get out front but with six tournaments left anything can happen so we’ll be giving it our best this weekend to stay on top.”

Dubai champions South Africa slot into Pool B alongside Ireland, Uruguay and Canada.

Sydney bronze medal winners Fiji lead Pool C and will face off against Hong Kong champions Australia, Kenya and Japan.

France, who currently sit fourth in the Series standings, are joined by Great Britain, Hamilton champions Argentina and Spain in Pool D.

The stakes couldn’t be higher at the bottom end of the men’s Series this season as well. Following the penultimate event in Toulouse, the 15th ranked team will be relegated to the 2024 Sevens Challenger Series while the 12th through 14th ranked teams will face off against the Sevens Challenger Series 2023 winner for the 12th and final position on the 2024 Series.

Canada captain Phil Berna said: “One good tournament is all you need to get some momentum going and we’ve been telling ourselves not to stress too much about the end of the season so we’ll take it one game and one tournament at a time. We have a job to do here this weekend and we know the better we do this weekend the better position we put ourselves in Vancouver at our home tournament so our focus is on LA.”

VIEW POOLS AND FIXTURES >>

The action gets under way on Saturday at 09:15 local time (GMT-8) when Great Britain takes on Argentina and the final match of day one kicks off at 19:03 with South Africa facing off against Ireland.

Play begins on finals day on Sunday at 08:55 with the 9^th place quarter-finals and the gold medal final scheduled for 17:28.

Rugby sevens fans around the world can watch the action via live stream on World Rugby digital platforms including www.world.rugby, You Tube and Facebook in countries where there is no national broadcaster covering the event.

WHERE TO WATCH >>

As part of the captains’ photo, the captains were interviewed by participants from HSBC’s World of Opportunity Programme, a global initiative from HSBC that gives young people with an interest in working in sport the opportunity to get invaluable insight into sporting careers that lie beyond the field.

The young adults taking part in the programme are all from the LA area and were sourced in partnership with the Todd Clever Foundation. HSBC ambassador and former USA Rugby Sevens international Todd Clever supports communities across America by providing opportunities for athletes, coaches, and teams while instilling the values of the sport. The participants took part in a series of sessions hosted by Clever, HSBC ambassador and USA Rugby Sevens international Abby Gustaitis and World Rugby.

As part of the partnership with the Todd Clever Foundation, there will also be a Donation Wall at the Dignity Health Sports Park, where kit, funds and equipment will be donated towards supporting local rugby clubs and organizations.

Los Angeles will host the 2028 Olympic Games, which will see rugby sevens’ fourth appearance at the Games since the sport’s debut at the Rio 2016 Games.

The post HSBC Los Angeles Sevens ready for action appeared first on Asia Rugby.

The Qatar team dominated the game with relentless pressure and a solid performance, with hooker Wade Lotter scoring a hat-trick and playing a crucial role in the victory.

As champions of the regional division, Qatar will now join India and Kazakhstan in the Division 3 Championship playoffs soon. The winner and runner-up of the playoffs will gain promotion to Division 2 and keep their dreams alive of a pathway to the Asia Rugby Championship and further progress to qualification for the Rugby World Cup 2027.

Solidarity and Respect! The least we can offer, one minute silence at Qatar vs Iran match at @asiarugby Championship Division 3 West played in Al Ain – UAE

Our prayers and hearts with all victims’ families #Syria #Turkey pic.twitter.com/YUeF9xswHS

— Qais A. Al Dhalai (@QaisUAE) February 10, 2023

During the closing ceremony, a minute of silence was observed to show solidarity with the Syria High Rugby Committee, Turkish Rugby Federation, and everyone affected by the recent devastating earthquakes in Syria and Turkey.

Asia Rugby Independent Executive Committee member Trevor Gregory presented the championship trophy to the champions. 

Man of the match, Wade Lotter from Qatar, spoke to Asia Rugby about the tournament, saying, “There was a long wait for this

tournament to happen and a huge build-up, and everyone was fired up for the game. It was a good game, and I was just fortunate to score the tries, but the credit must go to the team.”

