2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens – Men's tournament

2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens – Men's tournament
Tournament details
VenueAT&T Park
Dates20 – 22 July
No. of nations24
Final positions
Champions  New Zealand
Runner-up  England
Tournament statistics
Matches played52
Tries scored344 (average 6.62 per match)
Top scorer(s) Emmanuel Guise (37)
Most tries Joe Ravouvou (6)
Siviwe Soyizwapi (6)
← 2013
2022 →

The men's tournament in the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens was held at AT&T Park in San Francisco. New Zealand won the tournament and took home the Melrose Cup by defeating England 33–12 in the final; South Africa won the bronze by defeating Fiji 24–19. The tournament was dominated by the World Series core teams, which accounted for all eight of the teams that reached the quarterfinals. Ireland was the highest placed non core team in ninth, notching wins against core teams Kenya, Wales, and Australia.

The top point scorer was Papua New Guinea's Emmanuel Guise with 37 points. The joint top try scorers were New Zealand's Joe Ravouvou and South Africa's Siviwe Soyizwapi with 6 each.

Format

Unlike previous editions, the tournament will be played for the first time in a knock-out only format.

  • Teams in the Championship Cup will compete for the Melrose Cup and bronze medals.
  • Losing teams in the Championship Cup Quarter-finals will compete for 5th Place.
  • Losing teams in the Championship Cup Round of 16 (second round) will compete for the Challenge Trophy.
  • Losing teams in the Championship Cup Pre-round of 16 (first round) will compete for the Bowl.
  • Losing teams in the Challenge Trophy Quarter-finals will compete for 13th Place.
  • Losing teams in the Bowl Quarter-finals will compete for 21st Place.
  • Teams entering in the Pre-round of 16 (first round) in the Championship Cup will play a minimum of four matches and a maximum of five matches.
  • Teams entering in the Round of 16 (second round) in the Championship Cup will play four matches.

Teams

Main article: 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens qualifying – Men
Africa North America South America Asia Europe Oceania
Automatic qualification
 Kenya
 South Africa 		 United States  England
 France
 Wales 		 Australia
 Fiji
 New Zealand
2016–17 World Series
 Canada  Argentina  Scotland  Samoa
Regional Qualifiers
 Uganda
 Zimbabwe 		 Jamaica  Chile
 Uruguay 		 Hong Kong
 Japan 		 Ireland
 Russia 		 Papua New Guinea
 Tonga

Squads

Main article: 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens squads – Men

Draw

The twenty-four teams are seeded as follows:[1]

  • The fourteen core teams of the 2017–18 World Rugby Sevens Series who qualified are ranked as the first fourteen teams. These teams are seeded according to combined rankings derived from the 2016–17 World Rugby Sevens Series, and the first seven rounds of the 2017–18 World Rugby Sevens Series.
  • Places 15–24 are allocated to teams that qualified by way of the regional tournaments. These teams are seeded based on their rankings from the 2018 Hong Kong Sevens qualifier.
  • Teams ranked 1-8 receive byes and enter the Championship Cup in the Round of 16 (second round).
  • Teams ranked 9-24 enter the Championship Cup in the Pre-round of 16 (first round).
2017–18 Core Team Seeding
Pos
Event 
Team
 2016–17
Dubai
Cape Town
Sydney
Hamilton
Las Vegas
Vancouver
Hong Kong 		Points
total
1  South Africa 192 22 17 19 19 15 17 17 318
2  Fiji 150 15 13 12 22 17 22 22 273
3  New Zealand 137 19 22 13 15 13 10 15 244
4  England 164 17 10 10 10 10 13 1 235
5  United States 129 1 12 15 8 22 15 12 214
6  Australia 113 13 8 22 17 12 12 5 202
7  Argentina 90 5 19 17 7 19 10 13 180
8  Scotland 109 10 1 2 10 5 8 10 155
9  Kenya 63 10 3 10 12 10 19 19 146
10  Canada 98 5 15 3 5 7 2 7 142
11  France 66 8 10 8 3 8 1 8 112
12  Wales 73 3 5 7 2 5 5 3 103
13  Samoa 51 12 5 5 13 3 3 2 94
14  Russia 29 1 1 5 1 1 5 5 48
2018 Hong Kong Sevens seeding
Pos Team Round Group Rank Record PD
15  Japan Champion 2 5–1 +130
16  Ireland Semifinal 1 4–1 +126
17  Chile Semifinal 1 3–2 +34
18  Uruguay Quarterfinal 2 2–2 +12
19  Hong Kong Quarterfinal 2 1–3 –10
20  Uganda Quarterfinal 3 2–2 –20
21  Zimbabwe Quarterfinal 3 1–3 –42
22  Jamaica Pool stage 3 1–2 –41
23  Papua New Guinea Pool stage 4 1–2 –35
24  Tonga N/A

