Publication date: 15 August 2025
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.
The 2025/26 rugby sevens season will once again bring together the strongest national teams from around the world in a global rugby sevens tournament. Format remains unchanged: 7 stages in different countries, concluding with a Grand Final to determine the best teams of the season. The series will start at the end of 2025 and finish in spring 2026. Traditional host cities expected to feature include Dubai, Cape Town, Perth, Vancouver, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Los Angeles. The final stage is again expected to be held in Madrid.
The World Rugby Sevens Series features 12 men’s and 12 women’s national teams, competing in matches at each stage to accumulate points in the overall standings. By the end of all stages:
The top 8 teams advance to the Grand Final, where the season’s World Rugby Sevens champion is determined.
Teams ranked 9–12 compete in playoff matches against the top Challenger Series teams, fighting for the right to remain in the elite World Rugby Sevens Series.
The promotion and relegation system keeps the tournament dynamic and gives new teams a chance to break into the world rugby sevens rankings. Exact dates and host cities will be announced closer to the start of the season.
The first international rugby sevens tournament was held in 1973 in Scotland, where England defeated Ireland 22-18 in the final. The inaugural World Sevens Series season took place in 1999/2000, marking a key milestone in the development of rugby sevens as an international sport.
Throughout the history of the series, New Zealand has won the World Rugby Sevens title 13 times, while South Africa and Fiji have each won 4 times. The series’ history reflects the dominance of top national teams and continues to attract millions of rugby fans worldwide.
| The year | Venue | Winning team |
| 2024/25 | Dubai, Cape Town, Perth, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Singapore | South Africa National Team |
| 2023/24 | Dubai, Cape Town, Perth, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Singapore | France National Team |
| 2022/23 | Hong Kong, Dubai, Cape Town, Hamilton, Sydney, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Singapore, Toulouse, London | New Zealand National Team |
Information on dates and venues for the next season of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series is not yet known.
Keep an eye on the dates of rugby tournaments and other events in our Sporting Events Calendar.
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