The Cape Town leg of the World Rugby Sevens Series – provisionally scheduled for 4-6 December this year – has been cancelled due to the ongoing and dynamic global nature of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Dubai leg of the series – with which the Cape Town event is paired – has also been cancelled. The events were due to be the first two legs on the ten-tournament 2020-21 World Rugby Sevens Series.
World Rugby, its partners, SA Rugby and the Dubai organisers undertook a comprehensive consultation process and constructive dialogue to reach the conclusion.
The decisions were taken in line with relevant government and international public health authority advice and with the health and well-being of the rugby community and the wider public taking precedence. Cape Town – and Dubai – are due to return to a full series schedule in 2021.
‘This is a very disappointing development but far from unexpected,’ said Jurie Roux, SA Rugby CEO.
‘The Cape Town Sevens is a highly complex, international event that involves 28 men’s and women’s teams travelling from all the corners of the globe and considering the progress of the pandemic, both here and around the world, the prospects of being able to deliver our normal spectacular event were extremely slim.
‘The opening of air borders remains uncertain; the requirements of quarantining and the need for preparation time for teams really left us no choice. And even if we had been able to fly in 28 teams the likelihood is that we would have had to play behind closed doors, which held little appeal considering the unique nature of the event.
‘Over and above all of that, the health of players and fans was of paramount importance and with the current uncertainties in that regard all parties agreed on the need to cancel this year’s event.’
The decision follows the recently announced conclusion of the World Rugby Sevens Series (due to the pandemic), with New Zealand confirmed as both men’s and women’s champions.
The Singapore, Hong Kong, London and Paris legs of the series had to be cancelled, with World Rugby and its partners now continuing to focus on planning for the remainder of the 2020-21 series and the buildup to the Tokyo Olympic Games.
A working group chaired by World Rugby executive committee and council member John Jeffrey and including representatives of host and participating unions, players and coaches, has been formed to review contingency plans and evaluate preparations for the safe, secure and impactful return to international rugby sevens competition, and to ensure that the product is the best it can be for hosts, participating unions, broadcasters and commercial partners.
World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper said: ‘While we share in the disappointment of players, teams, fans, hosts and everyone involved with the popular events in Dubai and Cape Town, this is a prudent decision taken with the health and well-being of the global rugby community and wider society as our top priority and guided by the relevant government and international public health authority advice. We look forward to welcoming these wonderful destinations back to the series following this year’s hiatus.’
