Rugby Sevens cut from 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow

Rugby Sevens will not feature in the 2026 Commonwealth Games after the event was moved from Victoria, Australia to Glasgow, Scotland.

The decision to cut Rugby Sevens, along with several other sports, comes as part of Glasgow's efforts to manage rising costs after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew from hosting duties.

Glasgow, which previously hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2014, will now stage the 2026 edition but with a significantly reduced sports lineup.

While the 2014 event featured 17 sports, the 2026 Games will include only 10, with Rugby Sevens, mountain biking, road cycling, and rhythmic gymnastics among the sports being axed. Artistic gymnastics will remain part of the event.

Rugby Sevens, which sold out Ibrox Stadium during the 2014 Games, has seen changes in its structure and popularity in recent years. With the disbandment of Scotland's Rugby Sevens team, as well as the England and Wales teams, the creation of Team Great Britain has struggled to maintain the same competitive edge and fan following.

Additionally, World Rugby has downsized the World Circuit, excluding Scotland from the circuit.

The exclusion of Rugby Sevens from the 2026 Commonwealth Games is a significant blow to teams like Canada, which has consistently performed well, finishing fourth in both the 2018 and 2022 editions.

Since Men’s Rugby Sevens was introduced to the Commonwealth Games in 1998, Canada has participated in every edition, alongside other teams from the Americas, including the Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, and Guyana.