Definition
The 2008 London Sevens was a rugby union sevens tournament held in London, United Kingdom, as the final stop of the 2007–08 IRB (now World Rugby) Sevens World Series.
Overview
The event took place on 24–25 May 2008 at Twickenham Stadium. Twelve national teams competed in a pool‑stage followed by knockout rounds. South Africa emerged as the tournament champions, defeating Fiji 19–12 in the final. The victory contributed to South Africa's overall performance in the 2007–08 World Series, in which they finished the season second overall behind New Zealand.
Etymology/Origin
The term “Sevens” refers to rugby sevens, a shortened version of rugby union featuring seven players per side and shorter match durations (typically two seven‑minute halves). “London” designates the host city, while “2008” denotes the calendar year in which this edition of the tournament was contested.
Characteristics
- Venue: Twickenham Stadium, London.
- Dates: 24–25 May 2008.
- Participating Teams: Twelve core World Series teams, supplemented by invited sides.
- Format: Teams were divided into three pools of four; the top two teams from each pool, together with the two best third‑placed teams, progressed to the Cup quarter‑finals. Subsequent matches determined the Cup, Plate, and Bowl winners.
- Scoring System: Points earned at the event contributed to the cumulative World Series standings, influencing overall series rankings and qualification for the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens.
- Broadcasting: The tournament was televised internationally, enhancing the visibility of rugby sevens ahead of its inclusion in the Olympic programme.
Related Topics
- IRB Sevens World Series (2007–08 season)
- Rugby sevens
- Twickenham Stadium
- South Africa national rugby sevens team
- Fiji national rugby sevens team
- Rugby Union in England
- 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens qualification process