What is the World Rugby Sevens Series?

A season-long tour of sevens tournaments in different cities, first played in 1999-2000 and now called HSBC SVNS. Points from each event build a ranking that ends with a Grand Final.

Which country has won the most men's sevens series titles?

New Zealand lead the list. South Africa's Blitzboks and Fiji are the other leading men's sevens nations.

When did rugby sevens join the Olympics?

At Rio 2016. Fiji won the men's gold 43-7 and Australia the women's gold.

Who won rugby sevens at the Paris 2024 Olympics?

France won the men's gold at home, beating Fiji 28-7 in the final with Dupont in the team. It was Fiji's first Olympic defeat.

Why is sevens so important in Fiji?

Sevens is a national passion and Fiji's Rio 2016 gold was the country's first Olympic medal. The team even appears on the seven-dollar note.

Where was the first Rugby World Cup Sevens held?

At Murrayfield in Edinburgh in 1993. Later tournaments went to Dubai in 2009 and Cape Town in 2022.

Is rugby sevens part of the Commonwealth Games?

Yes, since Kuala Lumpur 1998, and New Zealand have been its leading side. Gold Coast 2018 gave sevens another big stage.

Rugby · Level 10: Professional · Sub-level 10.4

Sevens on the World Stage

10 tests · 100 facts · updated 28 October 2026 · markdown

Sevens is rugby's short, fast form, and its main circuit is the world series, first played in 1999-2000 and now branded HSBC SVNS. It is a travelling tour of city tournaments, each with pools and a final, combined into a season-long ranking that ends in a Grand Final. New Zealand lead the men's list of series titles, with South Africa's Blitzboks and Fiji the other great powers, and small squads suit the format. The women's series, also led by New Zealand, grew after the Olympic boost.

Sevens has been an Olympic sport since Rio 2016, where Fiji won 43-7 for their first Olympic medal of any kind, South Africa beat Japan for bronze and Australia took the women's gold. Fiji won again in Tokyo, 27-12, for back-to-back golds at Games delayed a year, and New Zealand's Black Ferns Sevens won the women's title. At Paris 2024 France won at home, 28-7, with Dupont, and Fiji lost an Olympic match for the first time, while Ilona Maher's team won their first Olympic rugby medal.

The facts below also cover the Sevens World Cup from Murrayfield in 1993 to Cape Town in 2022, the Commonwealth Games since Kuala Lumpur 1998, stars such as Serevi, Dan Norton, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe and Perry Baker, Fiji's seven-dollar note and the festival cities of Hong Kong, Dubai, Cape Town and Vancouver.

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 1The world seriesTake a test

The first series.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
HSBC SVNS.
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A season-long ranking, ending in a Grand Final.
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The Grand Final.
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Combined events.
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Short games.
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A travelling tour.
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1999-2000, 2012-13, 2023.
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Most to fewest.
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City to city.
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Test 2The men's powersTake a test

New Zealand lead.
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Blitzboks.
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Fiji.
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A natural fit.
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Small squads.
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Olympic gold 2016 and 2020.
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Success and style.
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Most to fewest.
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Most to fewest.
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South Africa sevens.
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Test 3The women's seriesTake a test

The women's series.
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New Zealand lead.
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Black Ferns Sevens.
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Rio 2016.
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Olympic boost.
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Ilona Maher.
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Their first Olympic rugby medal.
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2009, 2012-13, 2016.
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2016, 2021, 2024.
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Paris 2024.
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Test 4Rio 2016Take a test

Fiji's first Olympic medal.
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43-7.
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First ever medal.
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Rio.
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South Africa beat Japan.
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Australia gold.
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Holiday and the seven-dollar note.
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Gold, silver, bronze.
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Gold, silver, bronze.
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Rio 2016.
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Test 5Tokyo and ParisTake a test

Back-to-back golds.
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27-12.
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Black Ferns Sevens.
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Delayed a year.
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At home.
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28-7.
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Dupont.
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2016, 2021, 2024.
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2, 1, 0.
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28-7.
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Test 6The Sevens World CupTake a test

At Murrayfield.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
In Dubai.
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In Cape Town.
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In Dubai.
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In Cape Town.
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Cape Town.
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Back-to-back.
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1993, 1997, 2009, 2013.
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2009, 2013, 2022.
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Wales 2009.
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Test 7The Commonwealth GamesTake a test

Kuala Lumpur 1998.
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Kuala Lumpur.
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New Zealand.
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Gold Coast 2018.
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Another big stage.
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Commonwealth powers.
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National sport.
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1993, 1998, 2016.
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1998, 2016, 2018.
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Kuala Lumpur 1998.
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Test 8Sevens starsTake a test

Serevi.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Dan Norton.
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Portia Woodman-Wickliffe.
Source: General rugby union reference · recall
Perry Baker.
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Showcase for skill.
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Ben Ryan.
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Olympic dream.
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1990s, 2010s, 2024.
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Fiji, USA, England.
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The king of sevens.
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Test 9Fiji and sevensTake a test

With the sevens team on it.
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National passion.
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A big local tournament.
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Team hymn.
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Economics.
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2016 and 2020.
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First Olympic defeat.
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2016, 2021, 2024.
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Best to worst.
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Fiji's seven-dollar note.
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Test 10The festival citiesTake a test

The South Stand.
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Dubai.
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Cape Town.
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Vancouver.
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A party.
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Tourism.
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Hong Kong.
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West to east.
Source: General rugby union reference · applied
Pools to final.
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The South Stand.
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Questions people ask

What is the World Rugby Sevens Series?: A season-long tour of sevens tournaments in different cities, first played in 1999-2000 and now called HSBC SVNS. Points from each event build a ranking that ends with a Grand Final.
Which country has won the most men's sevens series titles?: New Zealand lead the list. South Africa's Blitzboks and Fiji are the other leading men's sevens nations.
When did rugby sevens join the Olympics?: At Rio 2016. Fiji won the men's gold 43-7 and Australia the women's gold.
Who won rugby sevens at the Paris 2024 Olympics?: France won the men's gold at home, beating Fiji 28-7 in the final with Dupont in the team. It was Fiji's first Olympic defeat.
Why is sevens so important in Fiji?: Sevens is a national passion and Fiji's Rio 2016 gold was the country's first Olympic medal. The team even appears on the seven-dollar note.
Where was the first Rugby World Cup Sevens held?: At Murrayfield in Edinburgh in 1993. Later tournaments went to Dubai in 2009 and Cape Town in 2022.
Is rugby sevens part of the Commonwealth Games?: Yes, since Kuala Lumpur 1998, and New Zealand have been its leading side. Gold Coast 2018 gave sevens another big stage.

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