HSBC World Seven Series — the annual international rugby sevens tournament series featuring men’s and women’s national teams, organized by the International Rugby Board. Since 2014, HSBC has been the main sponsor of the series. Unlike traditional 15-a-side rugby, rugby sevens features teams of 7 players with matches lasting 7 minutes per half. Currently, 16 professional teams compete in the series, vying for the title of World Rugby Sevens Series champion.
HSBC SVNS 2026/27 Season
The HSBC SVNS 2026/27 season will be another major step in the development of international rugby sevens and will be particularly important as teams prepare for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. In the new season, the world's best men's and women's national teams will once again compete across the HSBC SVNS events before continuing their campaigns in the SVNS World Championship.
The main 2026/27 series will consist of six events in different countries around the world. After the regular series, the top teams will continue competing in the HSBC SVNS World Championship, which will take place in Hong Kong, Valladolid and Bordeaux in 2027.
Dates and Venues
The main HSBC SVNS 2026/27 series will take place in the following cities:
- Dubai, UAE: November 28–29, 2026;
- Cape Town, South Africa: December 5–6, 2026;
- Singapore: January 30–31, 2027;
- Perth, Australia: February 6–7, 2027;
- Vancouver, Canada: March 6–7, 2027;
- New York, USA: March 13–14, 2027.
After the six regular-season events, the SVNS World Championship will take place. Its three events are scheduled for:
- Hong Kong: April 9–11, 2027;
- Valladolid, Spain: May 21–23, 2027;
- Bordeaux, France: May 28–30, 2027.
The 2026/27 season will therefore conclude at the end of May 2027.
Participants and Tournament Format
The HSBC SVNS features the world's strongest men's and women's national teams. The new format includes several divisions, giving teams the opportunity to move up through the competition system and compete for a place among the world's elite.
In the 2026/27 season, the main series will once again visit Dubai, Cape Town, Singapore, Perth, Vancouver and New York. After the six regular-season events, the best teams will continue competing across the three HSBC SVNS World Championship events.
The SVNS World Championship will be particularly important, as the season's results will influence the composition of the elite series and will be connected with qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games.
History of the HSBC SVNS
The World Rugby Sevens Series was first held during the 1999/2000 season. The tournament was created to bring together the world's strongest national teams in a regular international series and has developed into one of the leading rugby sevens competitions.
Throughout the history of the series, New Zealand, Fiji and South Africa have been particularly successful. These teams have won the overall title multiple times and have played a major role in shaping the competitive landscape of international rugby sevens.
In recent years, World Rugby has significantly changed the competition format. The new system includes several divisions and a separate seasonal SVNS World Championship. This approach allows rugby sevens to develop not only among the leading national teams but also among teams seeking to break into the world elite.
Rugby sevens is also an Olympic sport, making each HSBC SVNS season important for international rankings and preparation for the Olympic Games.
Winners of the Previous Rugby Sevens Seasons
| Season | Champion |
|---|---|
| 2025/26 | South Africa |
| 2024/25 | South Africa |
| 2023/24 | France |
In the 2025/26 season, the South African men's national team won the overall HSBC SVNS title. The team successfully completed the season and maintained its status as one of the leading rugby sevens teams in the world.
In the 2024/25 season, South Africa also claimed the title, while France became champions in the 2023/24 season.
HSBC SVNS 2027/28 Season
The next HSBC SVNS 2027/28 season will be part of the global rugby sevens build-up to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The world's leading teams are expected to continue competing for places in the elite series and Olympic qualification.
The exact dates and venues for the 2027/28 season will be announced by World Rugby at a later date.
Keep an eye on the dates of rugby tournaments and other events in our Sporting Events Calendar.
