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Dates and new qualification pathway confirmed as Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 looks to inspire a new generation of rugby fans

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Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 to take place from 9-11 September, 2022; New striking RWC Sevens 2022 brand and RWCSevens.com website unveiled; RWC Sevens 2022 will be contested by 24 men’s and 16 women’s teams; New qualification process will see non-qualified teams qualify only through regional competitions; 16 men’s places and 11 women’s places available for non-qualified teams; South Africa’s women secure automatic qualification as tournament hosts.

World Rugby (www.World.rugby) and hosts South Africa Rugby today confirmed Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 in Cape Town will take place from 9-11 September, 2022.

The eighth edition is the first to be hosted in Africa with organisers anticipating a very special and record-breaking event at the iconic 57,654 capacity Cape Town Stadium.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 will be contested by 24 men’s and 16 women’s teams.

The top eight men’s teams and top four women’s teams from the hugely successful RWC Sevens 2018 in San Francisco, USA, have already secured automatic qualification for the tournament in 2022.

The qualified teams for the men’s event are defending champions New Zealand, England, South Africa Fiji, Argentina, USA, France, Scotland, while defending champions New Zealand, France, Australia and USA have already booked their tickets to the women’s event in Cape Town. South Africa’s women will join them as the host nation.

Teams that have not qualified automatically will do so via their respective regional tournaments held in Europe, Oceania, Asia, North America, South America, and Africa. With 16 places available in the men’s tournament and 11 in the women’s from regional competitions.

The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series will no longer form part of the qualification pathway for Rugby World Cup Sevens. Regional qualification is expected to start in August of this year with further details to be announced at a later stage.

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “We are delighted to announce the tournament dates for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 alongside the unveiling of a striking new brand that truly captures the unique, fun and carnival spirit of the tournament.

“This is an exciting time for rugby sevens with less than 70 days to go until the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo and now with Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 also on the horizon. South Africa has a rich history in hosting world-class international rugby sevens events, and we anticipate that Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 will once again raise the bar for this unique tournament and be like no other.”

“South African rugby is eager to turn the vibrancy of this new brand into the vibrancy of a packed live event where we can showcase both our country and our passion for the sport,” said Mr Mark Alexander, president of SA Rugby. “This will be the first senior World Cup we have hosted since 1995 and we are determined to make it as special in its own way.

“The HSBC Cape Town Sevens has established itself as a major must-see event on our national sporting calendar, but we will be taking Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 to the next level.”

Alongside confirmation of the dates and new qualification pathway, the bespoke tournament brand, developed by World Rugby and SA Rugby, has also been unveiled.

The striking brand radiates unity, energy and passion and celebrates the spirit of rugby sevens that will ignite Cape Town’s finest rugby stage, as the top men’s and women’s teams from around the world compete to be crowned world champions.

World Rugby Chief Marketing Officer Marissa Pace today said “Our goal is to ignite Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 with a bold event mark, reflecting the fast pace and dynamic play of Sevens, but also the vibrancy of Cape Town and South Africa. With Table Mountain at the heart of the new logo, our team has also included elements within to represent both the event year and the iconic Cape Town Stadium. We look forward to watching the brand come to life via our partners and hosts South Africa Rugby.”

The tournament is expected to build on the massively successful 2018 edition hosted at AT&T Park in San Francisco, which attracted record attendance for a rugby event in the USA with a total attendance of more than 100,000 fans.

In addition, RWC Sevens 2018 attracted cumulative domestic and global broadcast audiences of more than 24 million and 31 million viewers respectively, which included a record-breaking live broadcast audience of 1.7 million on its final day. The tournament also leveraged 22.5 million social media video views on World Rugby channels over the course of the event.

Details of the ticket sales launch will be announced later this year.

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Sportingtech Extends Strategic Partnership with 888Africa

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Sportingtech, the multi-award winning iGaming platform provider, has extended its partnership with 888Africa for another three years – reinforcing a relationship that has rapidly become one of the most successful in African iGaming. The extension signals a continued commitment to trust, performance, and shared expansion ambitions in one of the industry’s most dynamic regions.

Since launching together in 2022, Sportingtech and 888Africa have established an effective operating partnership, successfully delivering top-tier sports betting and casino experiences across key African markets. During this time, 888Africa has recorded customer base growth of over 800%, underlining the strength of the collaboration.

As part of the renewed agreement, 888Africa will benefit from Sportingtech’s enhanced platform, featuring an updated sportsbook and casino UI/UX designed to drive deeper engagement and deliver strong performance in competitive markets.

