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The 8th edition of the Rugby World Cup Sevens takes place at Cape Town Stadium this weekend. Three days of action will see Men’s and Women’s champions crowned on Sunday. It’s the 4th time that the Women’s bracket has been included after being formally added in 2009.
Though the World Cup’s standing has been reduced somewhat since the sport was introduced to the Olympics in 2016, it remains a high profile event that gives opportunities to twice as many (24 total) Men’s sides and four extra (16 total) Women’s sides. The Americas have 6 teams in the Men’s Division and 4 in the Women’s division.
This year’s tournament will for the first time be contested in straight knock-out format. The Men’s competition will include an extra round of qualifiers for 16 teams, with the top 8 seeds given a bye straight to the Round of 16. Teams who lose on opening day will move into the Bowl or Challenge bracket.
Argentina were the highest ranked of the Men’s sides on this year’s World Sevens Series, finishing in 4th place. The USA were next in 6th, followed by Canada in 14th and Jamaica in 19th. Uruguay and Chile did not compete this year, though the former recently qualified as a core team for the 2022-2023.
The USA were the highest ranked of the Women’s sides from the 2021-2022 circuit at 6th overall, with Canada next in 7th. Brazil finished in 11th spot, while Colombia did not make a Sevens Series appearance this year. Mexico were an invitational side in Langford but did not qualify for the World Cup.
FAVORITES
Though Australia were the overall champions on the Men’s circuit, they finished third at the most recent tournament on Los Angeles behind winners New Zealand and runners-up Fiji. South Africa’s form has fallen off in the second half of the season but the Commonwealth Games champions remain a dangerous side at home. The USA are dealing with several injuries so it should be Argentina who are considered the best hopes from the Americas, while Samoa are in with a shout after four consecutive top-four finishes to end the season.
On the Women’s side Australia won four of six tournaments and then succeeded at the Commonwealth Games in July. New Zealand are also strong best to finish on the podium, with France, Fiji, and Ireland outsiders. The USA were tournament winners in Málaga earlier this year but faded somewhat in Langford and Toulouse. They remain the best hope of a top-three finish from the Americas.
STAR PLAYERS
Some of the world’s best sevens exponents will be in action. High achievers on this year’s Men’s circuit included DHL Impact winner Corey Toole, who was the second-highest try scorer while Australia teammate Dietrich Roache had the most points. Ireland’s Terry Kennedy was the top try-man, while Argentina’s Marcos Moneta was third-best.
Two-time World Rugby Player of the Year Perry Baker is undoubtedly the USA’s biggest name. Others competing who have achieved legendary status are Kenya’s Collins Injera and Fiji’s Jerry Tuwai, while South Africa have recalled Cecil Afrika. Tom Mitchell will play for England while Canada’s Brock Webster is a young player on the rise.
Australia’s Charlotte Caslick was the DHL Impact winner on the Women’s circuit. Ireland claimed the top try scorer in Amee-Leigh Murphy-Crowe, while Jade Ulutule of France was at the top of the points scoring list. Brazil’s Thalia Costa was the 4th-highest try scorer, while Fiji’s offloading duo Reapi Ulunisau and Sesenieli Donu were also standout performers.
New Zealand’s Portia Woodman is regarded as one of the great players of the professional era. France have further star power in Camille Grassineau, while the USA will look to the likes of Naya Tapper and Ilona Maher to spearhead their chances. Canada’s Krissy Scurfield is turning heads at the age of just 19.
BROADCASTS
Fridays matches will be streamed live on Peacock in the USA, with additional television broadcasts on CNBC and NBC on Saturday and Sunday. NBC will also broadcast in the Caribbean. Viewers in Canada can watch the entirety of the tournament streaming live on the CBC Sports website. Those in Latin America can watch on ESPN Sur.
