World Sevens Series gets a new venue
NEWS: The World Rugby Sevens Series have undergone a revamped with the bold ambition of rugby growth across eight iconic cities.
The new World Rugby Sevens series kicks off in the iconic Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on December 2 to 3 before heading to Cape Town, South Africa the following week.
Perth has replaced Syndey as the new venue for the Australian leg of the tournament. The teams will lock horns in Perth on January 26 to 28 in 2024.
The World Series will then move to Vancouver, Canada (February 23-25), Los Angeles, United States of America (March 2-3), Hong Kong, China (April 5-7), Singapore, Singapore (May 3-5), before concluding in Madrid, Spain (May 31 – June 2).
The top eight placed teams, based on cumulative series points, at the conclusion of Singapore Sevens, will secure their opportunity to compete in the new ‘winner takes all’ Grand Final in Madrid, where the Sevens champions will be crowned.
The drama does not end there. Madrid will also play host to the high-stakes relegation play-off competition where teams ranked ninth to 12th will join the top four teams from the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series.
The top four placed teams of this play-off will secure their place next year.
World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin said: “We are excited to be launching Sevens, the supercharged new identity for our Olympic format, with iconic destinations and a new concept on and off the field, broadening the reach and appeal of the sport beyond its traditional audiences.
“Our ambition is for Sevens to be at the forefront of our growth strategy, appealing to a younger, leisure-hungry audience. In eight iconic destinations played over seven months, we will bring together a truly immersive festival of rugby, music, food and experiences to create the ultimate weekend-long get-together for young people, the hottest ticket and open a new era for the sport.
“For the first time in rugby sevens history, all locations will be unified under the same approach, meaning that the overall experience is the same and we can optimise commercial revenue for reinvestment, including playing our part in ensuring that sevens is a viable career path for the talented players and Olympians.”