Anthony Murphy, Commercial Director at Sportingtech, said: “This renewal shows the value of doing things properly – understanding local markets, building solid tech foundations, and working in true partnership. We’ve built a strong relationship with the team at 888Africa and are ready to keep pushing their growth further.”

Christopher Coyne, CEO at 888Africa, added: “Sportingtech has been a key part of our African success in Mozambique. 888 is now #1 for market share in Mozambique and without doubt the Sportingtech Platform has been a part of this result. The Platform has proven to be stable and high performing, we’ve made big strides in the partnership over the last while and I cannot speak highly enough about Tom Ustunel, Colin McDonagh and the whole team as partners.”

The post Sportingtech Extends Strategic Partnership with 888Africa appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Booming Games Partners with Bitville Gaming to Strengthen African Presence

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Booming Games, a top-tier developer of high-end slot content for the global iGaming industry, is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Bitville Gaming, a leading provider of innovative and compliant gaming solutions across South Africa and emerging markets.

This collaboration marks a significant milestone in Bitville Gaming’s ongoing mission to deliver world-class gaming content to licensed operators and regulated markets. The partnership enables Bitville Gaming to integrate Booming Games’ full portfolio of award-winning slot titles, featuring engaging themes, innovative mechanics, and premium-quality graphics into its content distribution network.

Booming Games continues to expand its global footprint, and this new partnership represents a significant step in bringing its games to emerging regulated markets. With a shared focus on integrity, entertainment, and compliance, both companies are well-positioned to offer enriched player experiences while meeting the highest standards of regulatory oversight.

This partnership is effective immediately, and integration efforts are already underway to ensure Booming Games titles are readily accessible to licensed operators across the region.

Solomon Godwin, Head of Africa at Booming Games, said: Partnering with Bitville Gaming offers an exciting opportunity for Booming Games as we expand our reach across Africa. This collaboration allows us to deliver our premium gaming experiences to a broader audience while continuing to meet the evolving needs of our players. We’re thrilled to introduce our high-quality, immersive titles, including Buffalo Hold and Win Extreme, 64 Gold Coins Hold and Win, Gold Gold Gold 5000, and Ronaldinho Spins to players on the Bitville Gaming platform”.

Andrew von Hoesslin, CEO at Bitville Gaming, added: “The Bitville team is delighted and thrilled to announce our partnership with Booming Games. Their innovative, entertaining and cutting-edge online slot games are a perfect fit for Bitville’s platform. We can’t wait to bring this exciting gaming experience to operators in the African market. This collaboration is a testament to our commitment to delivering the best in online entertainment.”

The post Booming Games Partners with Bitville Gaming to Strengthen African Presence appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Premier Bet Announces Francis Ngannou as its Pan-African Brand Ambassador

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Premier Bet, the leading sports betting and online casino brand, has announced the renewal and expansion of its partnership with Francis Ngannou as its Pan-African Brand Ambassador. This exciting partnership will see Francis Ngannou feature in Premier Bet’s upcoming marketing campaigns, promotional activities and CSR projects.

Francis Ngannou, former UFC Heavyweight Champion, professional boxer and now Chairman of PFL Africa has signed as Premier Bet & Partners Brand Ambassador until 2027. Renowned globally for his knockout power and inspiring rise from humble beginnings in Cameroon to the pinnacle of global combat sports, Francis Ngannou embodies resilience, ambition and African pride — qualities that strongly align with Premier Bet’s identity and mission.

Alexandre Qader, Director of Operations at Premier Bet Cameroon, said: “We are thrilled to extend the collaboration with our great champion Francis Ngannou and broaden his connection to the Premier Bet family and beyond. I think we clearly share the same visions. We have the same ambitions in Cameroon and now on a Pan-African scale. Francis’ passion, drive and humility make him an ideal partner for us as we continue to grow our brand and connect with our customers.”

Francis Ngannou said: “We’ve already been working together for three years and I’m excited to move forward in this collaboration, to deepen our relationships and get to know each other better. By expanding the partnership across the entire African continent, this solidifies my trust and commitment to the brand.

“Premier Bet is a company that shares my commitment to fair play, a passion for sport and a focus on the customer and their communities.”

As Brand Ambassador, Francis Ngannou will play an active role in promoting responsible gambling, participate in exclusive events, provide expert insights and champion CSR projects that aim to uplift African communities.

This strategic partnership is a significant milestone in Premier Bet’s journey on its mission to continue as the No.1 gaming brand in Africa.

The post Premier Bet Announces Francis Ngannou as its Pan-African Brand Ambassador appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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