DAY 1 FIXTURES (ALL FRIDAY)
00:07 PT / 03:07 ET / 09:07 LOCAL – MEN QUALIFIER – Canada vs Zimbabwe
00:51 PT / 03:51 ET / 09:51 LOCAL – MEN QUALIFIER – Scotland vs Jamaica
02:07 PT / 05:07 ET / 11:07 LOCAL – MEN QUALIFIER – Hong Kong vs Uruguay
02:29 PT / 05:29 ET / 11:29 LOCAL – MEN QUALIFIER – Germany vs Chile
03:33 PT / 06:33 ET / 12:33 LOCAL – WOMEN ROUND OF 16 – USA vs Poland
03:55 PT / 06:55 ET / 12:55 LOCAL – WOMEN ROUND OF 16 – Canada vs China
04:54 PT / 07:54 ET / 13:54 LOCAL – WOMEN ROUND OF 16 – Ireland vs Brazil
06:39 PT / 09:39 ET / 15:39 LOCAL – MEN ROUND OF 16 – USA vs Samoa/Uganda
07:23 PT / 10:23 ET / 16:23 LOCAL – MEN ROUND OF 16 – Argentina vs Kenya/Tonga
08:37 PT / 11:37 ET / 17:37 LOCAL – WOMEN ROUND OF 16 – New Zealand vs Colombia
A complete match schedule can be seen here.
FINAL MEN’S ROSTERS
ARGENTINA MEN
Joaquín de la Vega, Agustín Fraga, Luciano González Rizzoni, Rodrigo Isgro, Alejo Lavayan, Marcos Moneta, Matías Osadczuk, Gastón Revol (capt.), Franco Rossetto, Germán Schulz, Santiago Vera Feld, Tobias Wade. HEAD COACH: Santiago Gómez Cora.
CANADA MEN
Phil Berna (capt.), D’Shawn Bowen, Ciaran Breen, Elias Ergas, Thomas Isherwood, Lockie Kratz, Josiah Morra, Anton Ngongo, Matthew Oworu, Alex Russell, Jake Thiel, Brock Webster. HEAD COACH: Henry Paul.
CHILE MEN
Clemente Armstrong, Luca Avelli, Julio Blanc, Felipe Brangier, Cristóbal Game, Joaquín Huici (capt.), Luca Strabucchi, Ernesto Tchimino, Vicente Tredinick, Vicente Urbina, Benjamín Videla, Diego Warnken. HEAD COACH: Joaquín Todeschini.
JAMAICA MEN
Rhodri Adamson, Anthony Bingham, Tyler Bush (co-capt.), Oscar Clayton, Ryan Denvir, Omar Dixon, Ronaldeni Fraser, Cameron Melville (co-capt.), Jack Rampton, Ashley Smith, Gareth Stoppani, Fabion Turner. HEAD COACH: Hughton Campbell
USA MEN
Perry Baker, Ben Broselle, Maceo Brown, Aaron Cummings, Gavan D’Amore-Morrison, Malacchi Esdale, Naima Fuala’au, Lucas Lacamp, Cody Melphy, David Still, Stephen Tomasin (capt.), Kisi Unufe. HEAD COACH: Mike Friday.
URUGUAY MEN
Baltazar Amaya, Diego Ardao (capt.), Koba Brazionis, Carlos Deus, Felipe Etcheverry, Tomás Etcheverry, Valentín Grille, Tomás Inciarte, Guillermo Lijtenstein, James McCubbin, Marcos Pastore, Mateo Viñals. HEAD COACH: Ivo Dugonjic.
FINAL WOMEN’S ROSTERS
BRAZIL WOMEN
Andressa Alves, Luiza Campos (capt.), Larissa Carvalho, Thalia Costa, Marina Fioravanti, Gabriela Lima, Isadora Lopes, Mariana Nicolau, Aline Ribeiro, Leila Silva, Bianca Silva, Marcelle Souza. HEAD COACH: Will Broderick.
CANADA WOMEN
Olivia Apps (co-capt.), Fancy Bermudez, Pamphinette Buisa, Emma Chown, Chloe Daniels, Olivia De Couvreur, Nakisa Levale, Piper Logan, Breanne Nicholas (co-capt.), Krissy Scurfield, Florence Symonds, Keyara Wardley. HEAD COACH: Jack Hanratty.
COLOMBIA WOMEN
Valentina Álvarez, Daniela Alzate, Sara Florez Arenas, María Arzuaga, Carmen Ibarra, Camila Lopera (capt.), Laura Mejía, Maribel Mestra, Valeria Muñoz, Marcela Osorio, Juliana Soto, Valentina Tapías. HEAD COACH: Sebastián Mejía.
USA WOMEN
Kayla Canett, Cheta Emba, Lauren Doyle (capt.), Joanne Fa’avesi, Jazmine Gray, Nicole Heavirland, Kristi Kirshe, Ilona Maher, Alena Olsen, Sam Sullivan, Naya Tapper, Kris Thomas. HEAD COACH: Emilie Bydwell.
