Premiership Rugby Sevens Series
| Premiership Rugby 7s Series | |
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Current season or competition: 2015 Premiership Rugby Sevens Series |
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Competition logo
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| Sport | Rugby sevens |
| Inaugural season | 2010 |
| Number of teams | 16 |
| Country |  England Wales (Since 2014) |
| Holders | Gloucester 7s (2014) |
| Most titles | Gloucester 7s (2 titles) |
| Website | premiershiprugby.com |
| Broadcast partner | ESPN UK (2010–12) BT Sport (2013–) |
| Related competition | World Club 7s |
The Premiership Rugby Sevens Series (known as the Singha Premiership Rugby 7s Series from 2015, though sponsorship from Singha) is a Rugby Sevens competition for the twelve Aviva Premiership Clubs that will play the following season (i.e. the 2010 competition features the teams playing in the Aviva Premiership in the 2010-11 Season). It was started in 2010, as an off-season competition, held during the months of July and August. Since 2014, the competition has been expanded to include the 4 Welsh Regions that compete in the Pro12.
Contents
Format
All the games are played according to the International Rugby Board Laws of the Game - 7s Variations.
Pool Phase
Originally, the twelve Premiership Clubs were split into three Pools, each playing on 3 consecutive Friday nights, at one of the teams home grounds. Following expansion, the four Welsh Regions compete in their own pool, alongside the three premiership pools.
Teams play on a Round-Robin format and are awarded points based on the results of the matches. Teams are awarded:
- 4 points for a win
- 2 points for a draw
- 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less
- 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match
Following the completion of all the matches in a pool, both the winner and runner-up progress to the final.[1]
Final
2010 - 2013
For the final, the final 6 teams were split into 2 pools. The teams again played each other on a round-robin basis, receiving points in the same manner as in the pool stage. After the pool stage of the final, the respective winners of the pools play each other in the grand final, the winner of that game being declared the winner of the competition.
2014 - Present
Following the expansion to include the Welsh regions, the format for the finals was changed.
Now the 8 teams contest quarter finals, and the format resembles more a traditional sevens final day. As the losers of the quarter finals contest a plate competition, and the winners a cup competition. The winner of the cup competition is considered the series winner.
Broadcast
Initially, each event in the competition was broadcast live on ESPN.[2] Highlights were shown on ITV4 the following Sunday.
On 25 February 2013, BT announced that it had acquired ESPN's UK channels and their sports broadcasting rights.[3] The 2013 edition of the competition, including the final, will be broadcast live on the new BT Sport channel. The channel will launch on Thursday 1 August, the first day of the competition.[4] Highlights of the 2013 competition were shown on STV in Scotland. In 2014, Welsh language channel S4C broadcast the first round of the tournament (containing the four regions) live.
History
Finals
| Year | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Saracens 7s | 17 – 5 | Newcastle Falcons 7s | Recreation Ground, Bath |
| 2011 | Newcastle Falcons 7s | 31 – 21 | Saracens 7s | The Stoop, Twickenham |
| 2012 | London Irish 7s | 31 – 28 | Gloucester 7s | Recreation Ground, Bath |
| 2013 | Gloucester 7s | 24 – 17 | Leicester Tigers 7s | Recreation Ground, Bath |
| 2014 | Gloucester 7s | 12 – 5 | Newport Gwent Dragons 7s | The Stoop, Twickenham |
2010
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The 2010 Premiership Rugby Sevens Series was the inaugural edition of the competition. It began on Friday 16 July and lasted 4 weeks, with the final at the Recreation Ground on Friday 6 August.[5]
Saracens 7s and Harlequins 7s qualified from Group A, played at The Stoop on Friday 16 July; Newcastle Falcons 7s and Sale Sharks 7s qualified from Group B, played at Welford Road on Friday 23 July; and Northampton Saints 7s and Exeter Chiefs 7s qualified from Group C, played at Franklin's Gardens on Friday 30 July.[5]
