7s World Cup in USA

[rowan]

Good decision here, to see how the US can deal with hosting a major international tournament. America was expected to bid for the 2023 Webb Ellis Cup, of course, but withdrew at the early stages. Probably it will make a more serious bid for one of the tournaments in the 2030s, especially now that Pro Rugby is up & running.

A vibrant new logo for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018, depicting the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge, was unveiled in host city San Francisco on Wednesday with fans encouraged to sign up to register their interest in tickets via the newly launched tournament website.

The iconic AT&T Park in San Francisco will provide the spectacular backdrop to the four-day tournament in July 2018 that features 24 men's and 16 women's teams competing for the title of world champions. The 42,000-seater stadium, which is home to the San Francisco Giants baseball team, is one of the most familiar and highly rated sports venues in the USA and is located in downtown San Francisco, along the waterfront overlooking the bay.

This will be the seventh staging of the tournament, which has previously been held in Edinburgh, Hong Kong (twice), Mar del Plata, Dubai and Moscow. Having won both the men's and women's events at the famous Russian venue of Luzhniki Stadium, New Zealand will be back to defend their titles but will likely face considerable resistance in the form of Olympic gold medallists, Australia (women's) and Fiji (men's), not to mention strong home competition from both USA sides.

World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said: "The success of rugby sevens at the recent Olympic Games in Rio gave the game a huge shot in the arm and we are working hard to ensure its popularity continues to rise in the coming years. Part of that is building on the success of previous RWC Sevens tournaments, which come at the mid-point in the Olympic cycle.

"Being a vibrant and exciting city, San Francisco is the perfect place to stage this tournament, which in the past has provided plenty of thrilling rugby action. And we are delighted that AT&T Park will be the venue, providing spectators with great facilities and affording the teams the sort of stage befitting of their athleticism and skills.”


http://www.worldrugby.org/news/191952

[rowan]

Qualifying system:

Already Qualified: New Zealand, England, Fiji, South Africa, Wales, Austrália, France, Kenya (8 best teams of 2013) and USA (host);

2016-17 World Series: 4 spots (between Argentina, Samoa, Scotland, Canada, Russia and Japan);

South America (2017-18): 2 spots

North America (2017-18): 1 spot

Europe (2017-18): 2 spots

Oceania (2017-18): 2 spots

Africa (2017-18): 2 spots

Asia (2017-18): 2 spots

The limit to confirm the teams qualified is April 2018.

[rowan]

San Francisco’s scenic AT&T Park will host the Rugby World Cup Sevens from July 20 to 22 in 2018. USA Rugby confirmed the dates at the waterfront stadium, more commonly known as the home of Major League Baseball team San Francisco Giants but also reconfigurable to host field sports such as football or soccer. With a capacity of 42,000 it’s hoped the tournament will sell out on each of its three days.

While the prestige of the event is lessened slightly with the arrival of the Olympic 7s, it remains a high profile event that brings out the best available players for each country. It also allows the British sides – England, Scotland, and Wales – to compete individually instead of under their Olympic banner of Great Britain. Its 24 team design is twice that of the Olympics, while 16 women’s teams will also take part, four more than the Olympic or a typical HSBC Women’s Sevens Series event.

The event comes five years after the previous Rugby World Cup Sevens, held in Moscow in 2013. New Zealand won both the men’s and women’s brackets but the tournament itself was largely panned for its lack of pre-tournament marketing, poor attendance, and substandard production that saw several matches blacked out due to torrential rain. Originally intended to take place every four years in accordance with the Rugby World Cup XVs, the tournament was shifted forward by one year to accommodate the Olympic timetable.

[rowan]

Interesting development in 7s:

Super 7s Rugby is one step closer to reality after the league released more details today. According to a release from United World Sports there are plans for a summer 2018 launch featuring six men's and six women's teams. The idea is to start the league following the Rugby Sevens World Cup in San Francisco and barnstorm across six cities. The purpose of the barnstorming tour is to identify markets for a full city league in the spring and summer of 2019. There will be up to 16-21 players on each team with all eligible to play in each match. The release also noted that the teams will be "made up largely of players from college and club programs already in the United States and Canada." David Niu has been confirmed as league president.

The league also confirmed that the format would be four fifteen minute quarters with a six minute halftime and three minutes between each quarter in each half. In addition there will be two referees and rolling substitutions for all of the players. Also, if a match goes to overtime the league has planned "The Gauntlet" where there is a two on one skill competition to determine the winner.

As of now there is no word on which cities will be chosen, what the pay (if any) will be for the players, or specific dates other than after the 7s World Cup. That said, if they do pay the players this could be the first time women have been paid to play rugby outside of a national team in the United States.

http://www.thisisamericanrugby.com/2017 ... l?spref=fb

[rowan]

An update on the national 7s scene here: http://rugby7smagazine.com/national-bid ... breakdown/