[2]

Match officials

World Rugby announced a panel of ten match officials for the men's tournament.[3]

Tournament

Pre-Round of 16

20 July 2018 (9) Kenya  19–7  Tonga (24) AT&T Park  
13:01 Try: Oyoo (2) 7'm, 9'c
Injera 12'c
Con: Oliech (1/1) 9'c
Agero (1/2) 12'
 Try: Tokai 5'c
Con: Muna (1/1) 6'
Cards: Tokai Yellow card 7' 		Referee: Matt Rodden (Hong Kong)
20 July 2018 (10) Canada  29–21  Papua New Guinea (23) AT&T Park  
13:23 Try: Jones 0'c
Douglas (2) 3'c, 7'm
Mullins 7'm
Braid 14'c
Con: Hirayama (2/5) 0', 4'
 Try: Tirang 4'c
Kalua 10'c
Peter 12'c
Con: Guise (3/3) 5', 10', 12'
 Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
20 July 2018 (11) France  50–0  Jamaica (22) AT&T Park  
13:45 Try: Veredamu 0'm
Valleau (2) 2'c, 3'c
Barraque (2) 6'c, 9'm
Bouhraoua 8'm
Boudehent 10'c
Parez 13'c
Con: Barraque (3/4) 3', 4', 6'
Riva (1/2) 11'
Parez (1/1) 14'
 Referee: Mike O'Brien (United States)
20 July 2018 (12) Wales  33–12  Zimbabwe (21) AT&T Park  
14:07 Try: Rosser 5'c
Morgan (2) 7'c, 8'c
Roach 9'c
Allen 13'c
Con: Davies (3/3) 6', 7', 8'
Treharne (1/2) 9'
Cards: Chitokwindo 1'c
Makombe 3'm 		Try: Rouse (1/2) 1'
 Referee: Richard Haughton (England)
20 July 2018 (13) Samoa  45–7  Uganda (20) AT&T Park  
14:29 Try: Perez 0'c
Fomai 3'c
Tuatagaloa 5'm
Motuga (2) 8'c, 13'c
Leilual 10'c
Solia 12'm
Con: Tupou (4/5) 1', 3', 8', 10'
Paulo (1/2) 13'
 Try: Okorach 7'c
Con: Wokorach (1/1) 7'
Cards: Okorach Yellow card 2' 		Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
20 July 2018 (14) Russia  21–7  Hong Kong (19) AT&T Park  
14:51 Try: Ianiushkin (2) 2'c, 5'c
Davydov 6'c
Con: Gaisin (3/3) 3', 6', 7'
 Try: Herbert 14'c
Con: Hood (1/1) 14'
 Referee: Damián Schneider (Argentina)
20 July 2018 (15) Japan  33–7  Uruguay (18) AT&T Park  
15:13 Try: Lilidamu (2) 1'm, 5'c
Tupou 4'c
Sakai 7'c
Soejima 13'c
Con: Sakai (4/5) 4', 5', 7', 13'
 Try: Mieres 9'c
Con: Lijtenstein 9'
 Referee: Jérémy Rozier (France)
20 July 2018 (16) Ireland  17–12  Chile (17) AT&T Park  
15:35 Try: Keenan 3'c
Dardis 6'm
O'Brien 14'm
Con: Dardis (1/3) 3'
 Try: P Verschae 1'c
Metuaze 11'm
Con: Torrealba (1/2) 1'
 Referee: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)