 Iran also demonstrated impressive character, finishing the game with two outstanding tries by superstar Ali Yaghooti

Related Articles
Asia Rugby Appoints Match Officials for Division 3 West 
Asia Rugby season kicks off with Qatar vs Iran Clash ‎

Asia Rugby Calendar 2023
https://www.asiarugby.com/calendar-2023/

Watch the full game
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWw24pO_3s8

The post Qatar Crowned Champions of Asia Rugby Division 3 West appeared first on Asia Rugby.

Asia Rugby has announced the appointment of match officials for the upcoming Asia Rugby Division 3 West match between Iran and Qatar, set to take place on Friday, February 10th, in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates who are:

• Ghaith Jalajel, the Asia Rugby Competitions Manager, Will act as Tournament Director.
• Jaco De Wit, from the United Arab Emirates Rugby Federation (UAERF), will be the Referee.
• Tony Duminy and Azhfar Nor, from UAE Rugby Federation and Malaysia Rugby respectively, will be the Assistant Referees.
• Peter Hudson has been appointed as the Match Officials Performance Reviewer.
• Ramesh Lachmanan from Malaysia Rugby will serve as the Judicial Officer
• Chris Galea from the Singapore Rugby Union as the Citing Commissioner.

The appointed match officials have been carefully handpicked by Asia Rugby’s Selections and Appointments Panel, and then ratified by both Asia Rugby Referee’s Committee and the Asia Rugby Interim CEO.

This will be the last match of the Division 3 Regional Championships. The winner will contest the Division 3 Playoff Tournament in March against India and Kazakhstan, who won Divisions 3 South and Central, respectively, in 2022. The Playoff Tournament champion and runners-up will earn a promotion to Division 2 to be played during the period 2nd to 5th May 2023.

Asia Rugby will be live-streaming the match on its Facebook page and YouTube channel, and featuring highlights on its Instagram page.

 Asia Rugby Division 3 West
Iran v Qatar
Location: Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
Date: Friday 10^th February 2023
Time: 19:00  (UAE +4 GMT)

The post Asia Rugby Appoints Match Officials for Division 3 West  appeared first on Asia Rugby.

During the meeting, the concept and initial format of the league were discussed and a high-powered steering committee chaired by Asia Rugby President was formed to take the project forward. The ARGL will gradually increase the number of participating clubs, starting with 4 clubs and ultimately reaching 12 clubs by the Rugby World Cup year 2027 in Australia.

Asia Rugby Grand League is set to launch in 2024. Leaders from 12 unions joined the inaugural hybrid meeting in Singapore. Chaired by Asia Rugby President @QaisUAE.

(CTP )#AsiaRugby #GrandLeague #WeCanDoBetterButTogether pic.twitter.com/JmabgJyVYh

— Asia Rugby (@asiarugby) February 3, 2023

Asia Rugby President, Qais Al Dhalai shared the vision of the Grand League: “The ARGL has been developed to outline our strategic and key performance goals, leading to a high-performance clubs rugby tournament that will help grow the fifteens aside game in Asia and benefit national teams in the future to compete at a high-performance level.” The league aims to create a world-class club rugby league to ensure a robust, sustainable, and commercially viable future for the game.

The ARGL promises to bring a new look to rugby competitions in Asia with the use of innovative technology in the likes of artificial intelligence and experimentation with law variations. The league plans to partner with major international and local commercial partners to secure the necessary funding, including broadcasting and media rights, merchandise sales, and other commercial activities.

A comprehensive marketing and promotion campaign will be launched to raise awareness of the tournament and engage fans, with a focus on a strong online presence, social media campaigns, and traditional marketing activities.

The meeting was successful with positive inputs from all attending unions, including a comprehensive presentation by the Hong Kong Rugby Union sharing their experience with past franchise team South China Tigers. Malaysia Rugby and Singapore Rugby unions have also expressed their experiences with Malaysia Valke and Asia Pacific Dragons franchises teams respectively which were playing at the Global Rapid Rugby in 2019 and 2020 before it gets abandoned owing COVID-19 pandemic.

The post Asia Rugby Grand League sees lights in May 2024 appeared first on Asia Rugby.

Asia Rugby’s 2023 season kicks off on Friday 10th February in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, with a highly anticipated Division 3 West showdown between Qatar and Iran, two of West Asia’s Top teams.  Iran and Qatar have developed a fierce rugby rivalry and both appear well-prepared, confident and eager to lock horns again in, what is expected to be, a high-octane encounter.

