Rugby union was introduced as a World Games sport for men at the 2001 World Games in Akita. Women's rugby competition has not yet been introduced.
The 2013 World Games are expected to be the last to feature the sport, as it will become a full Olympic event in 2016.
The sport is contested in the sevens format, in which only seven players per side feature, instead of the full 15-man format.
| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 Akita[1] | Fiji | Australia | New Zealand |
| 2005 Duisburg | Fiji | South Africa | Argentina |
| 2009 Kaohsiung[2] | Fiji | Portugal | South Africa |
| 2013 Cali |
|
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