Rugby sevens

Rugby sevens is the shortened version of rugby union in which only seven players per side feature, instead of the full fifteen. The version of rugby union is very popular, with notable comptitions including the IRB Sevens World Series and the Rugby World Cup Sevens. It is also played at events such as the Commonwealth Games and rugby league has also adopted the sevens format.

Rugby sevens was invented in Melrose, a small town in Scotland.

It is played under the same rules and on a field of the same dimensions as the 15-player game, but a rugby sevens match lasts approximately 15 minutes (7 minutes aside with 1 minute half-time break). However, the finals last somewhat more than 20 minutes; each half in a final is ten minutes, instead of the normal seven minute. Also the game ends when the ball goes of the pitch or points are scored. The point system is similar to rugby union in which a try gets a team five points and conversion gets it two points, with three points for penalties and drop goals (drop goals are very uncommon in sevens).^[1]

Points scoring occurs with much greater regularity in sevens than in fifteens since there are more spaces for players to run. Scrums still exist within sevens, which are composed of just three players from each team. The speedy nature of the game causes players to be usually from the backline or the trio of loose forwards in fifteens rugby.

All sevens players in the forwards or otherwise must be fit, agile and relatively strong and demonstrate a high level of fitness to compete at an optimum level. Places such as New Zealand, Fiji, South Africa, England and Samoa have very successful sevens teams. Rugby sevens have also been played in the Commonwealth Games since 1998 with only men's teams. New Zealand is ranked as the top in the Commonwealth Games and has won four gold medals and one silver medal.