Seven's World Series - Dubai 2025/26

The HSBC SVNS Series is the premier global rugby sevens circuit, established in 1999 by the International Rugby Board. It sits at the top of the international pyramid, above the Challenger Series. The Dubai leg, known as the Emirates Dubai 7s, serves as the traditional opening tournament of the season. The event was founded in 1970, making it the longest-running sporting event in the Middle East. It joined the World Series in its inaugural 1999–2000 season. The competition is organized by World Rugby in partnership with B9 Events. The format has evolved significantly: initially featuring 12 core teams, it expanded to 15, then returned to 12. For the 2025–26 season, it was reduced to 8 core teams per gender. The tournament structure typically involves pool play followed by knockout stages. The 2024–25 season introduced a format of four pools of three teams for the opener. Promotion and relegation exist between the SVNS and the Challenger Series. The bottom four SVNS teams face the top four Challenger teams in a playoff at the Grand Final. The Dubai leg is distinct from the Hong Kong Sevens, the series' flagship event. While Hong Kong is a three-day festival with 30 teams and awards 30 ranking points to the winner, Dubai is a two-day event with fewer teams. Dubai awards standard series points, with 100 for a win. The series is sponsored by HSBC, with the branding changing to HSBC SVNS Series in 2023.