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The pandemic has claimed two more stops on the World Sevens Series. Both the Singapore and Cape Town tournaments have now suffered the same fate as the Hong Kong Sevens, effectively bringing an end to the 2021 circuit in its entirety. The Canadian stops in Vancouver and Edmonton are the only events still intended to be played.
Despite the extremely limited schedule and the complete absence of many of the world’s top teams, World Rugby maintains that a men’s champion for the 2021 season will be declared following the Edmonton tournament though there will be no relegation. There are now no women’s events at all with only “fast-four” mini-tournaments taking place at the Canadian stops.
Originally intended to be part of the 2021 season, the Dubai Sevens will now kick off the 2022 circuit and in fact the venue will now host back-to-back tournaments. The first will take place on the November 26 weekend with the second a week later. Both events will feature both men’s and women’s teams.
Cut from the 2022 schedule is the Oceania leg with both Sydney and Hamilton now off the table due to travel restrictions. The complete schedule for what will serve as the build-up to July’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and September’s Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town is yet to be finalised.
