Organised by World Rugby, it currently consists of men's and women's tournaments, and is the highest level of competition in the sport outside of the Summer Olympics.

Hong Kong, which had played a major role in the international development of the Sevens game, hosted the 1997 event.

At the 2009 tournament, Wales, Samoa, Argentina and Kenya combined to stun the rugby world by defeating the traditional powerhouses of New Zealand, England, South Africa and Fiji in the quarter-finals, guaranteeing a new Melrose Cup winner.

However, the submission failed because committee members felt IRB needed to improve promotion of the women's game.

[citation needed] To that end, the IRB implemented the first women's Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament in 2009.

[2] The 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens was held in Dubai during the first weekend of March 2009 and included a separate women's tournament.

[3] The adoption of rugby sevens and golf was recommended to the full International Olympic Committee council by its executive board in August 2009.

[7][8] The IRB originally intended to discontinue Rugby World Cup Sevens after the 2013 edition, in favour of the Olympic tournament.