RULES OF RUGBY SEVENS
A fast, high-scoring version of traditional rugby, sevens is played with two teams of 7 players who have 14 minutes to advance the ball into their opponent’s area of the field (pitch) and touch it to the ground for a score worth 5 points (try). As in the 15-a-side version of the sport, participants may only pass the ball backward or sideways with no blocking allowed; using phases such as lineouts, mauls, rucks, and scrums to retain possession during play. Kicking is the only way both teams can move the ball forward. Like rugby fifteens, the play also continues in rugby sevens.
After each try, worth 5 points, the scoring team is given an opportunity to kick the ball through the posts for an additional 2 points (conversion). Certain penalties also earn the non-offending team a kick through the posts, worth 3 points (penalty goal) if made. However, penalty goals are rarely seen in sevens.
