World Rugby level playing field for women

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World Rugby has outlined an exciting new framework for the future of the Sevens World Series, which will see rugby sevens further embrace its ‘sportainment’ DNA, combining sport and fan entertainment in a festival atmosphere at some of the world’s best-loved locations.

‘World Rugby’ stated that the remodeled Sevens World Series will include seven festival style events, in seven iconic global destinations, across seven months, featuring the best 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams and is set to kick off in December 2023.

Dublin (Ireland)-based World Rugby is the world governing body for the sport of rugby union. World Rugby organizes the Rugby World Cup every four years, the sport’s most recognized and most profitable competition.

The World Rugby Men’s Sevens Series is an annual series of international rugby sevens tournaments run by World Rugby featuring national sevens teams.

‘World Rugby’ further stated that in a move designed to attract a younger, more diverse and global fan base while generating greater revenues to reinvest in players and teams, the transformed Series hosting model will see World Rugby EventsCo assume greater responsibility for the delivery of the events, working in partnership with host organizations.

Following a compelling record breaking year for women’s rugby, the Series will fully embrace gender parity with all seven rounds featuring combined men’s and women’s events, ensuring that women players have equal opportunities to showcase their talents on the biggest stages around the world.

Following consultation with the participating nations, the men’s Series will reduce from 16 to 12 teams, aligning with the Olympic competition model and bringing the number of men’s and women’s teams even, while allowing for more optimal match scheduling opportunities.

An annual ‘Grand Finale’ event will take place in the seventh round, which will see the top eight ranked teams after six rounds compete to be crowned Series champions, while the teams ranked ninth to 12^th will join the top four ranked teams from the Challenger Series in a high stakes relegation play-off competition which will see four teams secure their places in the next edition of the Series. The four unsuccessful teams will go into regional competitions to qualify for the next Challenger Series, which comprises 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams competing in the second level of international rugby sevens.

In another groundbreaking development, men’s and women’s teams will receive equal participation fees, with 70 percent uplift in World Rugby’s investment in participation fees in the new model.

Player welfare considerations remain paramount and the reduction in the number of tournaments will allow players to perform to the very best of their ability every time they enter the pitch, while also supporting the ambition to deliver more environmentally sustainable events in line with the World Rugby Environmental Sustainability Plan 2030 launched earlier this year.

World Rugby’s Environmental Sustainability Plan 2030 is both a statement of intent and a tangible roadmap for tackling environmental issues, setting out what we believe rugby can and should be doing to contribute to a healthier and more sustainable society.

The new Series follows a widespread and comprehensive consultation process, involving representatives from participating teams, existing tournament hosts, player welfare representatives, and fans.

Discussions are ongoing with potential host destinations, following unprecedented hosting interest. Confirmed hosts, competition dates and a new brand identity will be announced in the coming months, with the first edition of the remodeled Series to run from December 2023 through June 2024.

World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin said, “The reimagined Sevens World Series will be a gamechanger for the global growth of the game. Research insights have demonstrated that sevens plays a vital role in reaching and engaging new rugby fans, particularly in emerging rugby nations and with the younger audiences. World Rugby is fully committed to the sustainable growth, innovation and success of rugby sevens as a highly impactful and successful Olympic sport with a bright future. We have consulted widely with a multitude of stakeholders to achieve our shared aim of making rugby more relevant and accessible to more young people, more of the time, and in doing so growing the reach of rugby while ensuring player welfare is sacrosanct and further cementing the successful positioning of rugby sevens on the Olympic sport program.”

Added Gilpin, “Moving to full gender parity between the men’s and women’s Series reflects not just our commitment to accelerating the women’s game, but also recognition of the powerful personalities who are inspiring a new generation of fans across the globe. The increased promotion pathway opportunity for Challenger Series teams to reach the pinnacle Sevens World Series is also an important development, giving more teams the chance to attain a place at the top table of rugby sevens on an annual basis.”

World Rugby Chief Revenue and Fan Engagement Officer Richard Heaselgrave stated, “The simple aim of the remodeled Series is to grow the game by reaching more fans, generating greater revenues to reinvest in performance, and deliver bigger, better and more engaging and entertaining event experiences for fans in the stadium, interacting online or watching on broadcast around the world. Fans will be at the heart of the action as the Series will chase the sun, mixing the best of sport and entertainment to create unmissable live event experiences with a festival atmosphere in seven iconic global destinations, which will broaden rugby sevens’ appeal and attract new audiences. We will continue to build the Series into a global sports and entertainment brand by widening our event experience offering. The Series has a great opportunity to develop world class events that integrate top level sport, live music, culinary experiences, retail, art, culture, and mass participation, providing fans with the flexibility to watch, play and engage across a range of event experiences.”

Added Heaselgrave, “Rugby sevens is a sport like no other. The action is non-stop. The Sevens World Series will showcase the physical and skilful prowess of some of the world’s most impressive athletes in multiday festivals of vibrant celebration and entertainment. The future of rugby sevens is very bright.”
 

Takeaways:

• Remodeled Sevens World Series to include seven rounds, in seven iconic global destinations, across seven months, kicking off in December 2023;
• Fully combined and equal men’s and women’s Series with number of men’s teams reduced from 16 to 12, aligning with the Olympic competition model;
• Annual ‘Grand Finale’ event will crown Series champions and offer pathway opportunity for four men’s and women’s teams to achieve promotion from the Challenger Series;
• Innovative vision to build a leading sports and entertainment brand by widening the event experience offering and engaging with youth culture; and
• Hosts, competition dates and new brand identity to be unveiled in the coming months.

 
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