The World Rugby Sevens Circuit is beginning to take shape for its next season. World Rugby has announced the first five stops for its 2025 calendar, starting the competition in late 2024 and looking to repeat the success achieved ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Among the new features that the coming season will have will be the inclusion of Uruguay and Kenya in the men’s circuit; and China in the case of women, all teams that achieved promotion from the Sevens Challenger 2024 held in Madrid. In addition, World Rugby announced that again this year the tournament will be equal, that is, in each stage the men’s matches and the women’s circuit will be combined, seeking “equal opportunities to show their talents on the most important stages in the world. The men’s teams and women will also receive the same participation funding,” published the international federation.
Where and when will the first dates be played? Everything will start on November 30 and December 1 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The second stage will be held in Cape Town, South Africa, between December 7 and 8, 2024. They will be the last two international events for rugby sevens before the end of the year.
In 2025 the action will continue in Perth, Australia, from January 24 to 26. Then it will be the turn of Vancouver, Canada, between February 21 and 23. Finally, the last date that has been confirmed so far will be in Hong Kong from March 28 to 30. The next stages as well as the Grand Final will be announced soon.
“We are announcing the first destinations that will allow fans to mark their calendars and prepare to see the stars of the Olympic Games shine again in some of the most iconic stadiums and destinations in the world; the dates of the remaining exciting destinations will be confirmed at the brevity,” said World Rugby Sevens General Manager Sam Pinder.
Which teams will compete in 2025? In the women’s tournament there will be New Zealand, Australia, France, the United States, Canada, Fiji, Ireland, Great Britain, Japan, Brazil, Spain and China. Meanwhile, the men’s competition is made up of Argentina, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, France, Fiji, South Africa, Great Britain, the United States, Spain, Uruguay and Kenya.
