Canadian teams embark on 2017 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series
November 23rd, 2016
The Canadian men’s and women’s Sevens rosters were announced today for the first leg of the 2016-2017 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series that kicks off in Dubai from December 1st to the 3rd, 2016. The full roster of athletes can be found at www.rugbycanada.ca. Dubai marks the beginning of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, in which Canada will once again host the HSBC Canada Men’s Sevens tour stop (6th of 10 stops on the Series) in Vancouver at BC Place Stadium on March 11th and 12th, 2017. The HSBC Canada Women’s Sevens (5th of 6 stops on the Series) will take place outside Victoria in Langford at Westhills Stadium on May 27th and 28th, 2017.
“This is an exceptional group of athletes who are breaking new ground for the growth of rugby sevens in Canada and around the world, and the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series ensures us a world class environment for our players to regularly compete with the world’s best,” said Allen Vansen, CEO, Rugby Canada. “Our women’s team is coming off of a bronze medal performance at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, and is looking to further solidify their place among the world’s elite. Our men’s team has a good combination of experience and youth, and we look forward to seeing them develop under the leadership of new head coach, Damian McGrath.”
The Canadian men finished 13th overall on last years’ Series to retain their core status, capturing the Bowl title at the Canadian leg of the Series in front of a roaring crowd at BC Place Stadium. The Canadian women finished 3rd overall on their Series, winning the Plate competition at the Langford tournament.
HSBC Canada Sevens ticket sales continue to surpass last years’ numbers with more than 85% of HSBC Canada Sevens Vancouver inventory already sold, and more than a third of the HSBC Canada Women’s Sevens Victoria/Langford tickets already spoken for. Organizers are encouraging fans who don’t want to miss out on epic weekends of sport and celebration to purchase their tickets now.
The organizing committee also announced today that Single Day tickets for the Vancouver tournament at BC Place will go on sale November 28. Only General Admission tickets remain comprising of weekend passes at $99, and single-day tickets priced at $55. Fans are also being encouraged to purchase their tickets early to see our Olympic Bronze medallists on home soil in Victoria/Langford in May, as premium seats are already limited in availability.
“The early interest in tickets that we have seen from fans is a true testament to the unique quality and dynamic offering that these events are delivering, both on and off the pitch,” said Bill Cooper, HSBC Canada Sevens CEO. “For the men’s event, with single-day tickets going on sale November 28th and only 15% of our ticket inventory remaining, we urge those fans who have not yet purchased their 2017 tickets to buy now to ensure they don’t miss out.” Cooper continued, “We are thrilled to see such passion from the public, and grateful for the continued support of our government and corporate partners who play such an important part in our ability to stage these events.”
Capacity this year at BC Place Stadium is 33,000 which represents 10% growth over last years’ event, and a full stadium would set another new Canadian rugby attendance record of 66,000 over the two day event.
“Major sporting events like the HSBC Canada Sevens at BC Place have been very successful in bringing people to British Columbia from around the world,” said Graham Ramsay, Director of Business at BC Place. “The Canada Sevens showcased the versatility of the stadium, and also the exceptional guest experience at BC Place, which in turn has generated unprecedented levels of interested from international sport organizations and the live entertainment industry who are looking to emulate that success.”
Westhills Stadium in Langford features a capacity just over 3,000 per day for the HSBC Canada Women’s Sevens, with ticket sales to date for the 2017 event exceeding last years’ at this same time.
“We are proud to be creating a platform for Rugby Sevens to connect with new players, new countries and new audiences, and our events here in BC last year proved to be an outstanding fit,” said Jacques Fleurant, CFO, HSBC Bank Canada. “The success of rugby sevens here at home, as well as its Olympic debut in Rio, demonstrates the unique opportunity we have to accelerate the growth of the game, and further demonstrate that rugby sevens is one of the most exciting, dynamic and ambitious sports in the world.”
Fans can follow the Canadian teams’ competitions in Dubai via live web stream at www.worldrugby.org. For all other information on tickets and event updates, visit www.canadasevens.com.
Team roster and backgrounders on ticketing and the HSBC World Rugby Sevens can be accessed at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/a0q7wq31b62nq0l/AADpN4LXQxrGBz1bSGp7G-9Qa?dl=0
For more information, please contact:
Sunil Suvarna – media relations
sunil.suvarna@hkstrategies.ca
778 772 5133
About HSBC Canada Women’s Sevens Victoria/Langford:
The HSBC Canada Women’s Sevens is a two-day tournament held on May 27-28, 2017 hosted at the home of Canadian Rugby at Westhills Stadium, and will feature twelve of the world’s top women’s rugby sevens teams. The HSBC Canada Women’s Sevens will be the fourth stop in a five-stop world tour as part of the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series.
About HSBC Canada Sevens Vancouver:
HSBC Canada Sevens Vancouver is a two-day indoor rugby sevens tournament, hosted March 11–12, 2017 at the world-class BC Place Stadium, host venue to Canada’s most prestigious events. The tournament features 16 of the world’s top men’s sevens teams, including Olympic contenders who fought for gold, silver and bronze at Rio 2016. The HSBC Canada Sevens Vancouver will be the sixth stop in a 10 stop world tour as part of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. Sevens rugby, a fast-paced and shorter version of traditional rugby with only seven players per side, has built a huge international audience through the success of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, which attracts large audiences in markets around the world. The full ten-stop tour schedule of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2016 – 2017 can be found at www.worldrugby.com.
More Information: Rugby Sevens Facts.