Rugby Sevens is a fast-paced, high-energy variation of traditional rugby, and while it shares many of the same fundamental rules, it differs significantly in its structure and style. Here’s a detailed look at the key rules and format of the game.
Rugby Sevens offers a fast, exciting, and streamlined version of rugby with simplified set-pieces, open-field play, and fewer stoppages. The fast game format, combined with the skills and athleticism of the players, makes Sevens an action-packed sport that’s both easy to follow and thrilling to watch.
Game Duration
Rugby Sevens is designed to be played at a rapid pace, with much shorter match durations than traditional rugby.
- Two 7-Minute Halves: Each game consists of two halves, each lasting 7 minutes. With a short 2-minute halftime break, the entire match lasts just 14 minutes.
- Overtime: If a knockout game ends in a draw, teams play a 5-minute sudden death overtime period, where the first team to score wins.
- Tournament Format: Rugby Sevens is typically played in a tournament setting, with multiple games played over a single day or weekend. Teams may play several matches in one day, and the shorter game duration makes it possible to manage the intense schedule.
2. Field Size
One of the key features of Rugby Sevens is that it’s played on a full-size rugby field, which is the same size as a standard rugby union field. This means:
- Dimensions: The field measures roughly 100 meters in length and 70 meters in width, providing plenty of space for seven players per team.
- Open Play: With so much open space and only 7 players per team, Rugby Sevens promotes expansive, wide-open play. Players must cover more ground, which emphasizes speed, fitness, and stamina.
3. Scoring in Rugby Sevens
Scoring in Rugby Sevens follows the same principles as traditional rugby union, with a few key differences in pace and execution:
- Try (5 points): A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opponent’s in-goal area. It’s worth 5 points, the same as in traditional rugby.
- Conversion (2 points): After scoring a try, the team can attempt a conversion by kicking the ball through the goalposts. Unlike rugby union, the conversion must be taken as a drop kick, adding to the fast-paced nature of the game. Conversions are usually taken quickly to keep the tempo high.
- Penalty Kick (3 points): A team may opt for a penalty kick to score 3 points if the opposing team commits an infringement. However, because of the fast pace of the game, teams often choose to continue playing rather than slow things down with a penalty kick.
- Drop Goal (3 points): Drop goals, scored during open play by kicking the ball through the uprights, are rare but also worth 3 points.
4. Set-Pieces: Scrums, Lineouts, and Restarts
While set-pieces still play a role in Rugby Sevens, they are much simpler and quicker than in traditional rugby to maintain the flow of the game.
Scrums
- Formation: Scrums in Sevens involve only 3 players from each team (compared to 8 players in traditional rugby union). These scrums are contested between the forwards (2 props and a hooker) from each side.
- Purpose: Scrums occur after minor infringements, such as a knock-on or a forward pass, to restart play.
- Quick Resolution: Scrums are quick and less structured compared to rugby union, allowing play to resume rapidly and keeping the game’s tempo high.
Lineouts
- Formation: When the ball is kicked or carried out of bounds, the game restarts with a lineout. In Rugby Sevens, only 2 or 3 players from each team participate, making it a more streamlined and faster set-piece than in 15s rugby.
- Lifting: Players can lift their teammates in lineouts to gain height advantage and secure possession of the ball. Quick throws and lineout moves often lead to attacking plays.
Kick-Offs (Restarts)
- After a Try: Following a try, the scoring team drop-kicks the ball to the opposition from the center of the field. This is unique to Sevens, as it gives the scoring team control of when and how the next phase of play begins.
- Game Start: Each half begins with a drop-kick from the center of the field. Teams must contest for possession in these kick-offs, which adds an extra layer of competition and strategy.
5. The Breakdown: Rucks and Mauls
In Rugby Sevens, the breakdown is faster and less congested than in traditional rugby, with fewer players involved and more emphasis on quick ball movement.
Rucks
- Definition: A ruck forms when one or more players from each team compete for the ball on the ground after a tackle.
- Objective: The tackled player must release the ball immediately, and supporting players try to secure possession by pushing the opposition off the ball while remaining on their feet.
- Quick Ball: Speed at the ruck is critical in Sevens. Teams aim to win the ball and move it quickly to the backs, creating space for attacking plays.
Mauls
- Less Common: Mauls (where the ball is carried by a player and pushed forward by teammates) are less common in Rugby Sevens due to the pace of the game and the emphasis on open play. When they do occur, they tend to be short-lived, with teams quickly looking to offload or pass the ball.
6. Tackling and Defensive Play
Tackling in Rugby Sevens follows the same fundamental rules as rugby union, but the wide-open field and smaller team sizes create more space for attackers, putting more pressure on defenders.
- Tackle Technique: Tackles must be made below the shoulders, and high tackles are penalized. Players must wrap their arms around the opponent to bring them to the ground safely.
- Offloading: Because of the emphasis on speed and momentum, attackers often try to offload the ball during or after a tackle to avoid stoppages and keep the play alive.
- Defensive Shape: Defending in Sevens requires excellent fitness and communication, as the large field and few players mean defenders must constantly cover ground and adjust to attacking threats. Many teams defend with a flat line, moving laterally across the field to cover space.
- Turnovers: Winning the ball at the breakdown through a turnover can be a game-changer in Sevens, as the attacking team quickly switches from defense to offense, often catching the opposition off guard.
7. Substitutions
- Limited Substitutions: Each team is allowed five substitutions per game, with unlimited interchanges. However, the pace and intensity of Sevens often mean that players need to be as fit as possible to play most of the game without frequent substitutions.
- Injury Replacements: If a player is injured, teams can substitute them immediately, but this still counts towards the five total allowed substitutions.
8. Penalties and Free Kicks
In Rugby Sevens, penalties and free kicks are awarded for infringements like offside play, high tackles, or foul play. Given the speed of the game, teams usually take quick taps rather than opting for a scrum or kick for territory.
- Quick Taps: After a penalty is awarded, teams typically take a quick tap and go, keeping the play moving and attempting to exploit defensive gaps.
- Disciplinary Cards: Rugby Sevens uses yellow and red cards for disciplinary actions. A yellow card results in the player being sent to the sin bin for 2 minutes, leaving their team with only 6 players for that time. A red card results in permanent dismissal from the game.
9. Tournament Structure
Rugby Sevens is often played in a tournament format, with teams competing in pool stages followed by knockout rounds. A typical Rugby Sevens tournament has:
- Pool Stages: Teams are divided into pools and play each other to determine rankings.
- Knockout Rounds: After the pool stage, the top teams move into quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals to determine the overall champion.
These tournaments are fast-paced, with multiple matches taking place over a single weekend. This format makes Rugby Sevens perfect for spectators, as fans can watch multiple games and see their favorite teams compete in short, high-stakes contests.