The World Rugby governing body will introduce a revamped model for its short-format sevens competition in 2026 “to deliver long-term financial sustainability and grow the global reach of rugby sevens” in the lead-up to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The new structure, which the organization said was “shaped through stakeholder consultation and evaluation of the sporting landscape”, will feature a three-division regular season that expands the series from 10 to 13 events.
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The season will conclude with three high-profile World Championship Series events, each featuring 12 men's and women's teams, to crown the annual world champions.
World Rugby said the new format will enable “more agile, cost-effective delivery while elevating competitiveness, fan interest, and broadcast value.”
Rugby sevens was played at the Olympics for the first time at the 2016 Rio games, with both men's and women's contests.
The eight teams competing in this weekend’s SVNS World Championship in Los Angeles (May 3-4) will form the SVNS Division 1 teams for the 2026 series.
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By GlobalDataThe teams that finish with final rankings of ninth to 12th from the LA playoff tournament will qualify for the second-tier SVNS 2 in the 2025-26 season, while the 13th to 16th finishers will have to compete in regional qualifier competitions for places in an eight-team third division.
A global host tender process will be conducted to select the venues for next year's series.
Sam Pinder, World Rugby Sevens general manager, said: “World Rugby is firmly committed to the success of rugby sevens on the road to the LA 2028 Olympic Games and is investing £10 million annually into the SVNS, a large proportion into team participation fees.
“This evolved model provides greater certainty for unions with more events, increased competitiveness, greater pathway opportunities than ever before, and most crucially, a financially sustainable event ecosystem which provides a clear pathway for the future for international rugby sevens.
“While change can be difficult, this is an evolution that ultimately secures the sustainable advancement of a sport that has proven to be a hit at the Olympic Games. We are grateful for all the engagement throughout an extensive stakeholder consultation process and now look ahead to an exciting future for the short format of the sport.”
In 2023, World Rugby rebranded its Sevens competition to SVNS and altered the format, with banking giant HSBC, the series’ long-standing naming partner, extending its deal for another four years.
