Rugby 7’s Draws Huge Numbers

Photo Credit Sportswave.ca

The event many patiently wait for each year is the HSBC SVNS Vancouver Sevens which was played over the weekend of February 23rd to February 25th at BC Place over a fast paced three fun filled days for those attending.

Say what you will, Rugby isn’t a sport for those who are concerned about injury and pain, but is rather a sport that features fast action that is non-stop from the opening to the final whistle attracting over 67,000 fans.

Crowds for the most part in the past have been exceptional but it seems that since the Pandemic many fans seem to be somewhat more diligent with spending than in the past.

While some might question this when you add the cost for tickets, parking, souvenirs and food I was told by a Family “we would rather spend money elsewhere as going out is getting more expensive each time we turn around” which is honestly realistic.

This year the event had 12 Women’s teams as well as 12 Men’s teams competing from various countries with the fan favorite being both the Men’s New Zealand All Blacks Sevens as well as the Women’s team named the Black Ferns Sevens.

It was interesting to catch up with some who competed at the 2024 Vancouver Sevens Invitational (February 22-23) at UBC’s Gerald McGavin Rugby Centre.

The two-day tournament returns to the BC Rugby calendar for the first time since 2020 and will take place at UBC’s Gerald McGavin Centre on February 22-23, 2024.

The event will provide a complete Sevens experience for participants, with gameplay and the opportunity to watch world-class international competition at BC Place.

In the week leading up to the 2024 HSBC SVNS Vancouver, the VSI provided competition to motivate, challenge and inspire young Athletes, Coaches and Officials, bringing elite youth 7s players from across the Province.

Sportswave as well as BC Rugby acknowledges the 2024 VSI is being played on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nation.

This marks the return to the BC Rugby since 2020 which featured over 400 athletes and 30 teams in search for success from U15 Girls, U16 Boys, U18 Girls and U18 Boys Divisions.

Competing were teams from Vancouver Rugby Union, Vancouver Island Rugby Union, North Vancouver Island Rugby Union, Fraser Valley Rugby Union, the Thompson-Okanagan Rugby Alliance, Aurora Wolves Rugby Union, Edmonton Gold, Celtic Barbarians (USA), Washington State (USA), and Nova Scotia competed in a festival-like atmosphere.

The week leading up to the 2024 HSBC SVNS Vancouver, the VSI provided a full Sevens experience for participants mixing competitive gameplay in addition to watching world-class international Rugby at BC Place bringing elite Youth 7s athletes from across BC.

One interesting point that we found out is that Rugby Sevens is being played at the 2025 Canada Summer Games in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador which runs from August 8th-24th.

This will be the debut at the Canada Games for the Men’s event while the Women began in Niagara in 2022.

Men’s Rugby was first played on the Canada Games program in both 1981 and 1985 and never took part in the 1989 Games but return competing from 1993-2009 with the Women’s Rugby Sevens as part of the 2022 Games.

Plan on attending this fun filled event in 2025