By Kevin Rademeyer, Sports Journalist.
World Rugby has confirmed the destinations and dates for the HSBC SVNS 2026 Series, with Cape Town once again taking centre stage as one of the most anticipated weekends on the global rugby sevens calendar.
The newly structured season opens in Dubai on 29–30 November 2025 before heading straight to Cape Town on 6–7 December. From there, the action moves east to Singapore (31 January–1 February 2026) and Australia (7–8 February), before crossing to Vancouver (7–8 March) and the USA (14–15 March). The campaign then builds towards a three-stop World Championship in Hong Kong (17–19 April), Valladolid, Spain (29–31 May) and Bordeaux, France (5–7 June), which will ultimately decide the line-up for the 2027 top tier.
This reimagined three-division format is designed to expand rugby’s reach and give long-term certainty to both teams and host cities in the run-up to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. With six high-intensity rounds followed by a three-stage World Championship, the system allows emerging nations to break through via regional qualifiers in a single season, while ensuring the world’s best compete regularly on some of rugby’s grandest stages. Crucially, full gender parity is built in, with men’s and women’s teams competing side by side at every event and receiving equal participation fees.
Cape Town will once again showcase its unique festival atmosphere as it hosts the Blitzboks, the reigning men’s world champions. The home team lifted the Cape Town trophy last year before clinching the overall title in Los Angeles, and they will be eager to defend their crown against powerhouses including New Zealand, Fiji, France and Argentina. The women’s field will feature giants such as Australia, Canada and Great Britain alongside New Zealand, who are defending world champions.
For fans, the weekend promises a summer celebration as much as a sporting contest. Tickets go on sale at 09h00 on Friday via Ticketmaster.co.za, with prices starting at R250. Premium seats on the halfway line are set at R600, while families can take advantage of a R750 package for four in designated blocks. The first 500 Party Stand tickets sold at R350 will come with a free drink voucher, adding to the sense of festival fun that has become synonymous with the Cape Town leg.
Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby, said: “The new model brings high-octane rugby from the very first whistle, with only the top two teams from each pool moving through to the semi-finals. But Cape Town has always been about more than the rugby. It is sport, music, food and culture in one space, and we are delighted to see the city confirmed as a host for the next three years.”
World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin added that the structure was designed with the Olympics in mind.
“Moving to a two-day format has been a hit with players and fans alike, and this model builds excitement all the way to Los Angeles 2028. Sevens is now a proven pathway for future Olympians and a global stage for rugby’s biggest stars.”
With its blend of world-class competition and lifestyle festival, the HSBC SVNS Cape Town is set to deliver the city’s biggest summer party, and the countdown starts with Friday’s ticket launch.