Rugby - Rules, Dates, Participants

Olympic Games 2021
:
Rugby will again be an Olympic discipline in 2021

Hamish Watson during a practice match.
Photo: AP/Themba Hadebe

The sport of rugby will also be represented again at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo. For the second time on the agenda is 7-a-side rugby. We clarify the most important questions about the game.

What are the rules of 7-a-side rugby?

There are seven players for each team. The objective is to get the ball into the opponent’s in-goal and put it there. If it succeeds, the team receives five points. The team can then score two more points with a drop kick through the bars at the edge of the field. Three points can also be obtained through a successful penalty with a drop kick or drop goal from the ongoing game. During play, the ball can only be passed backwards. If the ball carrier is encountered, he must immediately drop the ball to the ground. This means that he should not block it, but the tackler should also move away from the ball.

How long does a rugby game (7-man rugby) last?

Each consists of two parts of seven minutes each. Only in the final both halves last for ten minutes. After half-time, the teams change half of the game. Half-time lasts one minute. The pause lasts two minutes during the final.

How many teams participate?

A total of twelve teams have qualified for the game of rugby.

Does Germany participate in the rugby discipline?

No, both the teams (women and men) have already failed the qualification. Men in the quarter-finals against Ireland and against women in the preliminary round.

Which countries are represented in the rugby discipline in Tokyo?

Men: Japan, Fiji, United States, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Kenya, South Korea, Ireland.

Women: Japan, New Zealand, United States, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Great Britain, Kenya, Fiji, China, France, ROC (Russian Olympic Committee)

How long has rugby been in the Olympic Games?

Rugby was introduced as a new Olympic discipline at the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro. Subsequently, the Fiji men won the gold medal in the final against Great Britain. For Australia, the women managed to win against New Zealand.