News

Photo : Jeffrey Okwacha in action for Kenya 7s. Courtesy Ferugby.

Shujaa will take part in the four-legged 2021 HSBC World Sevens series awaiting confirmation on two more legs. The World Rugby announced the new series dates on Wednesday and on Thursday announced an Olympic preparation event in Los Angeles in June 25-26.

The Women will grace the historic World series sevens comeback with a back to back competition in Marcoussis, Paris on 15-16 and 22-23 May.

After the series opener scheduled for Paris, there will be a break for the countdown to the Olympic games and resume the series with a men event in Singapore on 29-30 October, followed by joint men’s and women’s rounds in Hong Kong on 5-7 November, Dubai on 3-4 December, followed by an exciting climax in Cape Town on 10-12 December.

• Five women’s and four men’s rounds scheduled in HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2021
• Hong Kong, Dubai and Cape Town to host joint men’s and women’s events
• Series kicks off with back-to-back women’s rounds in Paris on 15-16 and 22-23 May
• Discussions continuing towards addition of men’s events in London and Vancouver
• World Rugby providing US$4 million funding for rugby sevens programs and high-performance preparation events ahead of the Olympic Games in Tokyo
• Health and safety of players, teams and all involved remains the top priority as all stakeholders continue to closely monitor global developments with the COVID-19 pandemic

The highly anticipated return of HSBC World Rugby Sevens series has been unveiled by World Rugby through a statement that confirmed four men’s rounds and five women’s rounds while also mentioning discussions to add two more legs for men in London and Vancouver.

The news comes barely a week after Spain successfully hosted a fortnight of Madrid sevens Cup, Kenya Shujaa making it to both cup finals for second finish while Lionesses proved themselves equal to the task by wrapping up the competition by making a cup finals cut despite finishing bottom in the first round.

Rugby sevens fans around the world are reprieved by the latest news and can go ahead and mark their calendars and begin to look forward to supporting their teams in the projected 2021 series according to the unveiled plans that came hours after World Rugby postponed the 2021 World Cup.

The statement on the return of sevens reads: “Given the unique circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 global pandemic, together with the spectacle of the Olympic Games in July, World Rugby has worked closely together with partners, host organisations and participating unions to agree a compact and highly impactful Series in 2021.

The 2021 Series kicks off with back-to-back women’s events in Marcoussis, Paris on 15-16 and 22-23 May. The Series will then take a break for the countdown to the Olympic Games and recommence with a men’s event in Singapore on 29-30 October, followed by joint men’s and women’s rounds in Hong Kong on 5-7 November, Dubai on 3-4 December, followed by an exciting climax in Cape Town on 10-12 December.

Detailed discussions are continuing with London and Vancouver on the viability of hosting men’s events in the window following the Olympic Games and prior to the HSBC Singapore Sevens in October and further updates to the schedule will be given when available.

The health and wellbeing of players, fans and the wider community remains top priority and both World Rugby and the host organizations will work closely with the relevant national governments and health agencies to ensure the safe and secure delivery of the events.

2021 SEVENS SERIES DATES

Singapore: October 29-30

Hong Kong: Nov 5-7

Dubai: Dec 3-4

Cape Town:  Dec 10-12