The world’s newest sevens rugby competition arrives at Cardiff Arms Park this Saturday, 12 September, as the inaugural Ultimate Sevens Championship gets underway in Cardiff.
A new era of global sevens rugby begins in the Welsh capital this weekend, with Cardiff Arms Park preparing to host the first-ever Ultimate Sevens event.
The competition brings together six newly created global franchises, featuring some of the biggest names from the men’s and women’s sevens game, for a unique three-weekend Championship.
Cardiff will host the opening event of the inaugural Ultimate Sevens Championship, making Saturday’s action the first-ever competitive fixtures in the competition’s history.
A new era for sevens
Ultimate Sevens has been created to provide a new platform for elite sevens players during the growing off-season calendar, bringing together stars from different nations to compete alongside one another.
Rather than representing individual countries, players have been selected across six global franchises, each with their own identity and playing group.
Each franchise features both a men’s and women’s team, with squads built around marquee players, elite players and emerging academy talent.
Six franchises. One Championship.
The inaugural Ultimate Sevens Championship features six franchises:
Pacific Current – Head coach: Crystal Kaua
Albion Athletic – Head coach: Shannon Fraser
Foudre Bleue – Head coach: María Ribera
Sol Feroz – Head coach: Paco Hernández
Clan Taran – Head coach: Philip Snyman
Atlantic Novas – Head coach: Kelly Brazier
The squads feature a host of familiar faces from the international sevens circuit, including Australia’s Maddison Levi, New Zealand’s Jazmin Felix-Hotham, Canada’s Charity Williams, USA’s Nia Toliver, Fiji’s Reapi Ulunisau and France’s Carla Neisen.
The men’s squads also boast plenty of sevens pedigree, with the likes of Henry Hutchison, Maurice Longbottom, Selvyn Davids, Paulin Riva and Joseva Talacolo among those involved.
Cardiff Arms Park ready to make history
The historic Cardiff Arms Park will provide the backdrop for the beginning of this new chapter in sevens rugby.
The venue has a long-standing connection with rugby in the Welsh capital, and this weekend will see it host a brand-new global competition for the very first time.
Ultimate Sevens Managing Director Barney Pascall said the competition’s venues had been selected with local communities and fans at the heart of the plans.
“The venues have been chosen carefully for their connection to the local communities and their ambition to deliver a first-class experience for fans.”
He added that the Championship’s ambition is to bring world-class athletes to brilliant venues and introduce the short-form game to new audiences.
Following the opening event in Cardiff, the Championship will continue in Biarritz before reaching its conclusion at Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford, London, on Thursday, 24 September.
Tickets are available now – don’t miss the beginning of a brand-new chapter in global sevens rugby.