Introduction to Sevens Rugby

The tournament is played under the laws of the game of rugby with some Sevens variations which are framed by the IRB.

The 10 teams are split into 2 pools.  Play on the first day of the tournament consists of pool matches on a round robin basis.  Points are awarded for wins, draws, and losses, and go towards each team's final points tabulation.

Day two is Finals Day, but starts with the final round of pool play. Following completion of all the pool matches, the first and second placed teams in each pool progress to the Cup Championship. The third and fourth placed teams of each pool progress to the Plate Championship.  The 5th (last) team from both groups go direct to the Bowl Final (9th / 10th place – the ‘wooden spoon').

The winners of the Cup & Plate semi-finals move into their respective Championship finals. The losers of the Cup semi-final play off for 3 rd / 4 th Place , and the losers of the Plate semi-final play off for the Shield (7 th / 8 th Place ). 

Each team is made up of 10 players; seven on the field during the match, with three replacements on the bench. 

Each game runs for 2 x 7 minute halves with a 2 minute half time; the Finals are all 2 x 10 minute halves.

All matches will start & finish with the official match ‘siren'. No extra time will be played in pool matches. In knockout stages, 3 minutes extra-time will be played, and the ‘golden-points' rule will apply. If still no winner, a toss of the coin will decide the winner.

Each team shall play 6 matches in total (5 th placed teams in each group play 5 matches):

4 Pool Matches
1 Semi-final
1 Final