Sevens rugby, which is a shorter game played on a full size pitch by teams of seven rather than fifteen, is still the biggest earner within New Zealand women’s rugby.
Black Ferns Sevens
Not to be outdone by their 15-aside peers, the Black Ferns Sevens are the current world champions, won gold at the inaugural Women’s Rugby Sevens tournament at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and have claimed five World Seven Series crowns since the competition’s inception in 2012.
From April 2018 to April 2019, the Black Ferns Sevens won a record 50 games in succession during 10 tournaments.
The success of this team is highlighted by dominance of the World Rugby’s Women’s Sevens Player of the Year category, with only players from the Black Ferns Sevens nominated for the award for the 2018 and 2019.
All Blacks Sevens
In the male arena, the All Blacks Sevens is one of the most successful international sevens teams in the world, having lifted the Rugby World Cup of Sevens three times and won the World Rugby Sevens World Series circuit 12 times.
First selected in 1973, the All Blacks Sevens also have four Commonwealth Games gold medals to their name.