Rugby · Level 7: Upper-Advanced · Sub-level 7.1
Sevens
10 tests · 100 facts · updated 28 October 2026 · markdown
Sevens is rugby union played seven against fifteen's usual numbers on a full-sized field. The idea came from Ned Haig, and Melrose ran the first sevens in 1883 as a fund-raising day. With so few players on so much grass, space beats defenders, and that space is the whole sevens story. Games are short and weekends are packed, with pools first and knock-outs after.
Restarts matter more than in fifteens because the team that scores kicks off, so a well-won restart gives them the ball again. Drop kicks give height and control, height wins the contest and the landing zone has to be covered, while a long kick simply hands over possession. Scrums have a three-player front row and set fast, lineouts use two or three players with the hooker still throwing, and the first phase opens huge space. In attack, possession is precious: width stretches seven defenders, arcing runs create overlaps, and breaks score most. In defence one player sits back as a sweeper for kicks and breaks, and a single missed tackle on the edge can mean a try.
The facts below cover where sevens began, restarts and set pieces, attack and defence, the players and squads, the big tournaments such as Hong Kong and Middlesex, moving across from fifteens, and how matches are won.
Each test below is ten questions on Insporta. The list under a test is what the questions check: one fact per question, with the source it was written from. Read it before the test, or come back from a wrong answer.
Test 1What sevens isTake a test
Melrose ran the first sevens in 1883.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Ned Haig suggested the short game.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
It was a fund-raising day.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Seven against fifteen.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Full field, few players.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Space beats defenders.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Short games, packed weekends.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Pools, then knock-outs.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Seven, ten, fifteen.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Space is the sevens story.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Test 2Sevens restartsTake a test
In sevens the scorers kick off, so a good restart gives them the ball again.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Winning restarts is a sevens weapon.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Teams keep the ball for long spells.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Drop kicks give height and control.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Height wins the contest.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Cover the landing zone.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Long kicks hand over possession.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Kick, contest, tap, attack.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Best is clean possession.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
A contested short restart.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Test 3Set pieces in sevensTake a test
A three-player front row.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Small scrums set fast.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Same as fifteens.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Two or three in the line.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Quick ball, open field.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
First-phase space is huge.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Throwing stays with the hooker.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Feed, strike, pass, score.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Six, about four to six, one.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Three-player scrums.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Test 4Attacking in sevensTake a test
Possession is precious.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Space and pace.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Width stretches seven defenders.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Arcing runs create overlaps.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Decision-making leads attack.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Breaks need a finisher.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
A chip beats rush defence.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Draw, pass, score.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Breaks score most.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Deep arcing support.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Test 5Defending in sevensTake a test
Seven cover a full width.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
One sits back for kicks and breaks.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
One miss can mean a try.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Edges are the danger.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Keep numbers in the line.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Pressure from speed.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Calls keep the line joined.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Break, cover, tackle, support.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Edge misses are fatal.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
The sweeper covers behind.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Test 6Sevens playersTake a test
All seven must run and pass.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Versatility matters.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Mobile back-rowers suit sevens.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Speed finishes moves.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Decisions run through them.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Link players move the ball wide.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Fresh legs keep the pace high.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Nine, playmaker, link, wing.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
The playmaker handles most.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Restart catching.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Test 7Sevens tournamentsTake a test
Many games, short rest.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Plate, bowl and shield matches.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Named after the home of sevens.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Hong Kong Sevens began in 1976.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Sevens debuted in Rio.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Middlesex Sevens from 1926.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Series events around the world.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
1883, 1976, 1993, 2016.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
1883, 1926, 1976.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Sevens weekends are parties.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Test 8From fifteens to sevensTake a test
Handling at pace rules sevens.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Space forces quick reads.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Open-field defence is exposed.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Footwork in space.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Lone tackles must stick.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Keep the ball.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Same core skills.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Train, test, play, return.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Running dominates.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
One-on-one evasion.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Test 9Sevens squadsTake a test
Freshness for the finals.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Core players play most.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Late speed changes games.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Full-time sevens players.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Short turnarounds.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Quick team reviews.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Pool foes can return in knock-outs.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Warm up, play, recover, play.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Starters play most.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Between-game preparation.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Test 10How sevens is wonTake a test
Open tries win sevens.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Drop-kicked conversions.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Time is short.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
One fewer in huge space.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Ball retention under pressure.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Quick taps suit sevens.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Momentum swings fast.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Try, conversion, kick-off, play.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Tries most, penalty goals rare.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Quick drop-kick conversion.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Questions people ask
- Who invented rugby sevens?
- The short game was suggested by Ned Haig, and Melrose ran the first sevens in 1883. It began as a fund-raising day.
- Why does the scoring team kick off in sevens?
- In sevens the team that scores kicks off, so a good restart can give them the ball straight back. Winning restarts is treated as a sevens weapon, which is why drop kicks with height are favoured over long kicks that hand over possession.
- How many players are in a sevens scrum?
- A sevens scrum has a three-player front row, and the small scrums set fast. Lineouts usually have two or three players, with the hooker still throwing in.
- Why are so many tries scored from breaks in sevens?
- Seven defenders have to cover a full-width field, so one missed tackle can mean a try. Breaks score most, especially when a finisher with speed is in support.
- What does the sweeper do in sevens defence?
- One defender sits back behind the line to cover kicks and breaks. The rest keep their numbers in the line and use calls to stay joined.
- When did the Hong Kong Sevens and the Middlesex Sevens start?
- The Middlesex Sevens date from 1926 and the Hong Kong Sevens began in 1976. Sevens later made its Olympic debut in Rio.
- How are conversions taken in sevens?
- Conversions in sevens are drop-kicked, and they are taken quickly because time is short. Tries win sevens matches, while penalty goals are rare.
Sources
World Rugby handbooks and coaching material, union and competition records; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered Laws belong to the Laws category.
- General rugby union reference100