The HSBC New Zealand Sevens

Rugby is one of the most popular team sports anywhere in the world. While both Union and League Rugby attract their fair share of bets and support, Rugby Sevens has become an even more dominating force in the online betting world. For those who are new to the sport, Rugby Sevens, more commonly known as just Sevens, is a variant of Rugby Union where each side consists of just seven players. Each half is only seven minutes long making the game an explosive combination of classic Rugby and big scoring opportunities.

The origins of Sevens Rugby dates back the 1800’s, but the modern World Series held its inaugural tournament back in 1999. Today, the HSBC World Rugby Sevens series is the largest and most important Rugby Sevens competition in the sport. The Wold Sevens Series consists of 10 international tournaments held in various locations around the world. A total of 15 core teams and one promoted team compete in the tournament which kicks off in December with the finals played in May.

A Surge in Popularity Since the Rio Olympics

Rugby Sevens made its debut at the 2016 Rio Olympic games, which triggered a massive surge in popularly with both supporters and bettors. Since the 2012/2013 season, a promotion/relegation system came into effect. This year, the 16 teams include Argentina, Australia, Canada, England, Fiji, France Kenya, New Zealand, Russia, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Uganda, USA and Wales.

The 2017/2018 Rugby Sevens World Series kicked off on the 1^st of December in Dubai. South Africa got their campaign off to a good start with a 1^st place while New Zealand got the second highest number of points for their runner up finish. The tournament then moved to Cape Town where New Zealand were able to take the lead with a clear win while Argentina came second and South Africa in third.

What to Expect in Hamilton

After a quick hop over to Sydney on the 26^th of Jan, the World Sevens will move to Hamilton in New Zealand on the 3^rd of Feb. The New Zealand Sevens is usually one of the most exciting tournaments of the year as the home side gain the support of their adoring fans. With New Zealand already holding a slender point lead, a home tournament is an ideal opportunity to get out ahead. With Australia 20 points adrift, the Sydney Sevens will not be enough to get the Australian’s ahead but could be a decisive tournament for the top 2 teams.

If you want to be part of the betting action you can get started betting straight away at top-class international online betting sites including Titan Bet, William Hill, 888 Bet, and Paddy Power.