Rugby Sevens is a high-speed version of traditional rugby. It’s played on the same size field, but with fewer than half the players. This simple change creates a fast, wide-open game that’s exciting to watch and play.

The game was invented in 1883 in Melrose, Scotland, by a local butcher named Ned Haig. He and his rugby club were looking for a way to raise money, so they created a one-day tournament with shorter games and fewer players. The idea quickly caught on, and Rugby Sevens began to spread.

The most significant difference between Rugby Sevens and traditional rugby union is the number of players. With only seven players per team instead of fifteen, there's a lot more space on the field. This space favors speed and agility over brute force, leading to more running, passing, and scoring.

The game's structure is also built for speed. Matches consist of two seven-minute halves, with a two-minute break at halftime. In contrast, a 15-a-side game has 40-minute halves. Even the way points are scored is faster. After a try, conversions must be taken as a drop kick, where the player drops the ball and kicks it on the bounce. This has to be done quickly, keeping the game moving.

Rugby Sevens has grown into a major international sport. The premier annual competition is the HSBC SVNS series, a global tour where national teams compete in tournaments around the world. The sport reached a massive audience when it was introduced to the Olympic Games in 2016, cementing its place as a globally recognized sport.

The objective is simple: score more points than your opponent. The primary way to score is by grounding the ball in the opponent's in-goal area, which is called a try. A try is worth five points. After a try, the scoring team has an opportunity to kick the ball through the H-shaped posts for an additional two points, known as a conversion.

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With its simple rules and non-stop action, Rugby Sevens is a great introduction to the sport of rugby.