WORLD RUGBY ANNOUNCE PROVISIONAL RETURN OF HSBC WORLD RUGBY SEVENS SERIES IN APRIL 2021

September 1, 2020 (Langford, BC) – World Rugby announced today that they continue to work in collaboration with all host and participating unions, International Rugby Players, partners and stakeholders to closely monitor global developments with the COVID-19 pandemic while continuing to work towards a return to HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series action, with planning ongoing towards holding the first events in Hong Kong and Singapore in April 2021. A further update on the full 2021 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series scheduling will be given in due course.

It was also announced that following consultation and constructive dialogue with the host organisations, the combined men's and women's Hamilton and Sydney rounds of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2021 will not take place due to the ongoing and dynamic global nature of the COVID-19 pandemic.

World Rugby Chief Executive Brett Gosper said, "We continue to closely monitor the ongoing and dynamic global situation with COVID-19 and the health and wellbeing of the rugby community and the wider public remains sacrosanct. While it is disappointing not be able to go ahead with the Series events in New Zealand and Australia in January 2021, we are working very hard together with all host organisations, participating unions and other stakeholders to bring a safe, secure and highly impactful return to action as soon as possible and we look forward to returning to Sydney and Hamilton in the future."

Locally, Rugby Canada confirmed continued discussions and developing contingency plans with stakeholders in an effort to host both HSBC Canada Sevens at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver and HSBC Canada Women’s Sevens at Westhills Stadium in Langford. Organizers are working with World Rugby, Provincial health authorities, host city partners, and stadium partners to explore scheduling options. The health and safety of staff, players and fans will remain the top priority for both events.   

Canada Sevens Director, Laine Walden stated, “HSBC Canada Sevens are extremely important events to Rugby Canada and showcase tournaments on the entertainment calendars for Vancouver and Langford. In an ever-changing environment, we are exploring all options with our stakeholders to host safe and fiscally viable events in 2021. We will be providing a direct update to all of our ticket buyers this week and will follow with a further update on any potential re-scheduling in due course.”

World Rugby also announced a dedicated initial investment of US$2.5 million to support Olympic qualified national unions prepare for the Olympic Games. With all sports impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic and the Olympic Games postponed by 12 months, the commitment is being made with the welcome support of an advancement of International Olympic Committee payments to International Federations and National Olympic Committees. Each union that has qualified a team for the Tokyo 2020 Games will be able to apply to World Rugby for funding.

In addition, World Rugby, in full partnership with host unions, regional associations, participating unions and International Rugby Players, stated it continues to evaluate and develop supplementary competition opportunities at regional or cross-regional level in addition to the Series to ensure that Olympic qualified teams have an appropriate amount of high­level competition opportunities, which will enable them to compete to the best of their abilities at the Games, despite the significant disruption caused across the sporting spectrum by the pandemic.

Dustin Hopkins, Managing Director of Rugby Operations for Rugby Canada added, “We welcome the potential funding support and encourage the exploration of all possible competition opportunities for both of our Olympic qualified Sevens teams to give them the best lead-in possible for the Games in Tokyo. We will continue to prioritize the health and safety of our athletes while working to ensure they receive the best preparation opportunities when it is safe to resume full training and competition.”

To read the full release from World Rugby please click >> (EN) (FR)

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About HSBC Canada Sevens:
HSBC Canada Sevens is a two-day indoor rugby sevens tournament, hosted at BC Place Stadium - host venue to Canada’s most prestigious events, that features 16 of the world’s top men’s rugby sevens teams. The HSBC Canada Sevens is regularly the sixth stop in a 10-stop world tour as part of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.

HSBC Canada Women’s Sevens is a two-day rugby sevens tournament, hosted at Westhills Stadium – the home of Rugby Canada, that features 12 of the world’s top women’s rugby sevens teams. The HSBC Canada Women’s Sevens is regularly the seventh stop in an 8-stop world tour as part of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.

Sevens rugby, a fast-paced and shorter version of traditional rugby with only seven players per side, has built a huge international audience through the success of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, which attracts large audiences in markets around the world.

About Rugby Canada:

Rugby Canada is the national governing body of the sport of Rugby Union in Canada. They administer and operate Men’s and Women’s Senior and Junior National programs in both rugby XV’s and 7s, as well as govern the Club and community game for more than 30,000 registered participants from coast to coast in conjunction with ten Provincial Union members.

Rugby Canada is headquartered at the Al Charron National Training Centre in Langford, BC, with staff also working from Vancouver, Toronto and Ottawa. Rugby Canada business operations, programs and events are delivered nationwide, including the internationally recognized HSBC Canada Sevens annual tournaments.

For more information, please contact: media@rugby.ca.