Team GB Rugby Sevens To Enter HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2023

World Rugby has announced the surprising news that a Great Britain Rugby Sevens team will replace the RFU, Scottish Rugby and the WRU from the 2023 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.

Great Britain Rugby Sevens

The governing body said that “The decision, which aligns with their Olympic participation status and qualification pathway, means there will be no team relegated from the men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022, as England, Scotland and Wales are replaced by a GB team, while GB will directly replace England in the women’s Series.”

World Rugby Chief Competitions and Performance Officer Nigel Cass said: “We pay tribute to the three unions for their positive and constructive collaboration, which will see a Great Britain Sevens team participate in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series from 2023, aligning with their Olympic participation.

Women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens 2023

The World Rugby Executive Committee also confirmed that Russia’s women’s sevens team has been withdrawn from the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2023 in line with the ongoing suspension. As a result Brazil will maintain their status as a core team in the women’s 2023 Series.

The 10 women’s teams confirmed on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2023 are:

• Australia, Brazil, Canada, Fiji, France, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, Spain and the USA.

They will be joined by the winner of the World Rugby Challenger Series 2022, with one invitational team added at each round of the Series, bringing the total to 12 teams participating in each tournament.

Men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens 2023

The 14 men’s core teams confirmed for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2023 are:

• Argentina, Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Fiji, France, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, New Zealand, Samoa, South Africa, Spain and the USA.

They will be joined by the winner of the World Rugby Challenger Series 2022, with one invitational team added at each round of the Series, with 16 teams participating in each tournament.

Challenger Series 2022 (Chile)

The winners of the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series will gain promotion to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2023.

Image Credit: World Rugby

What now for England, Scotland and Wales Sevens teams?

The respective unions and World Rugby are in discussions with regard to further playing opportunities for England, Scotland and Wales teams. but they will compete as individual nations at:

• The Commonwealth Games 2022, which take place at Coventry Stadium on 29-31 July
• Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 in Cape Town on 9-11 September

Nigel Cass  also said, “Building on two highly impactful Olympic Games in Rio and Tokyo, the future of rugby sevens is very bright and we are working hard on exciting plans to engage and inspire new, younger and more diverse participants and fans across the globe.”

Rugby Sevens 2022 News

The grand finale of the men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 on 26-27 August in LA,  before Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town on 9-11 September.

• HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2023 Schedule Confirmed.
• Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: Cape Town.
• Kazakhstan Nomads Sevens.
• Bangkok International Rugby Sevens 2022 Confirmed.