23-05-2025
International sevens future in doubt as GB scrap full-time team programme
The future of international sevens has been plunged into doubt after it was confirmed that the Great Britain men's and women's full-time teams programme will be scrapped in July.
Both the men's and women's teams will continue to compete but with the players being selected from 'camp and competition model' with non-contracted players coming together to train and play series.
The news comes just a week after the Irish Rugby Football Union confirmed it was axing its men's sevens team less than a year after it was in strong contention for a medal at the Olympic Games in Paris.
The Great Britain sides were formed to compete for the Rio Games in 2016 when sevens made its Olympic bow, and the men's side won the silver medal, but failed to qualify for Paris 2024. The women's side have yet to win a medal, finishing fourth at Rio and Tokyo and losing in the quarter-finals in Paris.
Olympic recognition was seen as key to attracting new financial support for rugby, particularly in countries where the sport was not traditionally played. The sevens programmes were also seen to play important roles in player skill development for the 15-a-side game.
The increasingly tough financial outlook however appears to be leading to the slow death of the sevens game as a professional sport. World Rugby has been suffering heavy losses funding the World SVNS Series and the decision to no longer use London as a host city last year had a detrimental impact on funding for the Great Britain team.
The Rugby Football Union axed England's men's and women's sides as part of cuts in 2020.
There are currently 27 full-time players across the men's and women's games in England, six in Wales and three in Scotland.
'With an increasingly congested sevens calendar and crossover opportunities with the 15s game reducing, we are taking time to review how best the format can work both from a player development and financial perspective,' said Conor O'Shea, the RFU's performance director.
'The intended new format will look at ways where crossover can happen more effectively in the men's and women's games while reducing some of the rising costs associated with competing on a global circuit.
'GB7s does not receive central Olympic funding, unlike many other unions it is competing with, and we believe the model the series is run under could be more financially effective for individual unions. This is something we are continuing to talk to World Rugby about.
'We understand the way in which player and coach contracts will change will be disappointing to many involved, and we will work closely with the Rugby Players Association to ensure that each of our players continues to be well supported and understands all the options available to them.'
