Latest news with #HSBCSevens
The Star
01-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Rugby-World Rugby announces overhaul of sevens structure
FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - HSBC Sevens - Singapore - National Stadium, Singapore - April 6, 2025 Argentina and New Zealand celebrate with the trophies after winning the HSBC Sevens 2025 Men's and Women's leagues REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo (Reuters) -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. World Rugby Sevens General Manager Sam Pinder said that 10 million pounds ($13.28 million) 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. ($1 = 0.7530 pounds) (Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk and Rohith NairEditing by Toby Davis)
The Citizen
26-04-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Nkowankowa rugby talent helps Springbok Women's Sevens to victory
TZANEEN – Local rugby talent Zandile Masuku has once again made her hometown proud after helping the Springbok Women's Sevens team secure a dominant victory at the final World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger Series in Krakow, Poland. Masuku, from Nkowankowa near Tzaneen, was part of the national squad that went unbeaten during the tournament held from April 11 to 12. The team's stellar performance has earned them a spot in the prestigious HSBC SVNS Playoff, scheduled to take place in Los Angeles this May. The South African side started strong on day one, defeating host nation Poland 29-10 in their opening match. They followed that with a commanding 45-0 win over Czechia and wrapped up the day with a 22-0 shutout against Argentina. On the second day, the Springbok women maintained their form, overcoming African rivals Kenya 22-10 in the semi-final before once again besting Argentina 22-12 in the final. Speaking to the Herald, Masuku expressed her pride in the team's achievement. 'I'm so happy we managed to win all our matches and qualify for the HSBC Sevens in the US. It's an incredible feeling,' she said. Masuku's rugby journey began at DZJ Mtebule Secondary School in Nkowankowa. She later joined the Titans Women's Rugby Academy (TWRA) high-performance programme in 2020. Since then, she has earned a place on the SWD EaGirls provincial team and was named TWRA's Sevens Player of the Tournament at the 2021 Safari Sevens in Kenya. During that tournament, she played a key role in the academy's historic first international win over Zimbabwe. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
