About Rugby Sevens

Rules

Competing over two days and nights at Adelaide Oval, the IRB Sevens World Series, Adelaide, Australia involves 16 international teams competing for points that go towards the International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens series. Eight tournaments make up the IRB series, starting on Nov 28-29 in Dubai and ending on 30-31 May in Scotland.

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

The 16 teams are split into 4 pools. Play on the first day of the tournament consists of pool matches on a round robin basis. Points are awarded for wins, losses and draws and go towards each team's final points tabulation.

Following completion of all the pool matches in day one, 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 Bowl Championship. These games are played on day two and all teams are moved into a knockout phase. The winners of each game move into semi finals and then finals. The winner of the Tournament is the team that has moved through all their games on day two with no losses.

Each team is made up of 12 players; seven on the field during the match, with a reserve bench of five.

Each game runs for 2 x 7 minute halves with a 2 minute half time; the final game of the tournament is 2 x 10 minute halves.