Hong Kong, Singapore Sevens confirmed in rejigged Series schedule for 2021-22 season
- New events for France and Spain, but Covid-19 restrictions see Sydney, Hamilton and Cape Town left out
- Hong Kong Stadium has missed out for last two years but is all set to return in April
The Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens has been officially confirmed as a stop on the 2021-22 HSBC World Sevens Series calendar, after the city missed out over the last two years because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Hong Kong and Singapore are both on the schedule, which was released on Tuesday by the sport’s governing body, World Rugby Sevens.
But there will be no events this season in Sydney, Hamilton nor Cape Town – three of the Series’ staple cities – as the pandemic continues to affect the sporting calendar.
There were only two Sevens Series events – both in Canada – instead of the usual 10 played during a truncated 2021 season, with the number of teams also reduced from 16 to 12.
But the Hong Kong Sevens will return in its traditional April slot in 2022, having twice been targeted for later in the calendar year in 2020 and 2021 before plans were scrapped on both occasions.
There are also new events set to be held in France and Spain in the coming season.
The series begins in Dubai next month, with men’s and women’s events held behind closed doors from November 26-27 and then opening up to fans the following weekend (December 3-4).
Stops in Malaga (January 21-23) and Seville (January 28-30) follow before the Series moves on to Vancouver from February 26-27.
Hong Kong Sevens cancelled again, to return in April 2022
There will be no women’s event in Vancouver, nor Los Angeles (March 5-6), but the women’s Sevens Series will return alongside the men in Hong Kong over April 1-3.
The men’s Series stops off in Singapore a week later, while the women’s Series moves on to Langford in Canada (April 30-May 1) before both events head to Toulouse for the first time from May 20-22.
Toulouse will serve as the final stop on the women’s Series, while the men’s season ends a week later in London from May 28-29.
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“Following an outstandingly competitive and highly impactful Olympic Games competition it is fantastic to announce a full schedule for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 today,” World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin said in a statement.
“Alongside popular and traditional rugby sevens venues it will be exciting to take the Series to new venues in Spain and France. Rugby sevens is a key driver of global growth for our sport, particularly in emerging nations, and it firmly remains a top priority for our organisation.
“A lot of hard work has gone on behind the scenes to ensure we can announce a full Series schedule today and we thank HSBC, the host organisations, unions, commercial and broadcast partners for their unwavering support and spirit of collaboration as we navigate the challenges of the global Covid-19 pandemic together.”
Sevens Series sponsor HSBC added their support for the returning season.
“Like everyone involved we are incredibly excited that the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series is back and this is truly a testament to all of the hard work that has gone on behind the scenes,” said HSBC Group’s head of brand and brand Partnerships Jonathan Castleman.
“With new venues in both Spain and France, it opens up further opportunities to attract even more players, fans and communities to the spectacle of rugby sevens and as the long-term partner of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series we cannot wait to watch the teams competing at the highest levels again and where possible with full stadiums.”
