2006-07 IRB Sevens World Series
Encyclopedia
2006–07 IRB Sevens World Series was the eighth of an annual series of rugby union sevens tournaments for full national sides run by the International Rugby Board
since 1999-2000.
New Zealand
won the 2006-07 series by winning the final tournament in Edinburgh
. In that event, the then-defending series champions Fiji
would have clinched the season crown by defeating Wales
in the Cup quarterfinals. However, a Wales upset win opened the door for New Zealand to take the season crown by winning the Cup in Edinburgh, which they proceeded to do.
Sevens is a stripped-down version of rugby union, with seven players on each side rather than fifteen. Games are much shorter, seven or ten minutes each half, and tend to be very fast-paced, open affairs. Sevens is traditionally played in a two-day tournament format; however, the most famous event, the Hong Kong Sevens
, is played over three days.
The tournaments span the globe:
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! colspan=4 style="border-right:0px;"; | 2006-07 Itinerary
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! width=8%|Leg
! width=10%|Venue
! width=8%|Date
! width=5%|Winner
|-
> Dubai
Dubai Exiles Rugby Ground
December 1–2, 2006
South Africa
Outeniqua Park
, George
December 8–9, 2006
New Zealand
Westpac Stadium
, Wellington
February 2–3, 2007
United States
PETCO Park
, San Diego, California
February 10–11, 2007
Hong Kong
Hong Kong Stadium
March 30-April 1, 2007
Australia
Adelaide Oval
, Adelaide
April 7–8, 2007
London
Twickenham
May 26–27, 2007
Scotland
Murrayfield
, Edinburgh
June 2–3, 2007
The Australia and Scotland events are new for 2006-07. The Australia event effectively replaces Singapore
, and the Scotland event effectively replaces the Paris Sevens
.
Four trophies are awarded in each tournament, except for Hong Kong. In descending order of prestige, they are the Cup, whose winner is the overall tournament champion, Plate, Bowl and Shield. In Hong Kong, the Shield is not awarded. Each trophy is awarded at the end of a knockout tournament.
In a normal event, the top two teams in each pool advance to the Cup competition. The four quarterfinal losers drop into the bracket for the Plate. The Bowl is contested by the third-place finishers in each pool, while the Shield is contested by the last-place teams from each pool.
In Hong Kong, the six pool winners, plus the two highest-finishing second-place teams, advance to the Cup. The Plate participants are the eight highest-ranked teams remaining, while the lowest eight drop to the Bowl.
Points are awarded on a different schedule for the Hong Kong Sevens:
! width=5%|Pos.
! Country !!
!! 
!! 
!! 
!!
!! 
!!
!! 
!! Overall
|-
| 1 || || 16 || 20 || 12 || 12 || 18 || 12 || 20 || 20 || 130
|-
| 2 || || 12 || 12 || 16 || 20 || 24 || 20 || 16 || 8 || 128
|-
| 3 || || 8 || 4 || 20 || 16 || 30 || 16 || 12 || 16 || 122
|-
| 4 || || 20 || 16 || 12 || 8 || 18 || 6 || 8 || 4 || 92
|-
| 5 || || 12 || 12 || 8 || 4 || 8 || 4 || 2 || 2 || 52
|-
| 6 || || 0 || 8 || - || - || 4 || 2 || 12 || 12 || 38
|-
| 7 || || 4 || 2 || 0 || 4 || 8 || 8 || 6 || 0 || 32
|-
| 8 || || 6 || 4 || 6 || 12 || 0 || - || 0 || 0 || 28
|-
| 9 || || 0 || 0 || 0 || 6 || 8 || 4 || 4 || 4 || 26
|-
| 10 || || 2 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 3 || - || 4 || 12 || 23
|-
| 11 || || 0 || 0 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 12 || 0 || 6 || 22
|-
| 12 || || - || - || 0 || 2 || 8 || 0 || - || - || 10
|-
| 13 || || 4 || 0 || 4 || 0 || 0 || - || 0 || 0 || 8
|-
| 14 || || 0 || 6 || - || - || 0 || - || - || - || 6
|-
| 15 || || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || - || 0 || 0 || 2
|-
| 15 || || - || - || 0 || 0 || 2 || - || - || - || 2
|-
| 17 || || - || - || - || - || 1 || - || 0 || 0 || 1
|}
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
since 1999-2000.
