World Rugby Announces New HSBC SVNS Format

HSBC SVNS, World Rugby’s 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 world’s most exciting locations.

With a bold ambition to supercharge rugby’s 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 world’s best Sevens athletes to shine with 12 men’s and women’s teams sharing a global stage at the same location.

HBSC SVNS – Festival Dates:

Dubai, UAE – December 2-3, 2023
Cape Town, South Africa – December 9-10, 2023
Perth, Australia – January 26-28, 2024
Vancouver, Canada – February 23-25, 2024
Los Angeles, USA – March 2-3, 2024
Hong Kong SAR, China – April 5-7, 2024
Singapore, Singapore – May 3-5, 2024
Madrid, Spain – May 31-June 2, 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 website 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 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 world’s 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 women’s and men’s 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 circuit.

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% uplift in World Rugby’s investment in participation fees as a commitment to sustainable growth.

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, and 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 men’s and women’s festivals with number of men’s 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 men’s and women’s 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 men’s and 12 women’s teams competing in the second level of international Sevens.

Be there: HSBC SVNS 2024 gets underway in Dubai, UAE on December 2-3, 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.