Rugby Sevens To Be Revamped Under Hsbc
The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series is being revamped and rebranded to HSBC SVNS which will see it span across eight iconic cities.
Described as a ‘bold ambition to supercharge rugby’s global reach and appeal by being more relevant and accessible to younger, leisure-hungry audiences’, HSBC SVNS has called the new era an attempt to ‘deliver the ultimate in immersive experiences, a unique festival of sport, entertainment and culture set against stunning backdrops.’
HSBC will continue as the SVNS title partner in a four-year deal with World Rugby.
Launching in December 2023, HSBC SVNS festivals will provide the annual platform for 12 men’s and women’s teams to share a global stage at the same location, in an effort to champion the women’s game.
The dates and locations for the HSBC SVNS are:
- 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
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 women’s and men’s SVNS champions will be crowned.
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 men’s and women’s competitions and equal participation fees, with a 70 per cent uplift in World Rugby’s investment in participation fees as a commitment to sustainable growth.
Alan Gilpin, Chief Executive Officer of World Rugby, 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.”
Noel Quinn, Group Chief Executive Officer for HSBC, added, “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. 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.”
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