Premiership Rugby Sevens Series

Premiership Rugby 7s Series
Current season or competition:
2016 Premiership Rugby Sevens Series

Competition logo
Sport Rugby sevens
Inaugural season 2010
Number of teams 16
Country England
Wales (Since 2014)
Holders Wasps (2015)
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.

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:

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
2015 Newport Gwent Dragons 7s 17–14 Wasps 7s The Stoop, Twickenham
2016 Wasps 7s 31–28 Exeter 7s Ricoh Arena

2010

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

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

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 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

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 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

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 Darlington 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.

2015

The 2015 Premiership Rugby Sevens Series was the sixth edition of the competition. The group stages ran on 15 August 20 – 22 August 2015 and the final at The Stoop, Twickenham on 28 August 2015.

Newport Gwent Dragons 7s and Scarlets 7s qualified from Group A, played at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday 15 August. Gloucester 7s and Exeter Chiefs 7s qualified from Group B, played at Kingsholm on Thursday 20 August. Wasps 7s and Harlequins 7s qualified from Group C, played at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry on Friday 21 August; and Newcastle Falcons 7s and Sale Sharks 7s qualified from Group D, played at Kingston Park, Newcastle on Saturday 22 August.

The finals were played at The Stoop on Friday 28 August. The 8 teams contested a finals competition consisting of quarter finals, and then a plate and cup competition. Wasps 7s were defeated 17 – 14 by Newport Gwent Dragons 7s in the cup final. This was the first time the tournament was won by a Welsh team.

Sponsorship

References

  1. ↑ Rules detailed on ESPN UK 'Live Premiership Rugby 7s Series' Broadcast 15 July 2011 – Attempting to find still screen shot or video clip
  2. ↑ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/news/a224403/espn-to-air-premiership-rugby-7s.html
  3. ↑ "BT Group acquires ESPN's UK and Ireland television channels business" (Press release). BT Group. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  4. 1 2 "Local Derbies set to ignite J.P. Morgan Premiership Rugby 7s Series". Premiership Rugby. 4 July 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 "Fixtures – J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s – Previous Seasons". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 "Fixtures – J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s – Previous Seasons". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  7. 1 2 3 "Fixtures – J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s – Previous Seasons". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  8. 1 2 "Fixtures J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s 2013". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  9. ↑ Premiership Rugby toast Singha Beer
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