New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby union team (sevens)
The New Zealand national rugby union sevens team is the New Zealand representative team in rugby union sevens and competes in the IRB Sevens World Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games.-IRB Sevens:...
won the 2006-07 series by winning the final tournament in Edinburgh
2007 Edinburgh Sevens
The Edinburgh Sevens is played annually as part of the IRB Sevens World Series for international rugby sevens . The 2007 competition took place on 2nd and 3rd of June, and was held at Murrayfield. It was the last leg of the 2006-07 IRB Sevens World Series.New Zealand won the tournament after...
. In that event, the then-defending series champions Fiji
Fiji national rugby union team (sevens)
The Fiji Sevens side is one of the most popular and successful Sevens teams in the world and has won the Hong Kong Sevens a record nine times since its inception in 1976. Fiji has also won the Sevens World Cup twice, winning that event in 1997 and 2005...
would have clinched the season crown by defeating Wales
Wales national rugby union team (sevens)
The Wales national rugby union sevens team is the international rugby sevens side for Welsh rugby union players. They currently compete in the IRB Sevens World Series, the Rugby World Cup Sevens and in the Commonwealth Games....
in the Cup quarterfinals. However, a Wales upset win opened the door for New Zealand to take the season crown by winning the Cup in Edinburgh, which they proceeded to do.
Sevens is a stripped-down version of rugby union, with seven players on each side rather than fifteen. Games are much shorter, seven or ten minutes each half, and tend to be very fast-paced, open affairs. Sevens is traditionally played in a two-day tournament format; however, the most famous event, the Hong Kong Sevens
Hong Kong Sevens
The Hong Kong Sevens is considered the premier tournament on the IRB Sevens World Series in rugby sevens—a variant of rugby union....
, is played over three days.
The tournaments span the globe:
! colspan=4 style="border-right:0px;"; | 2006-07 Itinerary
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! width=8%|Leg
! width=10%|Venue
! width=8%|Date
! width=5%|Winner
|-
>
2006 Dubai Sevens
The Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens is played annually as part of the IRB Sevens World Series for international rugby sevens...
Dubai Exiles Rugby Ground
Dubai Exiles Rugby Ground is a multi-use stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is currently used mostly for rugby union matches, and was the home stadium of the Dubai Sevens, the first event in the annual IRB Sevens World Series, through the 2007 edition. The Dubai Sevens moved to a new...
2006 South Africa Sevens
The Emirates Airline South Africa Sevens is played annually as part of the IRB Sevens World Series for international rugby sevens...
Outeniqua Park
Outeniqua Park is a multi-purpose stadium in George, South Africa. It is currently used mostly for rugby union matches and was the home stadium of the South African leg of the IRB Sevens World Series from 2001 through 2010, after which it moved to Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.The...
, George
George, Western Cape
George is a city with 203,253 inhabitants in South Africa's Western Cape province. The city is a popular holiday and conference centre and the administrative and commercial hub of the Garden Route.- Location :...
2007 Wellington Sevens
The Wellington Sevens, also known as the New Zealand Sevens or for sponsorship reasons the NZI Sevens, is played annually as part of the IRB Sevens World Series for international rugby sevens...
Westpac Stadium
Westpac Stadium, is a major sporting venue in Wellington, New Zealand. Due to its shape and silver coloured external walls, it is colloquially known as The Cake-Tin to the locals and other New Zealanders...
, Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
2007 USA Sevens
The 2007 Steinlager USA Sevens was a rugby union sevens tournament held on February 10 and February 11, 2007 in the United States at 44,500 capacity PETCO Park in San Diego, California. It is part of the IRB Sevens World Series...
