For immediate release:

2018 HSBC Canada Sevens delivers another outstanding weekend for players and fans; tournament organizers tender for another 4 years of sport and celebration at BC Place Stadium.

March 12, 2017, Vancouver, BC: The 2018 HSBC Canada Sevens came to a close on Sunday evening, after two electrifying days that saw 16 national teams competing in a total of 45 matches over the 2-day event at BC Place. In an exciting final that saw Fiji claim victory over Kenya by a score of 31-12 in front of a large enthusiastic crowd, Canada Sevens fans showed yet again the appetite for rugby sevens in Vancouver. With a total attendance of 77,096 over the weekend, the tournament has once again broken its own attendance records, and keeps raising the bar for the largest-ever rugby audience in Canada.

“Three years ago we set out to bring a unique signature event to Canada that would become a favourite not only for rugby fans, but for fans of international sport and entertainment,” said Jamie Levchuk, Managing Director, Canada Sevens. “Between the world-class play on the pitch, the enthusiastic celebration in the stands, and the outstanding partners who ensure we have the resources we need – our vision has been brought to life, and continues to grow each year. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have hosted another memorable weekend, and will keep working to ensure that the HSBC Canada Sevens tournament delivers the best possible experience for all, as we head into 2019, and bid for the rights to host through to 2023.”

The HSBC Canada Sevens is in its third year of an initial four-year hosting agreement. Rugby Canada has announced that they will be bidding once again for the rights to host the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, from 2020 through to 2023. This year, the tournament announced a Saturday sell-out, with more than 39,000 cheering fans in colourful creative costumes filling BC Place Stadium and setting the tone for another epic weekend.

With 19 hours of play over the 2-day event, a total of 1,800 BC Place staff worked in Food and Beverage service, Hosting, Security, First Aid and Operations for both days of the event. In addition, 109 volunteers were on hand to support in all aspects of the tournament, and fans travelled to Vancouver from more than 18 countries, including England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, Hungary, South Africa, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Australia and the United States.

In an effort to further growth of local grassroots rugby, Rugby Canada, Canada Sevens & HSBC invited over 120 kids to take part in HSBC Rookie Rugby presented by Honda during a break in the action on Sunday afternoon. The rugby stars of the future ranged in ages 4 – 10 from local youth groups, including: Henry Hudson Elementary School, BC Rugby Club Minis and Aboriginal Community Centres. Rugby Legends and HSBC Ambassadors George Gregan and Ben Ryan provided expert coaching throughout the session.

With 45 games over the 2-day event, a total of 1,800 BC Place staff worked in Food and Beverage service, Hosting, Security, First Aid and Operations for both days of the event. In addition, 109 volunteers were on hand to support in all aspects of the tournament, and fans travelled to Vancouver from more than 18 countries, including England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, Hungary, South Africa, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Australia and the United States.

The 16 teams will now enjoy a few weeks of recovery time before a busy month of April, where teams will take part in the Cathay Pacific HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, Singapore Sevens and Commonwealth Games.

International rugby returns to British Columbia in May for the fourth annual HSBC Canada Women’s Sevens at Westhills Stadium in Langford, BC May 12-13 later this year. The top 12 women’s teams in the world – including Canada’s RIO 2016 Olympic bronze medalists – will compete for the title at the Home of Canadian Rugby in the third stop on their series.

About HSBC Canada Sevens:
HSBC Canada Sevens is a two-day indoor rugby sevens tournament, hosted March 10–11, 2018 at the world-class BC Place Stadium, host venue to Canada’s most prestigious events, featuring 16 of the world’s top men’s sevens teams. The HSBC Canada Sevens Vancouver is 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 2018 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series kicked off November 30^th in Dubai, and the full ten-stop tour schedule of the 2018 Series can be found at www.worldrugby.org/sevens-series.

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For more information, please contact: media@canadasevens.com