Crowds will be cut and fancy dress banned at the London-leg of the World Sevens Series ©AFP/Getty Images

Crowds at next year’s World Rugby Sevens Series event in London will be dramatically reduced while bars will close earlier in a bid to cull drunken behaviour, the English Rugby Football Union (RFU) has announced.

Following the competition in May, which saw masses of spectators descend on Twickenham Stadium, local residents complained of unsocial behaviour from supporters, prompting the RFU to act.

The attendance at the 2016 tournament will be capped at 35,000 per day - 40 per cent down on this year’s total figure of 113,000 over two days - and the time in which bars will be open will also be cut in an attempt to switch the emphasis to a more family-friendly event.

The governing body for English rugby have also opted to ban fancy dress for the event.

“At the RFU we take our relationship with the local community very seriously,” a letter sent by the RFU to Twickenham residents said.

“We listened to all the feedback and believe this is the right direction for next year's tournament.

“We will promote the event as a family friendly rugby event across both days."

United States celebrate victory in the 2015 World Sevens Series ©Getty Images
United States celebrate victory in the 2015 World Sevens Series ©Getty Images

The decision is likely to be met with criticism from the rugby fraternity in England, particularly as the announcement has been made during the ongoing Rugby World Cup, which is expected to further enhance the popularity of the sport in the country.

“We are responding to the concerns of the local community to which we have a responsibility,” an RFU spokesman added.

“It was felt there was need to make the London Sevens more about rugby than an excuse to party.”

The 2015 tournament in London, which brought the World Rugby Sevens Series to a close, was won surprisingly by the United States after they beat Australia in the final.

Fiji claimed the overall title thanks to their quarter-final victory over South Africa, giving them a boost ahead of the sport’s Olympic debut at Rio 2016.




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