Qatar, a strong team, has been steadily improving in recent years and possesses a solid core group of players who are well-trained and highly motivated. The team is known for its quickness and agility, with many players well capable of executing quick breaks and getting over the try line.

Iran, on the other hand, is a team that has been making waves. With a mix of experienced veterans and young talent, they have put together a squad that is both physical and skilled. Iran has a solid set piece and a strong defence, which makes them a tough team to beat.

Back to Full Schedule, Enthralling Year of Rugby in the Offering: Asia Rugby Releases 2023 Calendar

The last time the two sides clashed was in 2018 Division 3 West in Lebanon and Iran beat Qatar 17 – 8.

This will be the last match of the Division 3 Regional Championships 2022; the winner will progress to the playoffs of division 3 a step forward towards the ultimate goal of all teams to play in the Asia Rugby Championship the pathway for Rugby World Cup 2027 qualification road.

Stay tuned and prepare to witness the exciting encounter in real time as Asia Rugby will be live streaming the match on its Facebook page and YouTube channel, and featuring highlights on its Instagram page.

Qatar vs Iran Live

Live 

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After three cancelled editions (2020-22) on the back of the pandemic, rugby’s two biggest men’s U20 tournaments are returning in 2023 and will feature the world’s best young talents in the sport’s bicentenary year.

https://www.asiarugby.com/results/asia-rugby-u19-championships/u19-mens-championship-2022/

South Africa will host the World Rugby U20 Championship for the next two years (2023 and 2024). The 2023 edition will be the second time that South Africa welcomes the future stars of the game after 2012 when the Junior Springboks won on home soil. The age-grade tournament will be held from 24 June-14 July. Played over five match days in the Western Cape Wineland regions of Stellenbosch, Paarl and Wellington, the world’s best 12 nations have been placed into three pools and will all hope to clinch the coveted title and succeed two-time defending champions France. The team finishing last will be relegated to the World Rugby U20 Trophy next year.

The World Rugby U20 Championship 2023 participating teams are: Argentina, Australia, England, Fiji, France, Georgia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa and Wales.

Following the U20 Championship’s conclusion, Kenya will host the World Rugby U20 Trophy 2023 for the second time from 15-30 July, having previous staged the tournament in 2009. It will be the third time the tournament has been played in Africa with Zimbabwe having acted as hosts in 2016. Eight teams will battle over four match days at the Nyayo National Stadium with the eventual winner being promoted the U20 Championship in 2024.

The World Rugby U20 Trophy 2023 participating teams are: Scotland (relegated from the U20 Championship in 2019), Kenya (hosts), Hong Kong (Asia), Samoa (Oceania), Spain (Europe), Uruguay (South America) and two teams still to qualify through regional competition from North America and Africa.

The two age-grade tournaments are a key part of the international federation’s investment in increasing the competitiveness of global rugby by providing a meaningful pathway to the elite level for talented young players. The showpiece tournaments, first held in 2008, have seen almost 1,500 players go on to make their test debut after playing on this stage, including 28 Rugby World Cup winners.

World Rugby Chairman, Sir Bill Beaumont said: “We are thrilled to unveil our two exciting hosts for the World Rugby U20 Championship and U20 Trophy taking place later this year. South Africa and Kenya will provide the perfect stage for the return of our flagship U20 competitions that play such a crucial role in the development of young talents within our unions.

“The U20 Championship and Trophy have been hugely popular since their inception 15 years ago and have proven successful with countless stars moving on to play test rugby and shine on the biggest stage and many of them will be on display when Rugby World Cup 2023 kicks off in September.

“Africa is a significant growth region for rugby and I would like to thank our friends in Kenya and South Africa respectively for hosting in rugby’s bicentenary year. We look forward to seeing the 20 teams inspiring the African continent with breath-taking action.”

SA Rugby President Mark Alexander added: “South Africa have a proud tradition and excellent track record of hosting world-class events and we are ready to welcome the next generations of rugby’s future to our shores in July, and again next year.

“We have the infrastructure and proven expertise to deliver excellent rugby events and, combined with fantastic backing from our passionate supporters, I have no doubt we will deliver two more very successful World Rugby U20 Championships.”