PETCO Park
Petco Park is an open-air ballpark in downtown San Diego, California, USA. It opened in 2004, replacing Qualcomm Stadium as the home park of Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres. Before then, the Padres shared Qualcomm Stadium with the NFL's San Diego Chargers...
, San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
2007 Hong Kong Sevens
The 2007 Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens was a rugby union sevens tournament held on 30 March till 1 April 2007 in Hong Kong at the 40,000 capacity Hong Kong Stadium...
Hong Kong Stadium
Hong Kong Stadium is the main sports venue of Hong Kong. Redeveloped from the old Government Stadium it reincarnated as Hong Kong Stadium in 1994...
2007 Adelaide Sevens
The Adelaide Sevens, also known as the Australia Sevens, is played annually as part of the IRB Sevens World Series for international rugby sevens . The 2007 competition, which took place on 7 and 8 April, was played at the Adelaide Oval, South Australia...
Adelaide Oval
The Adelaide Oval is a sports ground in Adelaide, South Australia, located in the parklands between the Central Business District and North Adelaide...
, Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
2007 London Sevens
The London Sevens is played annually as part of the IRB Sevens World Series for international rugby sevens...
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
2007 Edinburgh Sevens
The Edinburgh Sevens is played annually as part of the IRB Sevens World Series for international rugby sevens . The 2007 competition took place on 2nd and 3rd of June, and was held at Murrayfield. It was the last leg of the 2006-07 IRB Sevens World Series.New Zealand won the tournament after...
Murrayfield Stadium
Murrayfield Stadium is a sports stadium located in the west end of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Its all-seater capacity was recently reduced from 67,800 to 67,130 to incorporate the largest permanent "big screen" in the country though it still remains the largest stadium in Scotland and one...
, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
The Australia and Scotland events are new for 2006-07. The Australia event effectively replaces Singapore
Standard Chartered Sevens Singapore
The Singapore Sevens, known for sponsorship purposes as the Standard Chartered Sevens Singapore, was an annual rugby union sevens tournament held in Singapore as part of the World Sevens Series. It was last contested in 2006, and was effectively replaced by the new Australia Sevens as of the...
, and the Scotland event effectively replaces the Paris Sevens
Paris Sevens
The Paris Sevens was an annual rugby union sevens tournament held in Paris, France as part of the World Sevens Series. It was last contested in 2006, and was effectively replaced by the new Scotland Sevens as of the 2006-07 season....
.
The season
In a normal event, 16 teams are entered; in Hong Kong, 24 teams enter. In each tournament, the teams are divided into pools of four teams, who play a round-robin within the pool. Points are awarded in each pool on a different schedule from most rugby tournaments—3 for a win, 2 for a draw, 1 for a loss. The first tiebreaker is the head-to-head result between the tied teams, followed by difference in points scored during the tournament.Four trophies are awarded in each tournament, except for Hong Kong. In descending order of prestige, they are the Cup, whose winner is the overall tournament champion, Plate, Bowl and Shield. In Hong Kong, the Shield is not awarded. Each trophy is awarded at the end of a knockout tournament.
In a normal event, the top two teams in each pool advance to the Cup competition. The four quarterfinal losers drop into the bracket for the Plate. The Bowl is contested by the third-place finishers in each pool, while the Shield is contested by the last-place teams from each pool.
In Hong Kong, the six pool winners, plus the two highest-finishing second-place teams, advance to the Cup. The Plate participants are the eight highest-ranked teams remaining, while the lowest eight drop to the Bowl.
