Rugby sevens circuit set for revamp as Hong Kong await fate, USA player hits out
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In a radical overhaul of the sport, rugby bosses are also understood to have created a second division of six teams, playing three tournaments, starting in the 2025-26 season and reportedly staying in place until the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The switch comes just two years after officials cut the number of teams from 16 to 12, while combining the men's and women's competitions, saying that previous move was to bring the sport in line with the Olympic format.
While there has yet to be an official announcement, USA player Stephen Tomasin revealed the restructure in an emotional Instagram video on Thursday.
The 30-year-old, who said it meant 'the Olympic format obviously doesn't matter', added that he was speaking out because 'World Rugby doesn't seem to want to put out any information about what's going on right now'.
Max Denmark on the charge for the home team in this year's Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens. Photo: Elson Li
'The worst part about it all, it wasn't like we learned about it this season, and they are going to implement it next season,' he said. 'The teams found out that things were going to change in January, and that this was going to be the way things were going in March.'
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