WORLD RUGBY U20 CHAMPIONSHIP 2023
24 June-14 July | Cape Town and Western Cape, South Africa

• Pool matches
  • Match day 1: Saturday 24 June
  • Match day 2: Thursday 29 June
  • Match day 3: Tuesday 4 July
• Knock-out matches
  • Match day 4: Sunday 9 July
  • Match day 5 (final): Friday 14 July

Full match schedule here

World Rugby U20 Championship: The story so far >>

WORLD RUGBY U20 TROPHY 2023
15-30 July | Nyayo National Stadium, Kenya

• Pool matches
  • Match day 1: Saturday 15 July
  • Match day 2: Thursday 20 July
  • Match day 3: Tuesday 25 July
• Final and ranking matches
  • Match day 4: Sunday 30 July

Full match schedule here

World Rugby U20 Trophy: the story so far >>

The post World Rugby U20 tournaments return in 2023 appeared first on Asia Rugby.

The world famous Sydney Harbour Bridge provided the backdrop as captains of the 28 men’s and women’s teams gathered ahead of the HSBC Sydney Sevens which kicks off on Friday 27 January.

The high speed, all action event continues on Saturday with the culmination of the pool phase and quarter-finals, before the semi-finals and finals on Sunday.

With the popular event returning to the city for the first time since 2020, Australia’s men’s and women’s teams will be looking to put on a show for their fans as they enter the field at the Allianz Stadium as reigning Series champions.

• France 2023 family united to deliver best-ever Rugby World Cup in landmark year for the sport
• HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series returns to New Zealand
• Exciting year of rugby sevens gets underway in Hamilton
• Back to Full Schedule, Enthralling Year of Rugby in the Offering: Asia Rugby Releases 2023 Calendar

However New Zealand’s Black Ferns Sevens and All Blacks Sevens lead the current Series standings and arrive in confident mood following their gold and silver medal wins respectively on home soil in Hamilton last weekend.

The 2023 Series is shaping up to be the most competitive in history with the prize of Olympic Games Paris 2024 qualification on offer for the top four women’s and men’s teams in the 2023 Series standings, while hosts France have pre-qualified for next summer’s pinnacle event in the nation’s capital.

The Men’s Series has seen four different gold medal winners (Argentina, Australia, Samoa and South Africa) in the four rounds to date while New Zealand, Australia and the USA have claimed all the medals in the first three rounds of the women’s competition.

VIEW MEN’S SERIES STANDINGS >>

VIEW WOMEN’S SERIES STANDINGS >>

The stakes couldn’t be higher at the bottom end of the men’s Series this season as well. Following the penultimate event in Toulouse, the 15th ranked team will be relegated to the 2024 Sevens Challenger Series while the 12th through 14th ranked teams will face off against the Sevens Challenger Series 2023 winner for the 12th and final position on the 2024 Series.

In the men’s tournament in Sydney, Pool A sees Hamilton winners Argentina drawn with hosts Australia, Great Britain and Canada. Pool B is led by current Series leaders New Zealand, together with South Africa, Kenya and Uruguay. USA, Ireland, Samoa and Spain will compete in Pool C. Double Olympic champions Fiji will be looking to return to form and are in Pool D with France, Tonga and Japan.

VIEW MEN’S MATCH SCHEDULE >>

The women’s pools see New Zealand paired with Japan, France and Papua New Guinea in Pool A. USA head a strong looking Pool B that includes Great Britain, Fiji and Canada. Hosts Australia are in Pool C together with Ireland, Spain and Brazil.

VIEW WOMEN’S MATCH SCHEDULE >>

The action begins at 12:00 local time (GMT+11) on Friday, beginning three days of action-packed world class rugby sevens, which concludes with the finals on Sunday evening.

Tickets for the HSBC Sydney Sevens are available from www.sydney7s.com.au/tickets.

Rugby sevens fans around the world can watch the action via live stream on World Rugby digital platforms including www.world.rugby, You Tube and Facebook in countries where there is no national broadcaster covering the event.

WHERE TO WATCH >>

The post HSBC Sydney Sevens ready for action appeared first on Asia Rugby.

• Rugby World Cup year kicked off with an event bringing together all of France 2023 stakeholders in Paris
• French Minister of Sports, Olympic and Paralympic Games Amélie Oudéa-Castéra announce “We will be up to the challenge of this extraordinary event”
• Rugby World Cup 2023 will “Celebrate Togetherness” and rugby’s unique ability to unite people
• Positive and productive meetings took place as the tournament is on track for its delivery
• France is preparing to welcome international fans with “Rugby Villages” in host cities
• Official RWC 2023 ticketing resale platform will launch on 24 January at 18:00 CET

The family behind the delivery of Rugby World Cup 2023 in France have underscored their commitment to delivering one of the great sports events as they gathered for a special celebration in Paris.

