A record number of teams will be participating in this year’s Oceania 7s Championships which will reflect a global movement to achieve more equal participation of women and men in rugby.
The number of teams has increased from eight to twelve from last year while the amount of men's teams has increased from thirteen to fifteen from 2018.
Some of the big teams participating in the men’s division are Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Samoa and Tonga while teams such as Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Canada, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu are competing in the women’s division.
The event is a platform to use rugby to promote gender equality to prevent violence against women which is central to an agreement between Oceania Rugby and UN Women Fiji.
Oceania Rugby Women’s Director Cathy Wong says they are pleased to be partnering with the UN Women through the Pacific Partnership in committing to having more women and girls involved in Pacific Rugby.
Ending Violence Against Women Programme Specialist for UN Women Fiji Multi Country Office Abigail Erikson says Oceania Sevens is a great initiative to change and encourage more equal participation of women and girls.
She says that the UN Women is proud to work together with Oceania Rugby towards an equal playing field and demonstrate that there is no limit to what women and girls can do.
The Oceania Rugby 7s Tournament will be held in Fiji from the 7th to the 9th of November this year.
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