Rugby Sevens WR Challenger Series 2023

Monzanator · April 21, 2023

:POL women won all three pool matches.

JoshMartini007 · April 22, 2023

:GER v :TGA and :RSA v :BEL in the men's and women's finals respectively. Good performance by Belgium and Europe in general.

LDOG · April 22, 2023

:TGA :RSA won.

Is men's World Series next season going to have 12 team tournaments (ala Olympics) or they stay with 16 teams but with just 12 of them being core teams?

Edited April 22, 2023 by LDOG

JoshMartini007 · April 22, 2023

1 hour ago, LDOG said:

Is men's World Series next season going to have 12 team tournaments (ala Olympics) or they stay with 16 teams but with just 12 of them being core teams?

They will be 12 team tournaments

I'm still hoping for a proper 2nd division series, but I know the reason for the contraction is due to costs and a second division series would be held at a loss.

LDOG · April 22, 2023

1 minute ago, JoshMartini007 said:

They will be 12 team tournaments

I'm still hoping for a proper 2nd division series, but I know the reason for the contraction is due to costs and a second division series would be held at a loss.

Well, I don't think it's too bad. What is the W-L record of teams like Kenya, Japan, Canada this season? Something like 5-45?

Few years ago they were always decent but now they seemingly can't challenge anyone. We already saw Wales and Scotland getting cut after basically losing every game they played.

It's like sevens is becoming less and less competitive every year (or have the top teams improved too much?).

JoshMartini007 · April 22, 2023

18 minutes ago, LDOG said:

Well, I don't think it's too bad. What is the W-L record of teams like Kenya, Japan, Canada this season? Something like 5-45?

Few years ago they were always decent but now they seemingly can't challenge anyone. We already saw Wales and Scotland getting cut after basically losing every game they played.

It's like sevens is becoming less and less competitive every year (or have the top teams improved too much?).

The affects of COVID on sport still lingers. This season does show a stark difference between the top 10 and the rest of the teams. I'm not sure if this will continue or if it's a blip. What doesn't help is reducing game experience for the lower teams or else we turn into cricket where the rich get richer. As I said I'm okay with a robust 2nd division, but I'm not seeing that either.

Grassmarket · April 22, 2023

45 minutes ago, LDOG said:

Well, I don't think it's too bad. What is the W-L record of teams like Kenya, Japan, Canada this season? Something like 5-45?

Few years ago they were always decent but now they seemingly can't challenge anyone. We already saw Wales and Scotland getting cut after basically losing every game they played.

It's like sevens is becoming less and less competitive every year (or have the top teams improved too much?).

Difficult to say. For a country like :TGA they definitely have the players to be amongst the best, but all their best are playing pro Rugby League in Britain & Australia, so Sevens is a luxury they can’t afford.

NearPup · April 22, 2023

2 hours ago, LDOG said:

Well, I don't think it's too bad. What is the W-L record of teams like Kenya, Japan, Canada this season? Something like 5-45?

Few years ago they were always decent but now they seemingly can't challenge anyone. We already saw Wales and Scotland getting cut after basically losing every game they played.

It's like sevens is becoming less and less competitive every year (or have the top teams improved too much?).

Reducing the number of teams that get to compete at a high level isn't going to improve the situation. If anything it will further increase the gap.

LDOG · April 22, 2023

8 minutes ago, NearPup said:

Reducing the number of teams that get to compete at a high level isn't going to improve the situation. If anything it will further increase the gap.

I know this coming from a nation that has perennial token participation in several team sports: losing 3 million games to top teams doesn't make you any better. Work on grassroots level and internal competition are much more decisive factors.

Once that is in place, victories at higher levels come by themselves and after that the right to be part of the elite of the sport in question.