‘Leadership not fit for purpose’ – World Rugby accused of ‘Machiavellian’ behaviour with latest Sevens revamp
Argentina pose with their league trophy in Singapore last month
Former USA 7s coach Mike Friday has blasted World Rugby for their “Machiavellian” behaviour following the governing body’s latest controversial reimagining of the struggling World Series.
Rugby’s shortened game format at last year’s Paris Olympics generated positive headlines around the world for the level of entertainment that was generated across six days of action in front of a sold out Stade de France. However, this popularity from the quadrennial IOC-organised event hasn’t translated over to the annual World Rugby-run series.
It was 2023/24 when the Alan Gilpin-led WR organisation launched a revamped sevens circuit featuring eight joint men’s and women’s tournaments staged around the globe, culminating in a grand final event in Madrid that also accommodated a promotion/regelation series involving countries from the second tier Challenger event.
This reimagining, which included the poorly received gambit of marketing of the sport under a new SVNS brand name, wasn’t a financial success. For example, ticket sales at a number of tournaments were embarrassingly low and massive budgetary losses accrued.
This financial hardship has continued in the current 2024/25 season which this weekend stages its finals weekend in Los Angeles. Ahead of this season-ending event in America, World Rugby confirmed on Thursday that it now plans to cut the number of teams on the elite men’s and women’s circuit from 12 to eight next season in order to curb costs.
“Do the right thing WR: step aside!”
This latest reimagining has caused consternation amongst some long-serving advocates of the Sevens code, including Friday, who played for England before moving into coaching and taking charge of England, Kenya and USA teams in a distinguished career.
In a series of tweets published on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, Friday, who last year stepped away from coaching the USA after a decade-long stint, wrote – “Observations on World Rugby Sevens Series Re-Format:
“Having read the press release it just more WR spin… you mean “shaped” through Machiavellian consultation and underhandedness. Investing £10m – you mean the money IOC allocates to WR!!!
“A PowerPoint competition that looks pretty in theory on paper, definitely not expanded and in reality a disaster for all Tier 2 and Tier 3 players and programs and offers anything but a clear pathway.
“The gap will just get wider… all so the select Tier 1 unions can invest less in 7s and still remain at the Top 7s table. Shame on you World Rugby. The format isn’t the issue, it’s your event strategy and 7s leadership who are not fit for purpose.
“How about WR stops trying to be an events business before killing the 7s completely? Do the right thing: step aside and just be the governing body. Vernon Pugh and Beth Coalter will be turning in their graves right now.”
2/4
A PowerPoint competition that looks pretty in theory on paper, definitely not expanded 🤥 and in reality a disaster for all Tier 2 and Tier 3 players and programs and offers anything but a clear pathway.— Mike Friday (@MikeFriday09) May 1, 2025
Replying to Friday, Keith Chapman suggested: “‘The IOC should be lobbied to ask some serious questions of WR integrity when it comes to the 7s program and there level of interest and investment. After all it has been one of the biggest teams events at the past Olympics!’ – Comment from a former coach to me.”
The hugely respected Friday wasn’t alone in his condemnation of World Rugby’s latest plan. Before the format changes were confirmed, USA player Stephen Tomasin posted a video on social media outlining his disenchantment with what was happening to a sport where only a few short years ago had 16 teams on the elite men’s circuit and a larger number of tournaments.
Responding to Tomasin’s video, Dan Amosa commented: “The sevens circuit had been building for a while and done a lot of things for the sport globally, but this has all come crashing down the last couple of seasons. The timing is horrible too because now that 7s rugby is an Olympic sport, it should be expanding its footprint.”
A little bit long winded and I forgot a couple points but tried to explain where things are at the best I could pic.twitter.com/YjYNxfedOZ
— Stephen Tomasin (@ScubaSteve_09) May 1, 2025