Leading figures from the French Sports Ministry, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) and the French National Olympic Committee (CNOSF) presented their wishes alongside World Rugby and France 2023 representatives, reaffirming the collective mission to deliver a transformative and engaging Rugby World Cup that will deliver multiple significant benefits for Rugby and France.

Productive and positive meetings took place between the France 2023 Organising Committee and World Rugby to review the progress to date and plan the final push as the tournament enters its operational delivery phase. An updated project roadmap and budget will be presented to the France 2023 board on 2 February to consolidate the good progress and set this year’s priorities with the event expected to leave a tangible legacy benefiting the French grassroot rugby. Rugby World Cup 2023 will kick-off on 8 September with a blockbuster at Stade de France (Saint-Denis) when hosts France will face New Zealand in front of a sold-out crowd.

FRANCE READY TO WELCOME THE WORLD

Across 48 matches, 51 days and nine host cities, fans will be able to experience the best of France and its lifestyle. Organisers and host cities are working together to implement Rugby Villages in the heart of host cities where the local public and international visitors can gather to share their passion for rugby and enjoy activities and products linked to France and the tournament. In a video published today, France 2023 is inviting rugby fans to get ready for an exceptional event and moments of celebrations together with more than 600,000 international visitors expected during the tournament.

Following unprecedented demand for tickets and with more than two million tickets already sold, the Organising Committee will launch the official resale platform on Tuesday, 24 January at 18:00 CET. The website is the only official and secured way for fans to resell tickets bought during the previous sale phases. Tickets sold on other websites won’t guarantee access to the Rugby World Cup 2023 venues.

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World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “The waiting is almost over! Rugby World Cup 2023 will be the main event in rugby’s 200th birthday celebrations and as we begin the year of the tournament, the spirit of unity across all stakeholders is strong. We can say with great confidence that France is ready. Ready to welcome the world’s best players for an unforgettable celebration of rugby and French culture. Ready also to deliver a tournament that will forever be remembered as innovative, sustainable, and transformative; a tournament that brought people together.”

“Our partners, the public authorities, the FFR, France 2023 and Rugby World Cup’s staff were united in Paris earlier this month around one common objective: delivering a fantastic and responsible event, one that France can be proud of. In addition to incredible rugby action and lifelong memories, Rugby World Cup 2023 will be a celebration of our togetherness and will leave a legacy that will live long after the champions are crowned.”

France 2023 Chairman Jacques Rivoal added: “Here we are! The closing moments of a match whose outcome is eagerly awaited by all: the delivery of Rugby World Cup 2023’s 48 matches, the hosting of 20 qualified nations, the guaranteed emotions everywhere in France and abroad. With millions of rugby fans from around the world, we will make this Rugby World Cup 2023 a moment of togetherness and celebration.

“I would like to thank all those who, collectively, will bring this unique event to the highest standards: our founding members (FFR, French State, CNOSF), World Rugby, our economic and institutional partners, and the employees of the France 2023 Organising Committee.”

The French Minister of Sports, Olympic and Paralympic Games Amélie Oudéa-Castéra said: “In 2023, it is in France that rugby fans from all over the world will meet. We will be up to the challenge of this extraordinary event and are working tirelessly to ensure that it is successfully organised in every respect. Our ambition is to enable all fans to experience a unique moment of fervour and popular celebration, to ensure that this Rugby World Cup leaves a legacy for the development of rugby in our country, and to make 2023 a great year for the global rugby family.”

Watch “Let’s Celebrate Togetherness” video >>

Rugby World Cup 2023 – Let’s Celebrate Togetherness

Rugby World Cup 2023 will be a moment of celebration and togetherness. The world will be united from 8 September to 28 October, 2023 to share an unforgettable experience: the celebration of rugby and its values, the best of France and its lifestyle, the celebration of France 2023’s commitment to have a positive impact and, overall, a nationwide festival for fans in France and abroad who will come together for 51 days and 48 matches, making this tournament a truly special one.

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