Inaugural IRB Women’s Sevens World Series Set

Dublin – Ireland, Oct 04, 2012: Inaugural, The International Rugby Board has today announced the first ever IRB Women’s Sevens World Series. It is set to take place in four global destinations, underscoring the IRB’s commitment to the ongoing growth and development of Women’s Rugby around the world and is another significant step in the journey to Rio 2016.

In a ground-breaking move, the inaugural global Series for the world’s top Women’s Sevens players will feature rounds in UAE (Dubai), USA (Houston), China (Guangzhou) and Netherlands (Amsterdam).

The system mirrors the men’s Series, with each 12-team event featuring six core teams who will play across all four events and six teams who will be invited based on regional tournament rankings, reflecting the IRB’s strategic aim to mix the top teams in the world with the best up and coming teams from each of the six IRB regions. The six core teams for the inaugural Series are Australia, Canada, England, Netherlands, New Zealand and USA.

Women’s Rugby is one of the fastest-growing team sports in the world and in 2016, the finest female players in the world will take their place alongside their male counterparts in Rio de Janeiro when Rugby returns to the Olympic Games programme. The inception of an international series is a key milestone in the ongoing development of both the competitive standards and the professionalism of the women’s Game.

• Four rounds to take place in Dubai, USA, China and Netherlands.

• Top 20 ranked teams to participate across inaugural Series

• China to host Series event as Rugby in the country continues to grow

• Series set to grow further with Rio 2016 on the horizon

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “The IRB Women’s Sevens World Series is an exciting and significant development, not only for the women’s Game but for all of Rugby, as we continue to grow the Game around the world. For the past 13 years, the top Sevens athletes in the men’s Game have competed in a World Series environment, and now all women players can also aspire to compete at the same level, test themselves against the very best and hone their skills.

“This first international Series for our top women’s players will shine a light on the sheer quality and athleticism they have reached in a relatively short time, and ensure that the women’s Game continues on its sharp rise towards its Olympic debut in 2016.”

“We are delighted to be going to Dubai, USA, China and the Netherlands in our inaugural year. Dubai will guarantee the Series tremendous global exposure with the event sitting alongside the men’s, while the events in USA, China and the Netherlands reflect the incredible appetite for Women’s Rugby in these key markets, as seen with the superb results of their teams on the world stage in recent years.”

IRB Rugby Committee member and Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009 winning captain Cheryl Soon added: “This new series will not only provide competition, it will also increase the exposure and profile of the women’s Game globally. Whether running alongside the very successful HSBC Sevens World Series event in Dubai or reaching new and strategically important markets around the world, we believe the series will maximize the opportunities for growth of the women’s Game in all aspects.”

The IRB Sevens World Series concept is in line with key strategic objectives set out in the IRB Women’s Rugby Plan, expanding the women’s Sevens international competition model, particularly at the elite level of the Game.

IRB Women’s Sevens World Series

Round 1 – UAE: Dubai, November 30 – December 1, 2012 – 7he Sevens Stadium

Round 2 – USA: Houston, Texas, 1-2 February, 2013 – BBVA Compass Stadium

Round 3 – China: Guangzhou, 30-31 March 2013 – Guangzhou University Town Stadium

Round 4 – Netherlands: Amsterdam, 17-18 May 2013 – NRCA Stadium

Rugby World Cup Sevens, Moscow, June 28-30 2013. —- IRB