HSBC SVNS Format Overhaul: Kenya’s Exclusion, Financial Implications, and the Future of Rugby Sevens
The HSBC SVNS (World Rugby Sevens Series), the premier global rugby sevens series, has undergone a significant transformation for the 2025-2026 season, reshaping the competitive landscape and drawing intense scrutiny, particularly in Kenya. The restructuring, announced by World Rugby on May 1, 2025, has excluded Kenya’s national men’s rugby sevens team, Shujaa, from the top-tier Division 1, despite earlier hopes of promotion.
The New HSBC SVNS Format
The revamped HSBC SVNS format introduces several key changes aimed at enhancing competitiveness and commercial appeal while aligning with World Rugby’s vision for rugby sevens as a global, Olympic sport. Starting in the 2026 season, the series will:
– Reduce Core Teams : The number of core teams in the top-tier Division 1 will drop from 12 to 8 per gender, creating a more elite, concentrated competition.
– Expand Tournament Calendar : From 2026, the series will feature 13 tournaments, adopting a two-day playing format for all events to streamline scheduling and enhance fan engagement.
– Introduce Division 2 : A new second-tier SVNS 2 will include six teams per gender, competing in only three events, offering a pathway for emerging nations but with limited exposure.
– Annual World Championship : The season will conclude with a 12-team-per-gender finale to crown the World Champion, integrating the top eight Division 1 teams and the top four from a promotion/relegation play-off.
– Promotion/Relegation Play-Off : The bottom four teams from Division 1 and the top four from the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger Series will compete in a play-off, with the top four securing Division 1 status for the next season.
These changes build on the 2024-2025 season’s structure, which already reduced teams to 12 and introduced a Grand Final, but the further reduction to eight core teams has sparked significant debate.
Reasons for the HSBC SVNS format changes
– Enhanced Competitiveness : Reducing the number of core teams in Division 1 from 12 to 8 ensures higher-quality, more competitive matches by focusing on top-ranked nations, creating a more elite competition.
– Financial Sustainability : A leaner series with fewer teams and a streamlined two-day format for all events reduces operational costs for World Rugby and host cities, concentrating resources on high-profile, commercially viable destinations like Dubai, Cape Town, and Los Angeles.
– Olympic Alignment : The format mirrors the Olympic model, where only the strongest teams compete, preparing the series for the Los Angeles 2028 Games and aligning with the IOC’s emphasis on elite, marketable competitions.
– Commercial Appeal : A smaller, more focused series aims to boost viewership, sponsorship, and broadcast revenue by prioritizing established rugby powers and major markets, enhancing the series’ global brand.
– Structural Efficiency : Introducing Division 2 (SVNS 2) and a promotion/relegation play-off creates a clearer pathway for emerging nations while maintaining a compact top tier, with an annual World Championship adding a high-stakes finale to drive fan engagement.
Kenya’s Exclusion from the Top Tier
Kenya’s Shujaa had high hopes of securing a spot in the 2025-2026 Division 1 after earning promotion to the 2024-2025 HSBC SVNS via the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger Series. Their performances in Cape Town and Hong Kong, where they finished 2nd after losing to Fiji in the Cup Semis, positioned them as contenders for the Los Angeles play-off on May 3-4, 2025, where the top four teams would secure core status. However, World Rugby’s announcement on May 1, 2025, confirmed that the eight teams competing in the HSBC SVNS World Championship in Los Angeles—Argentina, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, France, Fiji, South Africa, and Great Britain for men—would automatically form the Division 1 teams for 2026, rendering the play-off irrelevant for promotion.
As a result, both Kenya’s men and women’s teams despite their efforts, was relegated to the newly created SVNS 2 without playing a match under the new rules. This decision has effectively exiled Shujaa from the global elite circuit, a significant blow given their history as a core team since 2004 and their vibrant fan base, often cited as the “darling” of the series.
However, critics argue that the selection of the eight World Championship teams was arbitrary, favouring established rugby powers without giving emerging nations like Kenya a fair chance. Former Kenya Sevens coach Mike Friday labelled the decision “Machiavellian,” suggesting a lack of transparency and fairness in the process. Kenya’s relegation also reflects their inconsistent performance in the 2024-2025 season, where they struggled against top teams, though the women’s team’s Challenger Series success showed potential.
