In May 2025, World Rugby confirmed an evolved HSBC SVNS competition model designed to deliver long-term financial sustainability and grow the global reach of rugby sevens in the lead-up to the LA 2028 Olympics.
How it works
The new HSBC SVNS features a three-division hosting model that expands the series from 10 to 13 events in 2026, with three divisions feeding into a season-ending annual SVNS World Championship Series.
- SVNS Division 1 – Eight men’s and eight women’s core teams compete in six SVNS Series events (Dubai, Cape Town, Singapore, Australia, Vancouver, USA)
- SVNS Division 2 – Six men's and six women's teams compete in a second division across three events.
- SVNS Division 3 – Eight men's and eight women's teams play one standalone Challenger event qualifying from regional competitions.
- SVNS World Championship Series - the top 12 men’s and women’s teams (eight from Division 1, four from Division 2) compete over three events in Hong Kong, Valladolid and Bordeaux to determine the annual world champions.
While HSBC SVNS 1 features eight core teams per gender, HSBC SVNS Divisions 2 and 3 provide a clear, season-long pathway from regional qualification through to the SVNS World Championship Series. This gives emerging nations the opportunity to rise to the top within a single year.
HSBC SVNS calendar
2025
- November 29-30 - Dubai (SVNS 1)
- December 6-7 - Cape Town (SVNS 1)
2026
- January (SVNS 3, Dubai)
- January 31- February 1 - Singapore (SVNS 1)
- February 7-8 - Australia (SVNS 1)
- February - SVNS 2 (Nairobi)
- March SVNS 2 (Montevideo and Sao Paolo)
- March 7-8 - Vancouver (SVNS 1)
- March 14-15 - New York (SVNS 1)
- April 17-19 - Hong Kong (HSBC SVNS World Championship Series, Rd 1)
- May 29-31 - Valladolid (HSBC SVNS World Championship Series, Rd 2)
- June 5-7 - Bordeaux (HSBC SVNS World Championship Series, Rd 3)
