Rugby Sevens
Rugby Sevens is a variant of Rugby Union, sanctioned by the International Rugby Board (IRB), featuring 7 players (instead of 15), playing under substantially the same rules and on a field of the same dimensions as the 15-player game.While a normal Rugby Union match lasts upwards of 80 minutes, a normal Rugby Sevens match lasts in the vicinity of 14 minutes (allowing for injury time and so forth). Competition finals last somewhat more than 20 minutes; each half in a competition final is 10 minutes instead of the normal 7 minutes. However, Sevens scores are generally comparable to Union scores; scoring occurs with much greater regularity in Sevens, owing to the fact that the defenders are more spaced out than in Union.
The only major rule change from Union regarding events on the field is that conversions must be drop goals.
Rugby Sevens developed in Scotland in 1883. Owing to the speed by which matches are resolved and the minimal personnel requirements, there is hope that Sevens will be accepted for Olympic competition and spread amongst nations that are not traditional powers in Union.
One of the best known Sevens competitions is the Hong Kong Sevens, which now makes up part of the IRB World Series.