# sevens

/ˈsɛvənz/ (US) · /sˈɛvənz/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sevens
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

a fast version of rugby played with only seven players on each team. The games are much shorter and more exciting to watch than the standard version.

For teachers: a variant of rugby union or rugby league played with seven players per side instead of fifteen or thirteen. Matches typically consist of two seven-minute halves, emphasizing speed and open-field play.

## Examples

- We spent the weekend watching the international sevens tournament.
- Because sevens requires constant sprinting across a full-sized pitch, the players must have incredible cardiovascular fitness.
- The inclusion of sevens in the Olympic program has significantly increased the sport's global profile, attracting nations that traditionally lacked the depth for a full fifteen-man squad.

## Usage notes

- Usually treated as an uncountable noun when referring to the sport itself; often functions as a modifier in compound nouns like 'sevens player' or 'sevens tournament'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.