Sevens is a union format, but shorter matches, fewer players, quicker restarts, and different card timing make it worth a separate hub. This section keeps sevens-specific explainers distinct from the 15-a-side rugby union pages.
26 plain-English explainers, grouped by the kind of decision you need to settle.
Players, playing areas, equipment, positions, and the basic structure of the sport.
Rugby sevens player equipment and clothing rules explained: required kit, permitted padding, studs, mouthguards, jewellery, dangerous items, blood.
Read explainerRugby sevens team size, squads, and positions explained: seven players on the field, up to five replacements, event squads, common roles, cards.
Read explainerHow points, goals, results, tied contests, and competition formats are decided.
Rugby sevens scoring rules explained: five-point tries, drop-kick conversions, penalty tries, penalty goals, drop goals, timing limits, and common mistakes.
Read explainerRugby sevens tournament points and pool tiebreakers explained: match points, points difference, tries difference, head-to-head, forfeits, and common ranking.
Read explainerIllegal contact, violations, cards, discipline, and how sanctions are applied.
Penalty kicks and free kicks in rugby sevens explained: tap kicks, kicks to touch, penalty goals, free-kick limits, 10-metre retreat.
Read explainerRed cards and foul play in rugby sevens explained: dangerous play, serious misconduct, two yellows, player removal, replacement rules.
Read explainerRugby sevens obstruction, blocking, and crossing explained: legal decoy lines, illegal screens, offside obstruction, kick chases, sanctions.
Read explainerRugby sevens penalty try rules explained: when seven points are awarded, what counts as preventing a probable try, cards, no conversion, restarts.
Read explainerRugby sevens yellow cards explained: two-minute sin-bin periods, why cards are so costly, repeated infringements, foul play, and return timing.
Read explainerClocks, substitutions, restarts, replay systems, reviews, and official procedure.
Rugby sevens in-goal, touch, and dead-ball rules explained: when the ball is out, how tries are judged, touch-in-goal, held-up calls, restarts.
Read explainerRugby sevens kick-offs and restarts explained: who kicks after a score, drop-kick requirements, 10-metre restarts, free-kick sanctions, drop-outs, timing.
Read explainerRugby sevens referee signals and whistle calls explained: penalties, free-kicks, scrums, advantage, tries, touch judge flags, cards, time off.
Read explainerRugby sevens substitution and replacement rules explained: seven players, five replacements, dead-ball procedure, injuries, blood replacements, sin bins.
Read explainerThe live-play rulings, sequences, and judgment calls that decide what happens next.
Knock-ons and forward passes in rugby sevens explained: what counts as a knock forward, how forward passes are judged, charge-downs, sanctions, advantage.
Read explainerRugby sevens lineouts explained: when they happen, who throws in, quick throws, 15-second formation, numbers, lifting, offside lines, sanctions.
Read explainerMauls in rugby sevens explained: when a maul forms, how players join, offside lines, use-it calls, collapsed mauls, turnovers, penalties.
Read explainerQuick tap penalties in rugby sevens explained: legal tap requirements, correct mark, 10-metre retreat, defenders inside 10, referee management, examples.
Read explainerRucks and tackles in rugby sevens explained: tackle responsibilities, ruck formation, release rules, offside lines, turnovers, penalties.
Read explainerRugby sevens advantage rule explained: tactical and territorial advantage, when referees play on, when they come back, no-advantage exceptions.
Read explainerRugby sevens captain and referee communication rules explained: who may speak to the referee, what captains can ask, dissent, warnings, cards, stoppages.
Read explainerRugby sevens kicking from open play explained: punts, grubbers, chips, kick chases, offside players, the 10-metre law, kicks to touch, in-goal outcomes.
Read explainerRugby sevens mark rule explained: when a mark can be claimed, the 22-metre and in-goal requirements, direct catches, restart exceptions, free-kick outcomes.
Read explainerRugby sevens offside rules explained: open-play offside, kick chasers, the 10-metre law, rucks, mauls, scrums, lineouts, sanctions.
Read explainerRugby sevens uncontested scrums explained: when scrums stop being contested, what changes, player safety duties, sevens-specific limits.
Read explainerRugby sevens scrums explained: when scrums happen, why they use three players, how the ball is put in, offside lines, resets, penalties.
Read explainerRugby sevens match timing explained: seven-minute halves, half-time, finals, extra time, tournament clocks, restarts, and why timing feels different from 15s.
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