World Rugby Announces 2023-24 7s Series Tournaments: Vancouver Feb 23-25 2024
World Rugby finally released its new format for the 2023-24 7s Series with 8 tournaments world wide with 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams competing at each tournament… and, yes, Vancouver made the list. Who didn’t make the list, England, France, NZ.
2023-24 World Rugby 7s Venues
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 SAR, China 5-7 April 2024
Singapore, Singapore 3-5 May 2024
Madrid, Spain 31 May-2 June, 2024
Last year it was LA first in February and Vancouver in March, this coming season that order is reversed.
The entire production is labeled as the HSBC SVNS, at first glance readers may be wondering what the acronym SVNS stands for in the HSBC SVNS, as the HSBC part is ‘Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation’. Then it dawns that SVNS is just SeVeNS with the vowels removed, how clever [sarcasm font]. World Rugby markets it as, “being more relevant and accessible to younger, leisure-hungry audiences” and “Off the field, SVNS is all about summertime vibes. Sun-soaked days and unique experiences as rugby, music, food, and wellbeing combine to attract a new generation of audiences.” Summertime in Vancouver in February is always a treat! Seriously though the inside atmosphere at BC Place is where the action will be in Vancouver and rugby fans, or general party fans even, usually have a great time. Welcome back to VNCVR HSBC SVNS.
from Rugby Canada
The City of Vancouver has been confirmed as one of eight destinations that comprise HSBC SVNS, World Rugbys revamped and rebranded global celebration of rugby sevens.
Taking place February 23-25, 2024 at BC Place Stadium on the traditional lands of the x?m??kw?y??m (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:l? and S?l?ílw?ta?/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, this will be the tenth consecutive year that a world-class sevens event has been hosted in Canada.
This will also be the second year that Vancouver has hosted a fully combined womens and mens tournament, featuring three days of thrilling sevens action, fancy dress, and the ultimate sports experience and giving fans the opportunity to cheer on Canadas teams under one roof.
Rugby Canada is excited to continue our annual tradition of hosting an international sevens event in Vancouver, said Nathan Bombrys, Rugby Canada CEO. This tournament celebrates our sport and helps to grow the game, providing an opportunity for our Canadian national team players to inspire girls and boys across the country. We are grateful for the support of Sport Hosting Vancouver, the Province of British Columbia , the Government of Canada, our incredible sponsors and World Rugby, as well as our dedicated fanbase that brings a uniquely electric atmosphere to BC Place.
Events like this play a powerful role in contributing to the vibrancy of our communities and bring great opportunities for businesses and people in the tourism industry, said Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. B.C. has a remarkable reputation as a global destination for sport hosting and its so exciting to be able to welcome the HSBC Vancouver SVNS players, coaches and fans to BC Place again in 2024.
We are excited to once again host the HSBC Rugby Sevens combined womens and mens tournament, said Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim. This is a great opportunity for our city to showcase our passion for rugby and our hospitality to the world. I look forward to cheering our Canadian teams on as they score some amazing tries in front of their home crowd!
World Rugbys HSBC SVNS aims to deliver the ultimate in immersive experiences, a unique festival of sport, entertainment and culture set against stunning backdrops around the world. With the first event launching in December 2023, all eight SVNS festivals will feature 12 womens and 12 mens teams.
More information on the 2024 HSBC Vancouver SVNS will be released in the coming months, with ticket on-sale scheduled for the fall. To receive the most up to date information, sign up for our newsletter at canadasevens.com.
from World Rugby
HSBC SVNS, World Rugbys revamped and rebranded global celebration of rugby sevens across eight iconic cities has been launched as a rugby event, festival and a must-attend experience set in some of the worlds most exciting locations.
With a bold ambition to supercharge rugbys global reach and appeal by being more relevant and accessible to younger, leisure-hungry audiences, HSBC SVNS aims to deliver the ultimate in immersive experiences, a unique festival of sport, entertainment and culture set against stunning backdrops.
Launching in December 2023, HSBC SVNS festivals will provide the annual platform for the worlds best sevens athletes to shine with 12 mens and womens 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 SAR, China 5-7 April 2024
Singapore, Singapore 3-5 May 2024
Madrid, Spain 31 May-2 June, 2024
All dates and venues correct at time of publication and are subject to change.
For the latest information on tickets, fans should visit the new SVNS.com to find out more.
World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin said: 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.
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.
Summer vibes, festival feel
Off the field, SVNS is all about summertime vibes. Sun-soaked days and unique experiences as 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 flavour, 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.
New format, gender parity
Each event is designed to enable the worlds top players to be at their best. Following consultation with players, fans, broadcasters and unions, the competition format has been revamped with SVNS set to deliver even more drama, excitement and jeopardy.
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, where the womens and mens SVNS champions will be crowned.
The drama does not end there. Madrid will also play host to the high stakes relegation play-off competition where teams ranked ninth to 12th will join the top four teams from the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series. The top four placed teams of this play-off will secure their place on next year’s SVNS.
Under the new model, SVNS delivers gender parity with all seven rounds and the Grand Final featuring combined mens and womens competitions and equal participation fees, with a 70 per cent uplift in World Rugbys investment in participation fees as a commitment to sustainable growth.
Continuation of an impactful and innovative partnership with HSBC
Continuing 12 years of passionate support of rugby sevens, HSBC has been confirmed as SVNS title partner in a four-year deal. The renewal is a continuation of a hugely successful long-term partnership between HSBC and World Rugby that has created opportunities for players and fans all over the world. Alongside World Rugby, HSBC has been committed to the future of the womens rugby and has helped 558,962 young people pick up a rugby ball through grassroots programmes.
HSBC Group Chief Executive, Noel Quinn said: 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. Im 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 womens game and giving tens of thousands of young people the chance to try rugby for the first time. Im 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 womens game and todays 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, vibrant SVNS brand and positions SVNS as the ultimate summer style destination, packed with entertainment and immersive experiences from sunrise to sunset.
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.
SVNS uncovered how it will work
Iconic festivals: SVNS will dial up its culture and entertainment offering at each destination, with food and drinks to match the local flavours, a range of competitive and social sports to get involved in, everything about SVNS will give you that feel-good factor, from sunrise to sunset.
Equal share of the spotlight: Fully combined and equal mens and womens festivals with number of mens teams reduced from 16 to 12, aligning with the Olympic competition model.
Jeopardy right to the end: Annual Grand Final will crown SVNS champions and offer pathway opportunity for four mens and womens teams to achieve promotion from the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series
Promotion and relegation reimagined: The teams ranked ninth to 12th will join the top four teams from the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series in a high stakes relegation play-off competition which will see the top four teams secure their places in the next edition of SVNS.
Opportunity for all: The four unsuccessful teams will go into regional competitions to qualify for the next Challenger Series, which comprises of 12 mens and 12 womens teams competing in the second level of international rugby sevens.
Be there: HSBC SVNS 2024 gets underway in Dubai, UAE on 2-3 December, 2023 and serves as a crucial build-up to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. For more information on SVNS destinations and tickets, visit www.SVNS.com
More information regarding the Challenger Series, including dates, locations and competing teams will be announced at a later stage.
More information on HSBC SVNS, including the global HSBC SVNS press release, can be found at SVNS.com.