Source: Martin Seras Lima

7s into 15s won’t go

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Another Look at the Clash between Sevens and Fifteens

As a crowded 2022 advances, rugby players face an increasingly urgent dilemma.

The Sevens World Cup takes place in South Africa in September; the Fifteens World Cup in New Zealand in October. Can they possibly commit to both?

Thanks to delays caused partly by the pandemic, these two major events fall uncomfortably close together. They highlight the problems facing World Rugby as it tries to plot a global calendar that fits everybody’s wishes. It has some way yet to travel.

England’s Way Out

Very few nations can simply ask their players to choose one format or the other. The RFU has done so, but they are almost alone in having the strength in numbers to do so. And English players opting for Sevens then have to qualify again for a Great Britain squad to go to the Olympics.

Thus far the Red Roses 15s enterprise has proved the winner, gaining or regaining Alex Matthews, Ellie Kildunne, Emily Scarratt, Helena Rowland, Holly Aitchison, Jess Breach, Lydia Thompson and Mo Hunt from earlier Sevens commitments.

Other Nations’ Approaches

Other nations have had to find their own way out of the dilemma.

Not even France, similar in scope to England, has yet divided its squads off for good. Caroline Drouin and Chloé Jacquet are taking part in the current 6 Nations, though both were in the Sevens squad that took a surprise silver at the Olympics. The two French managements get on well with each other; the two squads occasionally meet up at Marcoussis for combined trainings. It’s felt that that helps all the players.

Other countries are trying to pick and choose, uncertain about the wisdom of asking their.leading athletes to extend themselves in a way that has not been attempted before.

New Zealand are desperate to regain their title when the 15s World Cup comes to their country for the first time. After the setback the Black Ferns suffered on the autumn tour of Europe, they felt the need to invite as many of their Sevens stars as were willing to make the switch. So great players like Tyla Nathan-Wong came back across to try their hand at the hastily rearranged Super Rugby Aupiki. Three other stars of the 7s world, Stacey Fluhler, Kelly Brazier and Portia Woodman, did go on tour. Of them only Fluhler could truly claim to have put in star performances. Will the addition of players of the proven quality of Sarah Hirini, Ruby Tui and Theresa Fitzpatrick do the trick?

Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, one of Ireland’s 7s stars, has just expressed (to BBC Rugby) her trust in the management’s wisdom in sorting out their individual schedules. Ireland are typical of so many nations whose player-strength hardly makes a total separation of the two squads a practical solution.
She was one of a number of the contracted 7s players who transitioned into last year’s 15s squad for the 6N. They are there again this year. Can they really be expected to be at their best in both the autumn tournaments? It’s a tough call.

Philip Doyle, Ireland’s greatest head coach, has demanded a permanent split between the two squads. The people who have to make the decision, the two current head coaches and David Nucifora, won’t find it so simple a matter.

The USA are in a similar position. The Eagles who came to Europe in the autumn were bereft of some of their finest players who were committed to the Sevens squad. We get an inkling of where American values lie in Emilie Bydwell’s change of job: she moved from overall boss of women’s rugby to head coach of the 7s squad. That may well be a first in the history of women’s rugby.

Rugby Australia took a different route. Working no doubt on the principle that governments will look more kindly on Olympic sports and throw money at them, they prioritised 7s over 15s. The Wallaroos have gained an outstanding record in 7s tournaments worldwide; the 15s squad has suffered in equal measure. They will be taking part in New Zealand, but few can fancy their chances.

Clashes coming close

And the crowded diary brings the problem much closer. The HSBC World Series moves to Canada next month just as the last round of the 6N takes place. One or other of those Irish sides will suffer.

Most players agree the switch-over is hard, the types of fitness required very different. And the two autumn events are at the highest level the game affords. Every team member needs to be perfectly in tune with all aspects of play, able to respond immediately to any game-situation.

Even when the new world order comes into operation (2024?), most nations will be facing the same acute uncertainties. Which way to jump?