What is rugby sevens?
Rugby sevens, also known as simply sevens or 7-a-side rugby, is a variant of rugby union where teams are made up of seven players playing seven-minute halves on a full-sized pitch with the same rules and overall structure.
The main differences between R7 and normal rugby are the number of players on the pitch, and the duration of game time.
This type of rugby originated in Melrose, Scotland in 1883 and has grown from strength to strength since then. This article will aim to give you all the information you need about R7 by covering its origins, how it’s played, and why it’s so popular.
A guide to the rules of sevens:
Similar to the 15-a-side game, the rules of rugby sevens are based on running with the ball in hand and kicking it. However, there are a few key differences.
The most obvious difference is that there are fewer players (15) on the pitch in rugby sevens – just seven per team. The pitch itself is also slightly smaller than a standard rugby union field and there are fewer tackles allowed before a turnover.
A half lasts for 7 minutes compared to 40 minutes in the full version of the sport and teams have only 30 seconds to restart play after scoring points.
The competition is split into two halves, but each half has just 7 minutes of playing time as opposed to 40 minutes in regular rugby union games. Teams have only 30 seconds to restart play after scoring points, which means plenty of action from start to finish!
Rugby sevens differ from the traditional 15-a-side game in that it’s a much faster, more energetic version of the sport. The game is played on a full-sized pitch with seven players on each side and the same rules as traditional 15-a-side rugby.
A match consists of two halves of seven minutes each, while a normal full-time rugby match lasts 80 minutes (two halves of 40 minutes).
How do you play rugby sevens?
The game lasts 14 minutes, broken up into two halves of seven minutes each with a one-minute halftime interval. The shorter nature of the game means scoring is often at a premium and games are frequently decided in the dying seconds or via sudden death extra time.
The aim of the game for both teams is to score more points than the opposition by carrying and passing the ball across their opponents’ try line.
A try is worth five points, which can be increased to seven if opted for a conversion kick at goal which takes place from a spot directly in line with where the try was scored on the field of play.
Points can also be scored from penalties which are awarded to teams if they are fouled by their opponents while they have possession of the ball.
How many players are there in rugby sevens?
There are seven players on each side: five forwards, one scrumhalf, and one flyhalf. The game is split into two halves of seven minutes with a two-minute half-time break. Teams have five minutes to warm up before the game and two minutes at half-time.
Why is it called rugby sevens?
Rugby Sevens is so named as there are seven players on each team and the game is shorter than standard rugby union.
The game of rugby union was originally played with 15 players per side. The use of sevens as a shortened form of the game emerged from the early 20th century, especially in countries where fifteen-a-side games were not regularly played.
The earliest recorded instance of a match between two sides playing with at least six players dates to 1883 in Auckland, New Zealand.
How long are halves in rugby sevens?
In Rugby Sevens, each half lasts seven minutes. There is a one-minute half-time break.
The clock stops if there is an injury, a penalty or a conversion attempt. The clock does not stop when the ball goes out of play, except for half-time and full-time. The ball is in play for a maximum of five minutes.
How long is a rugby sevens match?
A rugby sevens match is played in two seven-minute halves (10 minutes in the final) with a one-minute interval.
The game is played on a full-size pitch (100 metres long and 70 metres wide).
How do rugby sevens work?
When you think of rugby, you probably picture a large group of sweaty, muscular men carrying a ball and tackling each other. While that’s true for rugby 15s (the full-size version), rugby sevens are different.
A team has seven players on the field and all the dimensions of the pitch are shorter. The game is faster and there are only two halves lasting seven minutes with a very short break in between.
Rugby sevens are played in a tournament format. Substitutions often take place during the match, with each team allowed to make five substitutions. If any player gets injured or sent off, they can’t be replaced and their team will have to play with one less player for the rest of the game.
For all versions of rugby, points are scored by advancing into your opponent’s half of the field and touching the ball down on or behind their goal line – called a try – which is worth 5 points; kicking goals from conversions after scoring tries; penalties (3 points) and drop goals (3 points).
How long is a yellow card in rugby sevens?
A yellow card is an official warning to a player who has committed an infringement of the Laws of the Game and is shown to a player by the referee.
The sanction for most offences for which a yellow card is given is that the offending team must play with one fewer player for 10 minutes, during which time no substitute may be brought on.
For certain offences such as foul play or persistent infringement, a yellow card may instead indicate a caution, after which no further disciplinary sanction may be taken against that offender.
A team member who has been cautioned may continue playing in the game, but another caution results in the player’s dismissal from the field.
If a yellow card offence occurs when time has already been stopped (for example, after a try or penalty kick) or at any other time when it would not be practical to allow play to stop (e.g., when the play takes place far from where the offence occurred).
Then ten minutes are added to stoppages at the end of each half so that the player can serve their suspension then.
In other cases where it is impractical to temporarily suspend players because there are none available on the substitutes’ bench (usually due to multiple serious injuries), referees have sometimes recorded these as cautions rather than yellows followed by temporary suspensions.