World Rugby announced on Wednesday that there would be no Dubai or Cape Town events for the 2021 World Series Sevens. The governing body made the decision to declare New Zealand champions for the 2020 season in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and said that its focus is now on the build-up to the Olympic Games in Tokyo – and finding a way to arrange the 2021 World Series.
In a statement, World Rugby said the decision was made after a “comprehensive consultation process and constructive dialogue with the host organisations”.
The Dubai and Cape Town Sevens were provisionally scheduled for 26-28 November and 4-6 December 2020 respectively.
The statement read:
The decisions were taken in line with relevant government and international public health authority advice?and?with the health and well being of the rugby community and the wider public taking precedence. Both hosts are due to return to a full Series schedule beyond this season.
World Rugby and its partners continue to focus on delivering the remainder of the 2021 men’s and women’s Series, while working in full collaboration with all stakeholders to closely monitor the ongoing and challenging COVID-19 environment.
The consultation process is ongoing, considering the global nature of the World Series Sevens.
A working group chaired by World Rugby Executive Committee and Council member John Jeffrey and including representatives of host and participating unions, players and coaches, will review contingency plans and evaluate preparations for the safe, secure and impactful return to international rugby sevens competition.
The working group will also review opportunities for the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series events in 2021. The second division of international rugby sevens was launched in 2020 to promote the global growth of the game and provide a pathway for emerging nations to gain promotion to the World Series event.
With 21 of the 24 teams already qualified for the Olympic rugby sevens competition in Tokyo, planning for the Olympic Repechage final qualification event in the first half of 2021 is ongoing.
World Rugby Chief Executive Brett Gosper said:
“While we share in the disappointment of players, teams, fans, hosts and everyone involved with the popular events in Dubai and Cape Town, this is a prudent decision taken with the health and wellbeing of the global rugby community and wider society as our top priority and guided by the relevant government and international public health authority advice. We look forward to welcoming these wonderful destinations back to the Series following this year’s hiatus.
“Through the Sevens Working Group we are continuing to work very hard in close collaboration with all stakeholders, including host and participating unions, International Rugby Players, and our commercial and broadcast partners to achieve our shared objective of a spectacular return to World Rugby Sevens Series action as soon as it is safe to do so and we continue to plan and prepare for all remaining events in the 2021 Series.
“Our research demonstrates that rugby sevens is an important driver of global growth for our sport, particularly in emerging nations where it attracts new fans with its dynamic, skilful and spectacular style. Rugby sevens is a key priority for our organisation and as we prepare for the Tokyo Olympic Games hot on the heels of the success of the Rugby World Cup in Japan, 2021 has the potential to provide another huge step-change in the awareness and participation of rugby sevens around the globe.”