Points schedule
The season championship is determined by points earned in each tournament. For most events, points are awarded on the following schedule:- Cup winner (1st place): 20 points
- Cup runner-up: 16 points
- Losing Cup semifinalists: 12 points
- Plate winner (5th place): 8 points
- Plate runner-up: 6 points
- Losing Plate semifinalists: 4 points
- Bowl winner (9th place): 2 points
Points are awarded on a different schedule for the Hong Kong Sevens:
- Cup winner: 30 points
- Cup runner-up: 24 points
- Losing Cup semifinalists: 18 points
- Losing Cup quarterfinalists: 8 points
- Plate winner (9th place): 4 points
- Plate runner-up: 3 points
- Losing Plate semifinalists: 2 points
- Bowl winner (17th place): 1 point
Final table
{| class="wikitable"! width=5%|Pos.
! Country !!
!! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! Overall|-
| 1 || || 16 || 20 || 12 || 12 || 18 || 12 || 20 || 20 || 130
|-
| 2 || || 12 || 12 || 16 || 20 || 24 || 20 || 16 || 8 || 128
|-
| 3 || || 8 || 4 || 20 || 16 || 30 || 16 || 12 || 16 || 122
|-
| 4 || || 20 || 16 || 12 || 8 || 18 || 6 || 8 || 4 || 92
|-
| 5 || || 12 || 12 || 8 || 4 || 8 || 4 || 2 || 2 || 52
|-
| 6 || || 0 || 8 || - || - || 4 || 2 || 12 || 12 || 38
|-
| 7 || || 4 || 2 || 0 || 4 || 8 || 8 || 6 || 0 || 32
|-
| 8 || || 6 || 4 || 6 || 12 || 0 || - || 0 || 0 || 28
|-
| 9 || || 0 || 0 || 0 || 6 || 8 || 4 || 4 || 4 || 26
|-
| 10 || || 2 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 3 || - || 4 || 12 || 23
|-
| 11 || || 0 || 0 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 12 || 0 || 6 || 22
|-
| 12 || || - || - || 0 || 2 || 8 || 0 || - || - || 10
|-
| 13 || || 4 || 0 || 4 || 0 || 0 || - || 0 || 0 || 8
|-
| 14 || || 0 || 6 || - || - || 0 || - || - || - || 6
|-
| 15 || || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || - || 0 || 0 || 2
|-
| 15 || || - || - || 0 || 0 || 2 || - || - || - || 2
|-
| 17 || || - || - || - || - || 1 || - || 0 || 0 || 1
|}
Dubai
| Event | Winners | Score | Finalists | Semi Finalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cup | 31 - 12 | |
||
| Plate | 26 - 7 | |
||
| Bowl | 26 - 7 | |
||
| Shield | 33 - 0 | |
South Africa
| Event | Winners | Score | Finalists | Semi Finalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cup | 24 - 19 | |
||
| Plate | 26 - 7 | |
||
| Bowl | 41 - 7 | |
||
| Shield | 14 - 12 | |
New Zealand
| Event | Winners | Score | Finalists | Semi Finalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cup | 17 - 14 | |
||
| Plate | 21 - 12 | |
||
| Bowl | 12 - 5 | |
||
| Shield | 26 - 24 | |
USA
| Event | Winners | Score | Finalists | Semi Finalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cup | 38 - 24 | |
||
| Plate | 28 - 19 | |
||
| Bowl | 22 - 17 | |
||
| Shield | 26 - 5 | |
Hong Kong
| Event | Winners | Score | Finalists | Semi Finalists | Quarter Finalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cup | 27 - 22 | |
|
||
| Plate | 26 - 19 | |
|
||
| Bowl | 21 - 7 | |
|
Australia
| Event | Winners | Score | Finalists | Semi Finalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cup | 21 - 7 | |
||
| Plate | 31 - 0 | |
||
| Bowl | 26 - 14 | |
||
| Shield | 43 - 17 | |
London
| Event | Winners | Score | Finalists | Semi Finalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cup | 29 - 7 | |
||
| Plate | 14 - 5 | |
||
| Bowl | 26 - 14 | |
||
| Shield | 15 - 0 | |
Scotland
| Event | Winners | Score | Finalists | Semi Finalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cup | 34 - 5 | |
||
| Plate | 31 - 7 | |
||
| Bowl | 31 - 0 | |
||
| Shield | 21 - 12 | |