Last year, World Rugby announced a new era for elite sevens rugby, that was “designed to deliver long-term financial sustainability and grow the global reach of rugby sevens in the lead-up to the LA 2028 Olympics.”
The first six rounds of the HSBC SVNS for both men and women are now an eight-team battle for individual event honours, and the regular season League title.
But in the final three venues — Hong Kong, Valladolid and Bordeaux — eight becomes 12, as four sides are promoted from the HSBC SVNS2.
It’s then a three-tournament shootout for not only the overall World Championship crown, but more importantly, top-eight survival next season.
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So expect more cut-throat clashes right from the get-go, and shorter playing weekends. And fewer teams also means fewer flights and fewer hotel rooms – so the costs of a competition that visits every continent across the globe have come down.
It adds up on the spreadsheet, but what has it meant for the teams on the field?
I chatted to some of the men’s and women’s team bosses to find out.
Development vs Survival
For Great Britain, the new format has opened up a different way of thinking. Director of Rugby Ciaran Beattie describes the season as being split into distinct “development” and “performance” windows.
“The new format suits our programme as it’s a real opportunity for development where we can add new caps to more experienced players as we go. The fear of relegation used to hang over us in every game at every event, but this allows us to build.”
That breathing room has been vital for a programme that underwent significant off-season change, with Scottish Rugby taking the lead. Results, so far, have been mixed.
The GB women — rebuilt from scratch after full-time contracts ended last summer — are still searching for their first win. With teams like China, Brazil, and Kenya pushing hard from HSBC SVNS 2, the margin for error is shrinking fast.
The men have fared better, collecting 24 points so far, including statement wins over Argentina and Spain. But Beattie is under no illusions about what lies ahead.
“There’s going to be big jeopardy [in the three World Championship rounds], with potentially massive swings.
“One team could have an absolute worldie of a tournament, with one decision going their way and putting them into the top tier for next season – while another programme drops out and loses its funding altogether.
“Come back and ask me again after Bordeaux!”
Business as Usual at the Top
At the sharp end, little appears to have changed.
Australia’s women are always in the podium picture. With star scorer Maddison Levi racking up runaway tries, they are well positioned to defend their Perth title at home this weekend, and will surely keep the pressure on the Black Ferns until the end of the season.
Head coach Tim Walsh is enthusiastic about the new format: “It does feel like crowd numbers are up and excitement levels are high.
“Local tournaments with international teams also seem to have been given a real boost. With four up and four down between HSBC SVNS 1 and 2, the pathway to the Olympics looks clear for everyone now. It’s exciting”.
With two golds from three events so far, the old standards of excellence continue for the Black Ferns Sevens. Cory Sweeney is head coach of the defending HSBC SVNS Series champions and likes the new set up, but has questions about the bigger picture among those nations striving to get to the top.
“Fewer teams means better flow, which is critical to continue to grow the game and promote equality. There’s a stronger physical focus where teams are required to perform multiple times under high physical fatigue.
“But I am mindful of whether HSBC SVNS 2 and 3 nations are getting enough quality tournament time to stay in touch with the rest of the world.”
It’s a fair question. With fewer events and matches for HSBC SVNS 2 and 3 nations, will those teams be battle-hardened enough when promotion opportunities arise, or does the gap risk growing wider?
Rethinking the Prize
Argentina know better than most how cruel the HSBC SVNS can be.
Los Pumas 7s have won the regular season title for the past two years, only to fall short on World Championship weekend both times. Consistency has not translated into silverware.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, head coach Santi Gomez-Cora feels there should be greater reward for performance across a whole season.
“The competition is getting better all the time, but I would add a more attractive prize such as some points carried over from the first six stages.
“Or we could do it the other way around: the first four tournaments are between 12 teams, and the last four tournaments with the best 8 teams, to see who is the World Champion that year.”
He’s also acutely aware of the physical toll.
“At this level, because of the physical strain, it’s very difficult to play two weeks in a row, especially with travel in between. I would definitely change to single events.”
No More Second Chances
Spain’s men were one of the breakout stories of 2025. After an historic season in which they missed only one semi-final all series, Los Leones were 14 minutes from pulling off what would have been a remarkable World Championship title.
Season 2026, however, has been far less forgiving. Head coach Francisco Hernández says the removal of quarter-finals has fundamentally changed how teams must approach each weekend. Start slow, and you’re almost done.
“These days you need to play your best rugby in the first two games instead of the last two. The first game is crucial, right now. If you don’t win it’s so tough to get through to the top four.”
With the USA men’s team having to battle through HSBC SVNS 2 tournament for promotion back into the top tier this season, Eagle’s women’s coach Emilie Bydwell agrees that competition at the sharp end is now tougher than ever.
“There’s very little separation between teams, and that shows up every match. Three of our four games last weekend [in Singapore] were decided by seven points or less, so the margins are really fine.
“But at the same time, we’ve been able to introduce new caps into the series, trial different combinations, and continue to evolve our tactical plans as we move through the regular season.”
All Roads Lead to LA
No nation has invested more heavily in recent times than France. Crowned World Rugby coach of the year after leading Les Bleues to Olympic glory in Paris, Jérôme Daret now oversees the French Sevens programme as managing director.
For him, the logic of the new format ultimately comes back to Olympic alignment.
“The first-phase eight-team format provides space for development, to refine and work on strategy, tactics, and innovation.
“But the [12 team] World Championship will concentrate the pressure, the drama, and the emotion. That’s where everything will be decided. A true coherence with the Olympic model structure is essential.”
Daret also sees a role for regional and private competitions to fill gaps in the calendar.
“We will undoubtedly need complementary competitions. Not to simply pile up events, but to strengthen the coherence of the system.
“Intermediate formats, regional, international and new innovative private competitions can play the role of bridging between territories, the world circuit, and Olympic excellence.”
The early evidence suggests a circuit that is faster, leaner, and at times more compelling. But is it a genuine proving ground on the road to LA 2028, and beyond? What is clear is that the new HSBC SVNS structure is unforgiving by design, and demands more from every player and every team at every event.
Buckle up, and enjoy Perth!