4 5 6 7

New Zealand

All Blacks sevens players will play in their first sevens tournament since March when taking part in the Red Bull Ignite 7s on 5-6 December in Mount Maunganui.

The contracted stars will join 60 up-and-coming sevens players from across the country, with the four men’s

Netherlands

Former Netherlands international Inge Visser has been named as the Wallaroos’ ‘coaching intern’ ahead of next year’s World Cup. She relocated to Australia in 2013 and has coached the University of New England Rugby Lions in Armidale, NSW. and four women’s captains picking their squads in a ‘draft’ on 30 November.

NZ Rugby sevens manager Tony Philp said: “The proposition of senior players being charged with picking their teams means we have something completely different on our hands.”

Last year’s men’s and women’s Ignite 7s was won by the Inferno team (below).

Peru

Former Peru goalkeeper Sisy Quiroz is now turning her attention to growing rugby in the country as chief executive of the Federación Peruana de Rugby. She says: “It’s a great opportunity to develop and generate positive things. We have a lot of potential.”

France

The pool draw for the 2023 World Cup will take place in Paris on 14 December. Seedings for the 12 qualifiers from RWC 2019 have been determined using the World Rugby rankings from 1 January 2000, given the impact Covid-19 has had on the international calendar. Bandone: South Africa, New

Zealand, England, Wales.

Two: Ireland, Australia, France, Japan. Three: Scotland, Argentina, Fiji, Italy. Four: Oceania 1, Europe 1,

Americas 1, Asia/Pacific 1.

Five: Africa 1, Europe 2, Americas 2, Final Qualifier Winner.