The World Rugby Sevens Series will grow from nine to 10 tournaments next season, with Dubai set to feature yet again for a 16th straight campaign as HSBC announced a new four-year sponsorship deal yesterday.
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The Dubai Sevens kicks off the season on December 4 and 5 at 7he Sevens. South Africa won the Dubai Sevens title last year, blowing away Australia 33-7 in the final, while Fiji went on to claim the series ending New Zealand’s dominant run of four successive wins.
The Canada Sevens will be a new stop on the series for 2015/16, being held at BC Place in Vancouver between March 12/13.
Two other venues make a welcome return to the series, the Singapore Sevens replaces the Japan Sevens, while the Paris Sevens returns to the circuit for the first time since 2006, replacing the Scotland Sevens.
World Rugby and HSBC announce new 4yr Sevens partnership for both Men and Women’s sevens in record sponsorship deal. pic.twitter.com/1DpslOEpeB
— Brett Gosper (@brettgosper) June 30, 2015
Two other existing tournaments have also announced venue changes, with the Australia Sevens moving from Gold Coast to Sydney and the South Africa Sevens moving from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town.
As well as extending its naming rights for the Series HSBC has also acquired the naming rights to the Women’s World Rugby Sevens Series.
In addition, the new agreement will also see HSBC act as local title sponsor of the individual rounds (Dubai and Hong Kong being the exceptions).
The announcement reinforces HSBC’s long-term rugby commitment of investing in the game from community to elite level as the sport continues to experience unprecedented global growth ahead of sevens’ Olympic Games debut next year.
Rugby sevens is achieving year-on year record attendance, viewership and engagement figures, and excitement building ahead of Rio 2016.
World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “Rugby sevens is going from strength to strength ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and the men’s and women’s series have been at the heart of the global sevens success story with their winning brand of high-octane, competitive and broadcast- friendly action, global locations and festival atmosphere.
“HSBC has been central to the sevens success story and is totally aligned with our mission to attract and inspire new players and audiences.
“We are excited about this increased commitment and the certainty it provides over the next four years to grow our sport within existing and emerging rugby markets.”
Giles Morgan, global head of sponsorship and events, HSBC Holdings, said: “HSBC became the first-ever title sponsor of the men’s world series back in 2010, and we are excited to not only be extending this partnership for another four years, but also to become the first-ever title sponsor of the increasingly popular women’s world series.”
World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper said: “Rugby sevens is experiencing record attendance, broadcast and commercial growth and is rapidly becoming a major driver of revenue for World Rugby to reinvest in the game.
“This schedule represents an exciting combination for World Rugby and one which we think will enable the sport to reach developing rugby markets, and therefore contribute to the continued growth of the game and its character-building values worldwide.
“It is great for players, fans and for the ongoing prosperity and development of rugby sevens worldwide.”
Since HSBC became title sponsor of the world series in 2009, it has seen attendance grow to 542,929 with the series proving more competitive than ever. It now amasses 5,884 broadcast hours with a global reach of 400 million households.
Fiji claimed the series last season following New Zealand’s dominant run of four successive wins, and USA claimed their inaugural tournament victory in London in May.
Details of the locations and dates for the 2015-16 HSBC Women’s World Rugby Sevens Series will be announced in due course.2015/16 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series schedule:
Round 1: Dubai: December 4-5
Round 2: Cape Town: December 12-13*
Round 3: Wellington: January 30-31
Round 4: Sydney: February 6-7*
Round 5: Las Vegas: March 4-6
Round 6: Vancouver: March 12-13*
Round 7: Hong Kong: April 8-10
Round 8: Singapore: April 16-17*
Round 9: Paris: May 14-15*
Round 10: London: May 21-22
(*new addition to the series)
