Sevens teams from Wales, England and Scotland will be replaced by Team GB men's and women's sides in the HSBC World Sevens Series next year.
Team GB will complete in the global tournament and use it as preparation for next year's postponed Olympic Games in Tokyo before returning to complete the Sevens season after the games.
Sevens programmes across the UK have been heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. In August, the Wales and England Sevens programmes were scrapped for the foreseeable future due to financial constraints.
However, Team GB will be able to compete next year after funding from the National Lottery was secured.
It doesn't appear the switch to a Team GB for the 2021 season will run any further than next year, with Scotland's Director of Rugby Jim Mallinder saying: "It is our intention that beyond this season both of our Scotland Sevens programmes remain unaffected by this development and very much look forward to qualifying for and sending our strongest squads to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022.”
Charlie Hayter will take the Team Leader role whilst also being an assistant coach across both men’s and women’s programmes. Scott Forrest will lead the women's side, with Tony Roques taking charge of the men.
Englishman James Rodwell, the most-capped Sevens player of all time, will act as assistant to both sides.
There is little indication of what the future holds for the Wales Sevens programmes. However, when Warren Abrahams was appointed as Wales Women's new head coach in November, his remit included a Sevens team.
When play was halted in March, Wales' men were propping up the competition in last place.
It's a programme, though, that has played a significant role in the development of players like Justin Tipuric, Rhys Webb and Alex Cuthbert.