Financial Implications
Kenya’s exclusion from Division 1 carries significant financial consequences for the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU), players, and the sport’s ecosystem:
– Reduced Revenue : Core teams in Division 1 receive participation fees and share in the series’ broadcast and sponsorship revenue, benefits now inaccessible to Kenya. SVNS 2’s limited three-event schedule offers minimal financial returns.
– Sponsorship Challenges : Shujaa’s vibrant fan base and media presence made them a valuable asset for sponsors. Relegation to a lower-profile SVNS 2 risks losing corporate support, critical for funding player contracts and development programs.
– Tourism Impact : Kenya’s absence from high-profile tournaments like the Hong Kong Sevens reduces global visibility, potentially affecting sports tourism and related economic benefits.
– Development Setbacks : Limited exposure in SVNS 2 could hinder player development and recruitment, stunting the growth of rugby sevens in Kenya, where it is a major sport alongside athletics.
Public Reception
The reaction to Kenya’s exclusion and the format changes has been overwhelmingly negative among Kenyan fans, professionals, and the broader rugby community:
– Professional Criticism : Mike Friday’s “Machiavellian” comment reflects a broader sentiment among coaches and analysts who see the changes as exclusionary. Former player and commentator Michael Kwambo has been vocal, arguing that the reduction to eight teams undermines the diversity and inclusivity that made rugby sevens an Olympic sport.
– Fan Outrage : Kenyan fans, known for their passionate support, have expressed dismay on social media platforms like X, with posts lamenting the loss of Shujaa’s global stage. The decision is seen as a betrayal of Kenya’s contributions to the series’ vibrancy.
– Global Concerns : International rugby voices, including the Tier2RugbyForum on X, have criticized the format for turning the series into an “exclusive club of elite nations,” potentially stifling the growth of rugby in developing countries.
The Change.org Petition and Its Viability
In response to the format changes, Michael Kwambo launched a Change.org petition on April 22, 2025, calling on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and World Rugby to reverse the decision to cut core teams to eight. The petition demands transparency and defends the Olympic values of diversity and inclusivity, arguing that excluding teams like Kenya devalues the sport.
– Viability : The petition has gained traction, with thousands of signatures from fans, unions, and media, but its chances of success are slim. World Rugby’s decision aligns with long-term commercial and Olympic strategies, and the IOC is unlikely to intervene in series governance. Previous attempts by Rugby Africa to sway World Rugby failed, indicating resistance to external pressure.
– Impact : While the petition may not reverse the format, it has amplified global awareness of the issue, pressuring World Rugby to consider the developmental impact of their decisions. It could influence future adjustments, such as expanding SVNS 2 or increasing promotion opportunities.
Impact on the Future of Rugby Sevens
The format changes and Kenya’s exclusion have profound implications for rugby sevens’ global trajectory:
– Growth vs. Elitism : The reduction to eight teams prioritizes quality over inclusivity, potentially limiting the sport’s growth in emerging nations. Kenya’s relegation could discourage investment in rugby sevens in Africa, a region with significant potential.
– Olympic Qualification : With Olympic qualification routes shifting, Kenya’s path to the Los Angeles 2028 Games is now more challenging, relying on regional tournaments or SVNS 2 performance, which may not provide adequate preparation.
– Commercial Risks : While the format aims to boost viewership and revenue, excluding fan-favorite teams like Kenya risks reducing the series’ diversity and appeal, potentially alienating global audiences.
Los Angeles Fixtures: The Final Leg
The HSBC SVNS 2025 season concludes in Los Angeles on May 3-4, 2025, at Dignity Health Sports Park, hosting both the World Championship (top eight teams) and the promotion/relegation play-off.
The men’s World Championship features:
Men
Women
These eight teams are guaranteed Division 1 status for 2026, regardless of results.
Playoff groups
Men
Women
Kenya’s Fixtures:
Men
Women
The HSBC SVNS format overhaul represents a bold shift toward elitism and commercial sustainability, but it comes at the cost of inclusivity, with Kenya’s Shujaa bearing the brunt of the changes. The financial implications threaten Kenya’s rugby ecosystem, while public and professional backlash, amplified by the Change.org petition, highlights the tension between growth and exclusivity in rugby sevens. As the Los Angeles leg unfolds, Kenya’s participation in the play-off serves as a bittersweet reminder of their potential, now confined to a lower tier. The future of rugby sevens hangs in the balance, with World Rugby’s challenge being to balance commercial ambitions with the sport’s global aspirations.
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