Rugby Confidential: Sevens circuit could lose teams in World Rugby move to reduce financial loss

Four teams could be cut from the global sevens circuit as World Rugby deals with major financial losses from the tournaments, including two fan favourite teams.

Perry Baker pictured playing for the USA, which could face the chop. Picture: AAP

World Rugby is considering slashing the number of teams competing in the Sevens circuit to eight, due to financial losses.

It’s one of a number of considerations the governing body discussed this week in state of the game meetings in the United Kingdom, and comes on the back of multimillion dollar losses across the various sevens events.

While it remains an Olympics sport, sevens has struggled to sell tickets to most global events, while incurring huge travel, accommodation and logistic costs.

Australia’s mens sevens team is vulnerable if a multi-tier system is introduced. Picture: AFP

World Rugby cut the men’s competition from 16 to 12 teams in late 2023, bringing it in line with the women’s series.

But now they will consider cutting both the men’s and women’s top line tournaments to the top eight teams, and then having a challenger series below that, allowing for a promotion-relegation system.

Australia’s women are currently ranked second and should never have relegation concerns, but our men, ranked sixth and often showing unpredictable form dips, are more vulnerable.

While no decision has been made on the path forward, the fact cuts to sevens is on the table shows how difficult it is for the sport to get cut-through outside of Olympic years.

Sevens is seen as an ideal avenue to engage the younger generation and then have them filter through the XVs game, which is struggling to attract juniors due to numerous issues, chief among them being parents concerned about concussion and neck injuries.

Perry Baker finds a break for USA, one of several teams facing the chop. Picture: AAP

If the sevens circuit is cut back to eight teams, those in the firing line in the men’s division include traditional crowd favourites USA and Kenya, while in the women’s division Brazil and Ireland – who both hold impressive wins over Australia – would also face the axe on current standings.

NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT

Concerns that a number of redundancies at the Western Force were an indication of wavering support by Tattarang are said to be premature.

It’s understood six full-time employees were recently let go at the Perth franchise.

We’re told it was due to the same downsizing process that the other three Australian franchises went through last year.

It’s no secret that Super Rugby is a loss-making competition, with only the Queensland Reds posting a slim profit in the past financial year across the Australian teams.

Philanthropist Andrew Forrest, founder of the World Series Rugby celebrates with Force players in 2018. Picture: AAP

There has been much speculation about whether billionaire backer Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest, who along with former wife Nicola own Tattarang – the major backer of the Force – will continue to plough money into the franchise, particularly with the NRL set to introduce a new team out west.

But insiders are confident that there will be a future for the Force even with a Perth-based NRL team.

DRAKE’S LOVE FOR REDS

Drake may have left tens of thousands of fans disappointed by suddenly cancelling his Australian tour, but not before he showed love to the Queensland Reds.

Rap star Drake wearing a Queensland Reds Pasifika jersey while on his Australian tour.

There was a tense subplot to the Reds versus Moana Pasifika game with a will-he or won’t-he guessing game on whether the Canadian rap star would turn up to watch the game last week.

It seems one of his security guards is a rugby-loving Queenslander and the potential hook-up was possible because Drake was in Brisbane for shows.

A private box was on hold.

In the end, Drake’s support acts Smiley and TVGUCCI did turn up to enjoy a fun night with back-up singers and crew.

The end result was Drake posting on Instagram wearing a Reds Pasifika T-shirt and giving “Briissssssvegas” a plug.

SEIB LEAVES

Australia A coach Rod Seib is leaving the Brumbies at the end of the season to take up a post at Irish club Connacht.

It’s another loss for the Australian coaching system, with Seib highly regarded.

Seib is attack coach for the Brumbies under Stephen Larkham, but will take on head coaching duties at Connacht.

Brisbane City coach Rod Seib. Picture: Marc Robertson

It follows Ireland’s raid across the ditch, with All Blacks XV and Chiefs head coach Clayton McMillan being poached by Munster.

Meanwhile, Waratahs academy coach Shannon Fraser is expected to join the Australia men’s sevens team as assistant coach to Liam Barry.

QUITE THE TURNOUT

The Waratahs are set to get their biggest media turnout for a match since their 2014 Super Rugby final victory over the Crusaders.

There is a 12-strong media contingent from Fiji who have been given accreditation for the Allianz Stadium press box on Friday, for NSW’s match against the Drua.

This beats the 11 Japanese journalists who travelled to Sydney in 2018 to watch their Sunwolves take on the Tahs.

The Tahs’ commercial department was last seen desperately running around town trying to find kava for the special guests.

DOC HONOURED

The annual memorial for one of Sydney’s most popular subbies rugby identities will be held next Friday, with ticket sales closing this week.

A legend of the Mosman Rugby Club – Michael “Doc” Kennedy – passed away in 2021 but his memory lives on in the grassroots game.

Docs lunch will take place at the Beuna on Friday Match 7, with Wallaby greats Rod Kafer, Warwick Waugh and Phil Kearns among the speakers. Ticket sales close Friday (February 28).

Originally published as Rugby Confidential: Sevens circuit could lose teams in World Rugby move to reduce financial loss