Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013: Men and Women's Draw, Dates, Schedule and Teams
The sixth edition of the Rugby World Cup Sevens is set to take place in Moscow, and there is no shortage of contenders on both the men's and women's side of things. Sevens is a fast-paced form of rugby that breeds excitement, so even non-rugby fans should enjoy this tournament.
With rugby sevens being added to the Olympic program for the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016, the sport is catching on quickly and spreading across the world. The World Cup will be a great showcase for rugby sevens, and it is the perfect way to generate interest ahead of the Olympics in three years.
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Here is everything you need to know about the Rugby World Cup Sevens, including when and where to watch the matches, as well as which teams will be involved.
Where: Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia
When: Friday, June 28 through Sunday June 30
Watch: Universal Sports Network
Live Stream: RWCSevens.com
Groups
Men's
| Pool A |
| Australia |
| France |
| Spain |
| Tunisia |
| Pool B |
| South Africa |
| Scotland |
| Russia |
| Japan |
| Pool C |
| Samoa |
| Kenya |
| Zimbabwe |
| Philippines |
| Pool D |
| New Zealand |
| USA |
| Canada |
| Georgia |
| Pool E |
| Fiji |
| Wales |
| Tonga |
| Uruguay |
| Pool F |
| England |
| Argentina |
| Portugal |
| Hong Kong |
Women's
| Pool A |
| Canada |
| New Zealand |
| Netherlands |
| Tunisia |
| Pool B |
| Australia |
| South Africa |
| China |
| Ireland |
| Pool C |
| USA |
| Brazil |
| Spain |
| Fiji |
| Pool D |
| England |
| France |
| Russia |
| Japan |
Schedule
Men's
| Matchup | Date | Time (ET) |
| Samoa vs. Zimbabwe | Friday, June 28 | 7 a.m. |
| Kenya vs. Philippines | Friday, June 28 | 7:22 a.m. |
| New Zealand vs. Canada | Friday, June 28 | 7:44 a.m. |
| USA vs. Georgia | Friday, June 28 | 8:06 a.m. |
| Fiji vs. Tonga | Friday, June 28 | 8:28 a.m. |
| Wales vs. Uruguay | Friday, June 28 | 8:50 a.m. |
| England vs. Portugal | Friday, June 28 | 9:12 a.m. |
| Argentina vs. Hong Kong | Friday, June 28 | 9:34 a.m. |
| Australia vs. Spain | Friday, June 28 | 10:30 a.m. |
| France vs. Tunisia | Friday, June 28 | 10:52 a.m. |
| South Africa vs. Russia | Friday, June 28 | 11:14 a.m. |
| Scotland vs. Japan | Friday, June 28 | 11:36 a.m. |
| Samoa vs. Philippines | Saturday, June 29 | 1 a.m. |
| Kenya vs. Zimbabwe | Saturday, June 29 | 1:22 a.m. |
| New Zealand vs. Georgia | Saturday, June 29 | 1:44 a.m. |
| USA vs. Canada | Saturday, June 29 | 2:06 a.m. |
| Fiji vs. Uruguay | Saturday, June 29 | 2:28 a.m. |
| Wales vs. Tonga | Saturday, June 29 | 2:50 a.m. |
| Argentina vs. Portugal | Saturday, June 29 | 3:12 a.m. |
| England vs. Hong Kong | Saturday, June 29 | 3:34 a.m. |
| Australia vs. Tunisia | Saturday, June 29 | 3:56 a.m. |
| France vs. Spain | Saturday, June 29 | 4:18 a.m. |
| South Africa vs. Japan | Saturday, June 29 | 4:40 a.m. |
| Scotland vs. Russia | Saturday, June 29 | 5:02 a.m. |
| Zimbabwe vs. Philippines | Saturday, June 29 | 5:24 a.m. |
| Canada vs. Georgia | Saturday, June 29 | 5:46 a.m. |
| Tonga vs. Uruguay | Saturday, June 29 | 6:08 a.m. |
| Portugal vs. Hong Kong | Saturday, June 29 | 6:30 a.m. |
| Spain vs. Tunisia | Saturday, June 29 | 6:52 a.m. |
| Samoa vs. Kenya | Saturday, June 29 | 7:14 a.m. |
| New Zealand vs. USA | Saturday, June 29 | 8:20 a.m. |
| Fiji vs. Wales | Saturday, June 29 | 8:42 a.m. |