21st Place

 
Semi-finals21st Place Final
 
      
 
22 July 2018 – 9:00 – AT&T Park
 
 
 Tonga (24)31
 
22 July 2018 – 13:46 – AT&T Park
 
 Zimbabwe (21)5
 
 Tonga (24)14
 
22 July 2018 – 9:22 – AT&T Park
 
 Papua New Guinea (23)31
 
 Papua New Guinea (23)52
 
 
 Jamaica (22)7
 
23rd Place
 
 
22 July 2018 – 13:24 – AT&T Park
 
 
 Zimbabwe (21)33
 
 
 Jamaica (22)21

Bowl

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsBowl Final
 
          
 
21 July 2018 – 12:26 – AT&T Park
 
 
 Tonga (24)29
 
22 July 2018 – 9:44 – AT&T Park
 
 Chile (17)33
 
 Chile (17)20
 
21 July 2018 – 13:32 – AT&T Park
 
 Uganda (20)17
 
 Zimbabwe (21)10
 
22 July 2018 – 14:40 – AT&T Park
 
 Uganda (20)24
 
 Chile (17)20
 
21 July 2018 – 12:48 – AT&T Park
 
 Hong Kong (19)7
 
 Papua New Guinea (23)19
 
22 July 2018 – 10:06 – AT&T Park
 
 Uruguay (18)21
 
 Uruguay (18)5
 
21 July 2018 – 13:10 – AT&T Park
 
 Hong Kong (19)31 19th Place
 
 Jamaica (22)10
 
22 July 2018 – 14:18 – AT&T Park
 
 Hong Kong (19)24
 
 Uganda (20)38
 
 
 Uruguay (18)28
 

13th Place

 
Semi-finals13th Place Final
 
      
 
22 July 2018 – 10:28 – AT&T Park
 
 
 Kenya (9) 17
 
22 July 2018 – 15:24 – AT&T Park
 
 Samoa (13) 19
 
 Samoa (13)22
 
22 July 2018 – 10:50 – AT&T Park
 
 Russia (14)17
 
 Japan (15) 20
 
 
 Russia (14) 26
 
15th Place
 
 
22 July 2018 – 15:02 – AT&T Park
 
 
 Kenya (9)14
 
 
 Japan (15)26

Challenge Trophy

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsChallenge Trophy Final
 
          
 
21 July 2018 – 14:04 – AT&T Park
 
 
 Ireland (16)24
 
22 July 2018 – 11:12 – AT&T Park
 
 Kenya (9) 14
 
 Ireland (16) 27
 
21 July 2018 – 15:10 – AT&T Park
 
 Wales (12) 12
 
 Samoa (13)19
 
22 July 2018 – 16:08 – AT&T Park
 
 Wales (12)24
 
 Ireland (16)24
 
21 July 2018 – 14:26 – AT&T Park
 
 Australia (6)14
 
 Japan (15)17
 
22 July 2018 – 11:34 – AT&T Park
 
 Canada (10)35
 
 Canada (10) 7
 
21 July 2018 – 14:48 – AT&T Park
 
 Australia (6) 19 11th Place
 
 Russia (14)0
 
22 July 2018 – 15:46 – AT&T Park
 
 Australia (6)41
 
 Wales (12)35
 
 
 Canada (10)12
 

5th Place

 
Semi-finals5th Place Final
 
      
 
22 July 2018 – 11:56 – AT&T Park
 
 
 Scotland (8) 0
 
22 July 2018 – 17:02 – AT&T Park
 
 United States (5) 28
 
 United States (5)7
 
22 July 2018 – 12:18 – AT&T Park
 
 Argentina (7)33
 
 Argentina (7) 26
 
 
 France (11) 15
 
7th Place
 
 
22 July 2018 – 16:40 – AT&T Park
 
 
 Scotland (8) (a.e.t.)29
 
 
 France (11)24

Championship Cup

 
Round of 16Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsChampionship Cup Final
 
