Ultimate Sevens unveils first marquee players ahead of inaugural Championship

The marquee designation represents the highest-value player contract tier in Ultimate Sevens and has been introduced to recognise some of the world's leading sevens players while helping grow the competition beyond the field.

In addition to their on-pitch roles, marquee players will be involved in content creation, media appearances, community programmes, commercial activity and fan engagement as the new competition looks to expand rugby sevens' global reach.

Ultimate Sevens Sports and Innovation Director Tom Mitchell believes the players will play a vital role in shaping the league.

"Marquee players are incredibly important to what we are building. They set the standard, bring quality, leadership and personality, and help people understand why sevens is such a special sport.

"This group represents so much of what Ultimate Sevens is about. Speed, skill, ambition and character. They are players who can change a game in seconds, but they are also people who can inspire the next generation and help take the Championship to new audiences."

Managing Director Barney Pascall said the marquee player model is central to the vision behind the new competition.

"Confirming our first marquee players is a major moment for Ultimate Sevens. From day one, our ambition has been to build a Championship around the athletes and to create a stage that reflects their talent, their value and their impact.

"The marquee player model is an important part of that. It gives us a way to recognise the highest value players in the Championship, but also to work more closely with them as leaders, storytellers and ambassadors for the sport."

The inaugural Ultimate Sevens season will feature six clubs, each fielding men's and women's teams, competing across four European cities in a fast-paced format designed to showcase the speed and skill of rugby sevens.