| England vs. Argentina | Saturday, June 29 | 9:48 a.m. |
| Australia vs. France | Saturday, June 29 | 10:10 a.m. |
| South Africa vs. Scotland | Saturday, June 29 | 11:16 a.m. |
| Russia vs. Japan | Saturday, June 29 | 11:38 a.m. |
*Courtesy of RWCSevens.com
Women's
| Matchup | Date | Time |
| New Zealand vs. Tunisia | Saturday, June 29 | 1 a.m. |
| Canada vs. Netherlands | Saturday, June 29 | 1:22 a.m. |
| Australia vs. China | Saturday, June 29 | 1:44 a.m. |
| South Africa vs. Ireland | Saturday, June 29 | 2:06 a.m. |
| USA vs. Brazil | Saturday, June 29 | 2:28 a.m. |
| Spain vs. Fiji | Saturday, June 29 | 2:50 a.m. |
| England vs. France | Saturday, June 29 | 3:12 a.m. |
| Russia vs. Japan | Saturday, June 29 | 3:34 a.m. |
| Canada vs. Tunisia | Saturday, June 29 | 3:56 a.m. |
| New Zealand vs. Netherlands | Saturday, June 29 | 4:18 a.m. |
| Australia vs. Ireland | Saturday, June 29 | 4:40 a.m. |
| South Africa vs. China | Saturday, June 29 | 5:02 a.m. |
| USA vs. Fiji | Saturday, June 29 | 5:24 a.m. |
| Spain vs. Brazil | Saturday, June 29 | 5:46 a.m. |
| Russia vs. France | Saturday, June 29 | 6:08 a.m. |
| England vs. Japan | Saturday, June 29 | 6:30 a.m. |
| Netherlands vs. Tunisia | Saturday, June 29 | 7:36 a.m. |
| China vs. Ireland | Saturday, June 29 | 7:58 a.m. |
| Brazil vs. Fiji | Saturday, June 29 | 9:04 a.m. |
| France vs. Japan | Saturday, June 29 | 9:26 a.m. |
| Canada vs. New Zealand | Saturday, June 29 | 10:32 a.m. |
| Australia vs. South Africa | Saturday, June 29 | 10:54 a.m. |
| USA vs. Spain | Saturday, June 29 | 12 p.m. |
| England vs. Russia | Saturday, June 29 | 12:22 p.m. |
*Courtesy of RWCSevens.com
Teams to Watch
Wales Men
As the defending Rugby World Cup Sevens champion, there is no question that a big target will be placed firmly on Wales. Every team in the tournament is surely looking to usurp Wales' spot on the pinnacle of rugby sevens.
Wales' win four years ago came as a bit of a surprise as the Welsh squad failed to qualify for the World Cup in 2005. Wales is a proud rugby nation, however, and it bounced back in a big way after the disappointment of 2005. Wales is clearly among the top contenders in this tournament, and it will rely heavily on Lee Williams, who is the only returning player from the 2009 World Cup team.
Australia Women
The first-ever women's Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament took place back in 2009 and Australia came out on top. The Aussie women certainly don't intend to give up their title, but teams like New Zealand and the United States will offer a stiff test.
Australia has plenty of experience with players such as Sharni Williams, Shannon Parry and Rebecca Tavo in the fold. The Aussies also have a stable of hungry, youthful players as well, so it is a great mix. Australia was a dominant force in 2009, and there is nothing to suggest that things will be any different this time around.
Argentina Men
It can be argued that no rugby sevens men's team has had more success without winning the World Cup than Argentina. The South American side finished second to Wales in 2009, finished fifth in 2005 and third in 2001. Argentina seems to make strides with each passing World Cup, so perhaps this will be Argentina's year.
Led by head coach Andres Romagnoli, Argentina will certainly be a force to be reckoned with in Moscow. Now that Argentina has established itself as a top rugby nation, however, it will be very difficult to remain among the elite.
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