World Sevens Circuit Reborn, Reimagined as HSBC SVNS
World Sevens Circuit Reborn, Reimagined as HSBC SVNS
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.”
Summertime Vibes
Off the field, SVNS will be all about summertime vibes, with sun, rugby, music, food, and wellbeing combine to attract a new generation of audiences.
Celebrating cuisine and culture, each SVNS destination will celebrate its unique local flavor, adding to the overall excitement and enjoyment of the events across the globe.
There will also be a range of competitive and social sports for all at SVNS festivals, from non-contact rugby to functional fitness. Every event will deliver something unique.
Men and Women Compete
Each event is designed to enable the world’s top players to be at their best. Following consultation with players, fans, broadcasters and unions, the competition format has been revamped. The top eight placed teams (based on cumulative series points) at the conclusion of Singapore SVNS will secure their opportunity to compete in the new winner-takes-all Grand Final in Madrid. So the points standings in the first seven tournaments will create the seedings for the final championship event in Madrid.
Madrid will also play host to the high stakes relegation playoff competition where teams ranked 9th to 12th will join the top four teams from the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series. The top four placed teams of this playoff will secure their place on next year's SVNS.
So instead of one team getting a chance to be promoted, four teams each season have a chance.
Not only will men and women compete at the same venue on the same weekend at each stop, but the men's and women's teams will also receive equal participation fees, with a 70% raise in World Rugby’s investment in participation fees as a commitment to sustainable growth.
“Through many years of working closely with World Rugby to showcase and support the sport around the world, HSBC has become synonymous with the World Rugby Sevens," said HSBC Group Chief Executive Noel Quinn. "I’m particularly proud of the new opportunities that we have helped to open up by taking the sport into new markets, supporting the growth of the women’s game and giving tens of thousands of young people the chance to try rugby for the first time. I’m delighted that our hugely successful partnership with World Rugby will continue for years to come, and that HSBC will be able to help the sport reach even greater heights.”
HSBC Ambassador and former USA 7s captain, Abby Gustaitis added: “Having recently come to the end of my HSBC SVNS playing career, I am so delighted that the next generation of female sevens players will be part of a series that is completely equal in terms of schedule and pay. HSBC has been a huge supporter of the growth of the women’s game and today’s announcement is a huge step in making rugby a sport that is fully equal for all.”
To mark the launch, a new Destination: SVNS campaign, has been unveiled celebrating the new SVNS brand. The new series follows a widespread and comprehensive consultation process, involving representatives from participating teams, existing tournament hosts, the International Rugby Players, player welfare representatives and fans.