              
 
20 July 2018 – 21:15 – AT&T Park
 
 
 South Africa (1)45
 
21 July 2018 – 15:32 – AT&T Park
 
 Ireland (16)7
 
 South Africa (1)36
 
20 July 2018 – 19:03 – AT&T Park
 
 Scotland (8)5
 
 Scotland (8)31
 
22 July 2018 – 12:40 – AT&T Park
 
 Kenya (9)26
 
 South Africa (1) 7
 
20 July 2018 – 20:09 – AT&T Park
 
 England (4) 29
 
 England (4)19
 
21 July 2018 – 16:38 – AT&T Park
 
 Samoa (13)15
 
 England (4) (a.e.t.)24
 
20 July 2018 – 21:37 – AT&T Park
 
 United States (5)19
 
 United States (5)35
 
22 July 2018 – 17:46 – AT&T Park
 
 Wales (12)0
 
 England (4)12
 
20 July 2018 – 20:53 – AT&T Park
 
 New Zealand (3)33
 
 Fiji (2)35
 
21 July 2018 – 15:54 – AT&T Park
 
 Japan (15)10
 
 Fiji (2)43
 
20 July 2018 – 19:25 – AT&T Park
 
 Argentina (7)7
 
 Argentina (7)28
 
22 July 2018 – 13:02 – AT&T Park
 
 Canada (10)0
 
 Fiji (2) 17
 
20 July 2018 – 20:31 – AT&T Park
 
 New Zealand (3) 22 Bronze Medal Match
 
 New Zealand (3)29
 
21 July 2018 – 16:16 – AT&T Park 22 July 2018 – 17:24 – AT&T Park
 
 Russia (14)5
 
 New Zealand (3)12 South Africa (1)24
 
20 July 2018 – 19:47 – AT&T Park
 
 France (11)7  Fiji (2)19
 
 Australia (6)17
 
 
 France (11)22
 

[4]


 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens Men's winners 

New Zealand
3rd title

Tournament placings

Place  Team
1st place, gold medalist(s)  New Zealand
2nd place, silver medalist(s)  England
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)  South Africa
4  Fiji
5  Argentina
6  United States
7  Scotland
8  France
9  Ireland
10  Australia
11  Wales
12  Canada
Place  Team
13  Samoa
14  Russia
15  Japan
16  Kenya
17  Chile
18  Hong Kong
19  Uganda
20  Uruguay
21  Papua New Guinea
22  Tonga
23  Zimbabwe
24  Jamaica

Attendance

Over 100,000 fans attended the three day event, which was a Rugby World Cup Sevens record until the 2022 tournament.[5][6][7]

Player scoring

Tries scored
Rank Player Tries
1 Joe Ravouvou 6
Siviwe Soyizwapi
3 Justin Geduld 5
Luke Morgan
5 14 players 4
Points scored
Rank Player Points
1 Emmanuel Guise 37
2 Billy Dardis 32
Madison Hughes
4 John Porch 30
Joe Ravouvou
Siviwe Soyizwapi
Philip Wokorach

Source: World Rugby

See also

References

  1. ^ "Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 qualification explained". World Rugby. 23 February 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  2. ^ rugbybworldcup.com. "RWC Sevens 2018 tournament seedings". www.rwcsevens.com. Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
  3. ^ "Match officials announced for landmark Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018" (Press release). World Rugby. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  4. ^ "Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 - Tournament schedules". rwcsevens.com. World Rugby. Archived from the original on 1 May 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  5. ^ "RWC Sevens 2018 sets record rugby broadcast audience in USA". world rugby. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  6. ^ "NBC SPORTS SETS RECORDS WITH RUGBY WORLD CUP SEVENS COVERAGE". NBC sports group. August 9, 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  7. ^ "RECORD NUMBERS ATTENDED AFRICA'S FIRST EVER RUGBY WORLD CUP SEVENS IN CAPE TOWN". EWN. Retrieved 14 September 2022.