For speed, skill and excitement, it has to be sevens rugby. From Melrose to Rio, the game has grown into a global sport, and the HSBC Sevens World Series is its flagship event. This world tour stops off at some of rugby’s iconic venues, including Twickenham, Cape Town and Hong Kong, as well as taking seven-a-side to new fans in Canada and Dubai. It’s the most exciting way to enjoy the game, with high-scoring blasts of action, its own line-up of international stars, and a fun and vocal pitch-side atmosphere. So whether you’re a long-time supporter or discovering the game for the first time, check out the matches available with HSBC Sevens World Series Tickets at StubHub.
World Sevens - the fastest rugby show on earth
Typically played over 10 rounds, the World Series is a tournament of tournaments: the competing teams score points for their placings in each event, with the overall league leader winning the title. A core line-up of teams includes the All Blacks Sevens as well as England, South Africa – nicknamed the “Blitzboks” – Australia and Fiji; however, the series also allows emerging rugby nations like Spain and Portugal to be promoted to the tour. The tournament structure – with plate, bowl and shield titles to be won – means that there’s plenty to compete for throughout the order of play.
Over the years, New Zealand have set the pace, taking an incredible 12 titles in the World Series’ first 15 years. That’s the reward for a rugby culture which is built on all-round skill and has produced stars like IRB Sevens Players of the Year Tomasi Cama, Tim Mikkelson and DJ Forbes. The tournament has showcased stars like Waisale Serevi who led Fiji to their first title in 2005/6, and Australian 15-a-side greats such as Tevita Kuridrani and Bernard Foley. It’s also made heroes of player from outside rugby’s traditional heartlands, showing the world the unstoppable pace of Carlin Isles and Perry Baker.
Memorable matches
One thing fans love is the game’s ability to spring a surprise. The USA shocked everyone with their cup win against Australia in London 2015: an outrageous miss-pass to Danny Barrett, Baker’s turn of speed and Thretton Palamo’s show-and-go all lighting up the final. How to top that? By beating the All Blacks in Dubai not once, but twice – scorching them 31-12 in the third-place play-off.
The World Series also gives globe-trotting players a chance to impress their home fans. Inspired by the Twickenham crowd in the 2017 final, England star Dan Norton scored one of the all-time great tries, taking the ball in his own 22 and beating virtually the entire Scotland team. The round before, it had been Ollie Lindsay-Hague’s turn to shine, the Olympic medallist using his trademark sidestep to score a hat-trick against Canada.
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