Rugby sevens, also known as
seven-a-side,
Sevens or
VIIs, is a variant of
rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by
World Rugby (WR), the body responsible for rugby union worldwide. The game originated in
Melrose where the
Melrose Sevens tournament is still played annually. The game is popular at all levels, with amateur and club tournaments generally held in the summer months. Sevens is one of the most well distributed forms of rugby, and is popular in parts of Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, and especially in the South Pacific.