World Rugby is relaunching and rebranding the international 7s circuit as the HSBC SVNS, with a smaller season and revamped schedule.
In announcing the new schedule today World Rugby touted the new plan, HSBC SVNS, as being "set to supercharge rugby’s global appeal as the ultimate festival of immersive experiences."
Launching in December 2023, eight HSBC SVNS festivals will comprise the 2023-24 international season, with all eight events featuring 12 men’s teams and 12 women’s teams sharing a global stage at the same location.
HBSC SVNS – Festival dates
Dubai, UAE – 2-3 December, 2023
Cape Town, South Africa – 9-10 December, 2023
Perth, Australia – 26-28 January, 2024
Vancouver, Canada – 23-25 February, 2024
Los Angeles, USA – 2-3 March, 2024
Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR China – 5-7 April 2024
Singapore, Singapore – 3-5 May 2024
Madrid, Spain – 31 May-2 June, 2024
HSBC recommits as title partner of the revamped series as rugby’s Olympic format targets new markets such as Perth and Madrid. Over a 12-year partnership, HSBC has been integral to the growth of the sport by championing the women’s game, putting over 558,962 individuals through grassroots programs and helping drive expansion to new markets
The HSBC SVNS branding is designed to appeal to a younger fan base that is looking for sports, entertainment, and cultural experience. The locals matters, too, with iconic destination cities part of the season.
Gone are some of the host cities in countries where rugby is immersed in major competitions during that time. The only Tier 1 rugby city to host will be Cape Town, and while Australia is a Tier 1 nation, Perth is not the center of Australia's rugby universe—that would more likely be Sydney or Brisbane. Notable, New Zealand, England, and France are not hosting anymore.
New Website: SVNS.com
“We are excited to be launching HSBC SVNS, the supercharged new identity for our Olympic format, with iconic destinations and a new concept on and off the field, broadening the reach and appeal of the sport beyond its traditional audiences," said World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin. “Our ambition is for SVNS to be at the forefront of our growth strategy, appealing to a younger, leisure-hungry audience. In eight iconic destinations played over seven months, we will bring together a truly immersive festival of rugby, music, food and experiences to create the ultimate weekend-long get together for young people, the hottest ticket and open a new era for the sport.
“For the first time in rugby sevens history, all locations will be unified under the same approach, meaning that the overall experience is the same and we can optimise commercial revenue for reinvestment, including playing our part in ensuring that sevens is a viable career path for the talented players and Olympians.
“We are delighted to be extending our long-standing and impactful title partnership with HSBC. They share our passion to grow the sport in new nations and communities and have played an instrumental role in advancing the reach and success of the sport, particularly at the community game level. We are excited by the opportunity we have in front of us to work with HSBC to take SVNS to the next level.”
