SINGAPORE — The HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens – the biggest celebration of rugby in South East Asia – returns to the National Stadium on 13 and 14 April 2019. The first three editions of the SG7s held in 2016, 2017 and 2018 have grown from strength to strength and is slowly establishing itself as the “must go” event for Singaporeans and overseas visitors. Over 140,000 fans including 44,000 from overseas attended the first three tournaments.
Rugby Singapore Chairman, Mr David Lim said:
“The 2019 Singapore Sevens will, once more be promoted as much more than just world-class rugby entertainment on Singapore’s vibrant sporting calendar. We are programming the event to suit both rugby and non-rugby fans.”
“The family carnival theme has carved a very special and appealing niche for itself in the 10-city, HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series calendar, with 93% attendees being satisfied with the 2018 event, compared to 88% in 2017.”
The Singapore Sevens features sixteen of the world’s top men’s Rugby Sevens teams – including New Zealand All Black Sevens, South Africa Blitzbokke, the USAEagles, Australia, England, Fiji, Canada and Kenya – in 45 matches of free-flowing, fast and furious rugby over the 2-day event.
There will be a host of lifestyle entertainment and community events on offer at the stadium and around the city before and during the tournament. The programmes will be curated to add colour, zest and vibrancy to the sporting spectacle and deliver an integrated fan experience to locals and visitors alike.
Newly-appointed Executive Director of Rugby Singapore, Mr Galastein Tan added:
“Together with the Singapore Sports Hub, we partnered with Hasbro in 2018 to engage fans and families with the Transformers, My Little Pony and Nerf at the FanZone. Fans also got the opportunity to dance and sing along with the Village People, Jive Talkin’, Jack & Rai inside the National Stadium. The event also offered a diverse menu featuring both local and international cuisines. “
In 2018, for a $150 full-price Category-1 ticket, or for $75-a-day, a fan could access:
– 45 rugby matches over 2 days, from 16 of the world’s best Rugby Sevens teams
– over 20,000 square metres of kids activities at the 100PLUS Promenade that encircles the National Stadium
– live performances by top local and international bands
– hundreds of dollars’ worth of discounts islandwide, and
– opportunities to meet-and-greet international rugby legends
All of the above, and many more offers from the organisers and their partner companies, will be back at the 2019 event. Early Bird tickets go on sale in October 2018 and public sales start in December.
Some milestones in three years (2016-18) of the HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens include:
- new winners in each year – while Kenya and Canada were surprise titlists in the first two years, Fiji snatched a heart-stopping, last-second win in 2018
- Over 2.5 million people watched the matches on television and online media and several million more interacted with it in social media,
- 25,000+ mentions in the media,
- A direct economic impact contribution of S$72.6 million
- the 2016 SG7s being adjudged the Best Sports Event of the Year – International in the 2017 Singapore Sports Awards
- first-time-in-Singapore appearances by DJ Pete Tong (2016), disco legends – the Village People (2018) and activations by Transformers, My Little Ponyand Nerf.
World Rugby Chairman Mr Bill Beaumont said “As we enter an Olympic Games qualifying year, the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series promises to again be highly competitive as both men’s and women’s teams look to secure their place, via the world series, at Tokyo 2020.
“Rugby Sevens has seen record growth in awareness in recent years with its inclusion in the Olympics having a profound effect on the sport, attracting an estimated 30 million fans globally. The series continues to capture the imagination of global audiences with record breaking fan engagement figures of over 120million video views recorded this year.
“The world series is truly one of Rugby Sevens flagship competitions and we are looking forward to watching teams, once again compete at the highest level for, not only for the coveted world series title, but also Olympic qualification.”
Ms Leanne Cutts, HSBC Group General Manager and Group Head of Marketing, said “As a long term partner of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, we can take great pride in the work we’ve done with World Rugby to help deliver the record growth and expansion the game has enjoyed in recent seasons.
“The men’s and women’s games on the pitch are more spectacular than ever. With electrifying athletes, jaw-dropping skills and fascinating personalities, we firmly believe Rugby Sevens is as entertaining as any sport out there. With the sport’s second Olympics now on the horizon in 2020, there are significant opportunities to engage even more new players, fans and countries.”
The 2019 series also welcomes China and Japan, who join the women’s and men’s competitions respectively as core teams having secured qualification in Hong Kong earlier in the year.
The full calendar of the 2019 Men’s World Rugby Sevens Series is as follows:
- Dubai, UAE, 30th November – 1st December 2018
- Cape Town, South Africa, 8th – 9th December, 2018
- Hamilton, New Zealand, 26th – 27th January 2019
- Sydney, Australia, 2nd – 3rd February 2019
- Las Vegas, USA, 2nd – 3rd March, 2019
- Vancouver, Canada, 9th – 10th March, 2019
- Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 6th – 7th April, 2019
- Singapore, Singapore, 13th – 14th April, 2019
- London, England, 25th – 26th May, 2019
- Paris, France, 1st – 2nd June, 2019
