Rugby Sevens
Seven-a-side rugby played on a full pitch across two seven-minute halves — Olympic since Rio 2016.
👥7 per team🌤outdoor
What is Rugby Sevens?
Rugby sevens uses the same pitch as rugby union but with only seven players per side and seven-minute halves. The empty space and shorter format rewards pace, offloading and open-field running. Sevens is Olympic (from Rio 2016) and its World Series tour circles the globe every season.
Quick facts
Category
Ball Sports
Type
Team sport
Players
7 per team
Where played
outdoor
Country of origin
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Estimated origin
1883, Melrose, Scotland
Olympic
Yes
Popularity
major
Sources & provenance
Last verified 2026-08-20.verified