HSBC SVNS lands in New York: global sevens showpiece heads to the Big Apple

Tuesday, 25 November 2025 at 16:26

byTom Sansom

Rugby sevens is set for its biggest-ever U.S. stage as World Rugby and USA Rugby have confirmed that New York will host the American leg of the HSBC SVNS Series in 2026. The event will take place from 14–15 March, 2026 at the Sports Illustrated Stadium, bringing the world’s fastest format of rugby to one of the world’s most iconic sport cities.

The New York stop will close out the regular SVNS season before teams move on to the newly structured HSBC World Championships—with finals held across Hong Kong, Valladolid, and Bordeaux.

A major step on the road to LA28

With rugby sevens preparing for its biggest Olympic showcase yet at Los Angeles 2028, World Rugby continues to target key U.S. cities ahead of the men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups on American soil in 2031 and 2033. New York’s addition reflects the sport’s rapid rise nationwide, fuelled by record U.S. attendances at recent internationals in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Kansas City.

The SVNS circuit has become a launchpad for future Olympians, already helping propel more than 50 players into contention for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 and creating global stars such as Ilona Maher and Nia Toliver, the 2025 HSBC SVNS Rookie of the Year.

A stadium built for sevens intensity

Sports Illustrated Stadium—home to MLS side New York Red Bulls and NWSL champions Gotham FC—will host its first-ever rugby sevens event. Its 25,000-seat cauldron is known for tight sightlines and relentless noise, a perfect cocktail for two days of high-tempo action, booming hits, and end-to-end tries.

Organisers are pitching SVNS New York as more than a tournament—more a full-blown rugby festival with the trademark SVNS atmosphere set against the backdrop of the “city that never sleeps.”

World Rugby Chief Executive said:

"We are thrilled to bring the HSBC SVNS series to New York, one of the world’s most iconic cities, for the first time. The city’s energy and the passion of U.S. rugby fans make this the perfect stage for our athletes to showcase the speed, skill, and energy of sevens rugby.

“We look forward to creating an unforgettable experience for fans, players, and the broader rugby community as we continue to grow the sport in the United States."

USA Rugby Chief Executive Bill Goren added: “The New York City and tri-state area is a truly fitting host for HSBC SVNS. New York is an iconic home to so many global cultures, it’s a perfect backdrop for the most elite athletes and fans from each corner of the world to come together around rugby.

“With many storied clubs and institutions based in the tri-state area, we’re thrilled for our USA Rugby community to host this special event and see HSBC SVNS continue to grow in the United States.”