The finals were played at the Recreation Ground on Friday 6 August. For the finals, the 6 qualified teams were split into two pools of three teams. The winner of Pool B, Newcastle Falcons 7s, were defeated 17 – 5 by the Pool A winner, Saracens 7s in the final.[5]
2011
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The 2011 Premiership Rugby Sevens Series was the second edition of the competition. It began on Friday 15 July and lasted 4 weeks, with the final at The Stoop on Friday 5 August.[6]
Harlequins 7s and Bath 7s qualified from Group A, played at Recreation Ground on Friday 15 July; Saracens 7s and London Wasps 7s qualified from Group B, played at Franklin's Gardens on Friday 22 July; and Newcastle Falcons 7s and Sale Sharks 7s qualified from Group C, played at Edgeley Park on Friday 29 July.[6]
The finals were played at The Stoop on Friday 5 August. For the finals, the 6 qualified teams were split into two pools of three teams. The winner of Pool B, Saracens 7s, were defeated 21 – 31 by the Pool A winner, Newcastle Falcons 7s in the final.[6]
2012
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The 2012 Premiership Rugby Sevens Series was the third edition of the competition. It began on Friday 13 July and lasted 4 weeks, with the final at the The Recreation Ground on Friday 3 August.[7]
Saracens 7s and London Irish 7s qualified from Group A, played at The Stoop on Friday 13 July; London Welsh 7s and Sale Sharks 7s qualified from Group B, played at Edgeley Park on Friday 20 July; and Gloucester 7s and Bath 7s qualified from Group C, played at Kingsholm on Thursday 26 July.[7]
The finals were played at The Recreation Ground on Friday 3 August. For the finals, the 6 qualified teams were split into two pools of three teams. The winner of Pool A, Gloucester 7s, were defeated 28 – 31 by the Pool B winner, London Irish 7s in the final.[7]
2013
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The 2013 Premiership Rugby Sevens Series was the fourth edition of the competition. The group stages ran on 1–3 August 2013 and the final at the The Recreation Ground on 9 August 2013.[4]
Worcester Warriors 7s and Gloucester 7s qualified from Group A, played at Kingsholm on Thursday 1 August; Newcastle Falcons 7s and Leicester Tigers 7s qualified from Group B, played at Franklin's Gardens on Friday 2 August; and Harlequins 7s and Saracens 7s qualified from Group C, played at Allianz Park on Saturday 3 August.[8]
The finals were played at The Recreation Ground on Friday 9 August. For the finals, the 6 qualified teams were split into two pools of three teams. The winner of Pool A, Leicester Tigers 7s, were defeated 24 – 17 by the Pool B winner, Gloucester 7s in the final.[8]
2014
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The 2014 Premiership Rugby Sevens Series was the fifth edition of the competition, and the first to include the Welsh regions. The group stages ran on 26 July, 31 July – 2 August 2014 and the final at The Stoop, Twickenham on 8 August 2014.
Cardiff Blues 7s and Newport Gwent Dragons 7s qualified from Group A, played at Cardiff Arms Park on Friday 26 July. Gloucester 7s and London Irish 7s qualified from Group B, played at Kingsholm on Thursday 31 July. Harlequins 7s and Northampton Saints 7s qualified from Group C, played at Franklin's Gardens on Friday 1 August; and Newcastle Falcons 7s and Leicester Tigers 7s qualified from Group D, played at The Darlingon Arena on Saturday 2 August.
The finals were played at The Stoop on Friday 8 August. For the finals, the 8 teams contested a more traditional sevens style finals competition, consisting of quarter finals, and then a plate and cup competition. Newport Gwent Dragons 7s were defeated 12 – 5 by Gloucester 7s in the cup final. This was the first time a team has won successive series finals.
Sponsorship
- J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s Series: 2010-13
- Premiership Rugby 7s Series: 2014
- Singha Premiership Rugby 7s Series: 2015-17[9]
References
- ↑ Rules detailed on ESPN UK 'Live Premiership Rugby 7s Series' Broadcast July 15, 2011 - Attempting to find still screen shot or video clip
- ↑ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/news/a224403/espn-to-air-premiership-rugby-7s.html
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Premiership Rugby toast Singha Beer
