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Rugby X is a variant ofrugby union, or more preciselyrugby sevens, in which teams are made up of five players, typically threeforwards and twobacks. Matches are much shorter, usually played for ten minutes, without any half-time break.

The game was invented byBen Ryan as variant of rugby sevens with more speed and action, and was first launched on 29 October 2019 as a six teams international tournament inThe O2 Arena,London.

The rules (law variations) are similar torugby sevens and are approved byWorld Rugby.^[1]

The game is intended as a fast-paced version ofrugby sevens, but contrary to this seven-a-side version, its rules vastly diverge from therugby union classic rules:^[1]

• The pitch is half-sized compared to rugby sevens, with 55m x 32m dimensions plus 5m run offs.
• There are five players per side plus seven rolling substitutes that are allowed to come in at breaks in play following tries.
• The only score is the try; there are no conversions, drop goals or penalties. Tries are worth 5 points unless touched down within the "max zone", a 15-m wide space in the middle of the in-goal area. Tries in that area are worth 7 points.
• Kick-offs are replaced by tap starts on the scored-upon team's 5m line, with the opposing team standing 10m back.
• Chip kicks allowed but not box kicks, up and unders or any kick over 10m in height (referee is supposed to receive real time notification using ball tracking technology)
• Lineouts are replaced by quick throws made by a substitute.
• Scrums consist of three players per team with no pushing. Hooking the ball is allowed.
• Drawn matches are settled by a ‘one on one’ involving one defender on 5m line and one attacker 30m from goal with a ball. The attacker has 10 seconds to score. It is played as per a sudden death penalty shoot out – if Team A scores, Team B must then score or Team A wins the match.

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The project was initially launched byBen Ryan, former Olympic gold medalist Fiji's coach, with the cooperation of bothWorld Rugby andRFU; the first tournament being held inLondon,England.^[2]

• 2019 Rugby X Tournament
  • Sides includedFrance,Ireland,United States andEngland national sevens teams for the women's tournament andFrance,Ireland,United States,England andArgentina national sevens teams plus aBarbarian F.C. invitational team for the men's tournament.
  • The women's tournament was won byEngland and the men's tournament byArgentina.

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