RUGBY IN 2 MINUTES

Never watched a game? By the end of this you’ll know enough to have a team and a take.

THE SPORT

Rugby Sevens, simply

Seven players a side, two short halves, about 14 minutes of fast, end to end action.

7 vs 7: Seven players each. Fewer players means more space and more scoring.

Score by carrying: Run the ball over the opponent's line and touch it down to score a try.

Pass backwards: You can only pass sideways or backwards, never forwards with your hands.

SCORING

Almost every score is a try. The rest is a quick bonus kick.

TRY = 5: Touch the ball down over the line for five points.

CONVERSION = +2: A free kick through the posts straight after a try.

Most points win: A converted try is worth seven. That is the whole scoring system.

TRY5

CONV2

CONVERTED TRY7

THE RHYTHM

No pads and no helmets, but the game barely stops.

Tackle low: Defenders grab below the shoulders to bring the ball carrier down.

Recycle the ball: After a tackle the attacking team plays it back and keeps going.

Kick to move forward: The only way to send the ball forward is to kick it.

WHO IS WHO

Two kinds of players share the work on the pitch.

Forwards: The stronger players who win the ball in the tackles and contact.

Backs: The faster players who attack space and score most of the tries.

Scrum-half: The link who passes the ball out to the backs and sets the tempo.

THE RPL

Six city teams, now with four women's sides, all playing in one city.

When and where: 16-28 June 2026 at Gachibowli Stadium, Hyderabad.

Defending champions: Chennai Bulls won the very first title in 2025.

Global stars: Marquee players from Fiji, New Zealand, South Africa and more.

Pick your team, a player to watch, and your 2026 champion.