Characteristics of the Sport

Rugby sevens is an abbreviated version of rugby union, played by teams of seven players over 7-min
halves. A rugby sevens team includes three forwards, four backs and five replacements/substitutes. Given
the importance of speed and agility in rugby sevens, teams usually consist of mobile players that may
compete as backs or loose forwards in 15-player rugby union. Because of the growing international
popularity of rugby sevens and the differences in tactics, skills and physical demands between rugby
sevens and rugby union, players are increasingly specializing in one of the two formats.

Training
Players typically complete a periodized training program combining rugby skills training with sevensspecific conditioning. Sevens-specific sessions aim to develop speed, agility, and aerobic and anaerobic
endurance. Strength and power characteristics are trained within a resistance-training program periodized
throughout the year. Most days of the week players will complete one to three sessions per day of 4590
min duration, including on-field sessions as well as gym-based resistance training. Depending on training
objectives, players running volume may range from 2.06.5 km per session completed at ~6090 mmin1. Work-to-rest ratios within training sessions are highly variable and physical contact demands are
typically lower than rugby union.

Competition
International mens rugby sevens has been contested in the annual International Rugby Board (IRB)
Sevens World Series since 1999. In 2012, the corresponding IRB Womens Sevens World Series was
introduced. The Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament has also been challenged every four years since
its inception in 1993. The global profile and participation rates of rugby sevens are likely to increase
following the introduction of mens and womens competition at the 2016 Olympic Games. International
rugby sevens competitions are typically played in a tournament format. The pre-eminent mens rugby
sevens competition is the IRB Sevens World Series, which comprises nine tournaments played around
the world. Each tournament is contested by either 12 or 16 teams over a 2- or 3-day schedule. Teams
play three matches in the pool stage on the first or first and second day, then, depending on results, up to
three matches during the knockout stages on the final day. Typical tournament scheduling includes
periods of three to four hours between matches on the same day.
Although the duration of a rugby sevens match is considerably shorter than the 80 min of a rugby union
match, relative to match time, male rugby sevens players cover ~2045% greater distance. Furthermore,
rugby sevens players spend a higher proportion of the match running at high velocity and cover more
than double the distance at high velocity per min of match time than rugby union players. Although no
published data currently exist comparing the intensity of tackles, scrums, rucks and mauls between rugby
sevens and rugby union, it is likely the contact demands of rugby sevens are lower than rugby union.

Nevertheless, the greater relative running volume and intensity observed in rugby sevens competition
suggest the physiological demands of match-play are accentuated and that rugby sevens elicits a high
physical load. Depending on player substitutions and rotations, this load can be repeated on two more
occasions during the pool stage and again up to three times on the final day of competition.

Physical Characteristics
Despite an increase in the stature and mass of rugby sevens players over the past 10 years, on average,
male international rugby sevens backs are ~2 cm shorter and ~6 kg lighter than international rugby union
backs, whereas forwards are ~1 cm shorter and ~13 kg lighter than their rugby union counterparts.
Differences in physique between rugby sevens backs and forwards are less pronounced than positional
differences of rugby union players, due to the smaller differences in movement patterns and increased
need for mobility in all rugby sevens positions.
Rugby sevens players aim to achieve an ideal body mass by developing a proportionally high muscle
mass that assists in force production required for accelerating, sprinting, effecting and breaking tackles,
and during rucks and mauls. Players simultaneously attempt to limit fat mass which can compromise their
power-to-weight ratio, metabolic and thermoregulation.