World Rugby set to overhaul sevens structure next year
World Rugby will introduce a new sevens structure in 2026 which will have a three-division regular season and an increased number of events in a bid to make it cost-effective and more competitive, the sport's governing body said on Thursday.
The updated model will expand the calendar from 10 to 13 tournaments starting next year, with the primary aim of the overhaul being to boost rugby sevens' global reach ahead of the LA 2028 Olympics.
The season will conclude with three high-profile World Championship Series events, each featuring 12 men's and women's teams, to crown the annual world champions. Rugby sevens was played at the Olympics for the first time at the 2016 Rio Games, with both men's and women's contests.
It also featured at Paris 2024, with both Ireland's men's and women's sides involved.
World Rugby Sevens General Manager Sam Pinder said that £10 million (€11.8m) will be invested annually to grow the game, with a large proportion allocated to team participation fees.
"While change can be difficult, this is an evolution that ultimately secures the sustainable advancement of a sport that has proven to be a hit at the Olympic Games, showcasing some of the most gifted athletes on the planet," he said.
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The Irish Sun
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- The Irish Sun
Daniel Wiffen makes five-figure donation to former school as fans hail his ‘amazing gesture'
DANIEL Wiffen donated £25,000 to his former school St Patrick's Grammar School Armagh through the Olympic Legacy Fund. The donation was used to help fund a new gym for the school which 4 Wiffen cut the ribbon for the opening of the new gym Credit: @WiffenDaniel 4 The St. Patrick's alumni were joined by current students at the opening of the gym Credit: @WiffenDaniel 4 The 23-year-old was widely praised for giving back to his former school Credit: @WiffenDaniel 4 The school will now boast state of the art weight lifting equipment Credit: @WiffenDaniel The Olympic Legacy Fund is a Northern Irish initiative where Olympic medallists can choose a club or organisation to receive a donation on their behalf. £100,000 was funded by the Department of Communities to be split between six athletes who won medals at Paris 2024 Olympics for Team Ireland and Team GB. They split the fund as £20,000 for a gold medal, £10,000 for a silver and £5,000 for a bronze. Thanks to Daniel Wiffen's Read more on Irish Sport Fellow Team Ireland medal winners The Olympic 800m freestyle record holder spoke about the donation on X: "St Patrick's Grammar School Armagh, the school that believed in me from the start. "The new gym will support the next generation of Armagh athletes. Legacy isn't just about medals – it's about giving back." The lovely gesture was hailed far and wide online. BBC GAA journalist Thomas Niblock praised: "This is incredible. Most read in Olympics "Amazing gesture Daniel, and one that will support the development of all athletes of all sports at St Pat's. I'd imagine some of the staff will benefit too. Well done man." Similarly, Nancy Farrell added: "What a wonderful gesture and legacy." Leaked medical document 'proves Imane Khelif is a biological male' after winning gold in women's boxing at Olympics Lastly, someone else commented: "You really are a lovely fella Daniel." Principal of St Patrick's Grammar School, Dominic Clarke, recalled: "I think Nathan and Daniel might have been 15 or 16 when we did a number of videos in the school about up-and-coming people and the two guys were interviewed. "At that stage, they said they would like to go to the Olympics and Paris was their target." Now around eight years later, Wiffen is back at the school with two medals around his neck and a £25,000 donation. The 2024 BBC Northern Ireland Sports Personality of the Year, has turned a new chapter in his career having competed for his In February the Loughborough swimmer came away with three gold medals - the 1500m freestyle, 800m freestyle, and 400m freestyle. HIT THE BUCS It marked the end of a very successful chapter in his career, with it being his final time competing at the BUCS Championships. Wiffen caps off his run with six BUCS records, over 18 titles, eight men's championships, and eight team championships. It was his first time in the pool since the Paris Olympics, and came a year after he won a World Championship gold medal. The Magheralin native has since won He finished ahead of his brother Nathan who came second in the 1500m race. However, Daniel came away disappointed as he had hoped to break a world record at the Irish Open this year. The Wiffen twins' focus will now turn to the 2028 LA Olympics qualification and hopefully they will bring more medals home for Team Ireland.
Irish Times
3 hours ago
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RTÉ News
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- RTÉ News
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