Toulouse hosts the World Rugby Sevens Series at Stade Ernest Wallon. A first for 7-a-side rugby. The discipline, a variant of traditional rugby, incorporates the essential principles of the 15-a-side game. There are, however, some differences. Explanations.

This is a first for Toulouse. From May 20 to 22, 2022, the Stade Ernest Wallon hosts the World Rugby Sevens Series. A series of international tournaments which takes place annually in the form of a championship between fifteen national teams. We will therefore see the biggest stars of a discipline ultimately little known to the general public. Whether men or women.

Rugby sevens was born in Scotland at the end of the 19th century and developed in the second half of the 20th century in Anglo-Saxon countries (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom), then in France. On October 9, 2009, rugby sevens became an Olympic sport and actually made its appearance at the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016, where the Fiji men’s team and Australia on the women’s side won the first medals. or.

The basic rules of Rugby 7s are based on those of the game to XV. But there are differences, the voices:

• A team cannot have more than 7 players on the field. The team consists of 3 forwards, 1 scrum half and 3 three quarterbacks
• The duration of a match is 14 minutes, ie 2 periods of 7 minutes separated by a half-time of 2 minutes. The final of a tournament is played over a 20-minute match (2×10 minutes)
• Conversion, dismissal and kick-off : these different kicks are done in the form of a drop kick, called drop-goal. Unlike rugby union, the team that scored kicks off the midfield with a drop kick.
• A penalty or free kick may be taken as a drop-goal or volley kick, but never as a place kick (like penalties in rugby union). XV for example)

• Closed scrums and hits: these phases of play take place with reduced numbers compared to rugby union. Closed scrums are played 3 against 3. The ball must be heeled and the players remain bound until the end of the scrum. Touches are disputed with at least 2 players, players in the alignment of each team.

The World Rugby Sevens tournament in Toulouse will be an opportunity to see the world’s best players in the discipline. Among them, Nelson Epée, who plays in the rugby 7s section at Stade Toulousain. Nicknamed by some “the rocket” because of his burst of speed, he is eagerly awaited on the lawn of the Stade Ernest Wallon.

If you then follow this contest and buy places, go to the site of the French Rugby Federation. Tickets are sold individually, from 10 euros to 50 euros, or in the form of packs.