The rugby sevens tournament in Dubai (rebranded as HSBC SVNS DXB) is always one of the highlights of the rugby calendar. But, this event was more hotly anticipated than ever, as it was the first round of the HSBC SVNS Series for 2024.
Held at Sevens Stadium between December 2nd and December 3rd, HSBC SVNS DXB cemented this event as the greatest sport and entertainment festival in the Middle East!
Here’s everything you need to know about the tournament…
When did the Dubai Rugby Sevens Tournament Take Place?
The Dubai rugby sevens tournament (known as HSBC SVNS Dubai or SVNS DXB) ran from December 2nd to December 3rd 2023. The tournament was held at Sevens Stadium and 80,000 fans attended the festival. It was also the inaugural tournament in the newly rebranded HSBC SVNS Series, which was new for 2024.
Who Won HSBC SVNS Dubai?
Australia (women) and South Africa (men) were the HSBC SVNS Dubai winners. Here’s what happened in each final:
- Men: South Africa 12-7 Argentina
- Women: Australia 26-19 New Zealand
In the men’s final, the Blitzboks overcame a spirited Argentina 12-7 and lifted their fifth consecutive Dubai 7s trophy. Although Argentina had to settle for silver, this still represents their best ever result in Dubai Sevens.
Meanwhile, the women’s final was an epic encounter between the two best teams in the world. In a replay of last year’s final, Australia overpowered New Zealand 26-19 and ended their rival’s 41-match unbeaten run. Interestingly, the Black Ferns hadn’t lost since last year’s Dubai 7s final!
Dubai Sevens Tournament Review - Men’s
The men’s competition thrilled throughout. Here’s a rundown of how the tournament unfolded:
Pool A
Team | Played | Won | Lost | Points Difference | Bonus Points | Points |
South Africa | 3 | 3 | 0 | +31 | 0 | 9 |
New Zealand | 3 | 2 | 1 | +5 | 1 | 7 |
Samoa | 3 | 1 | 2 | +14 | 1 | 4 |
Canada | 3 | 0 | 3 | -50 | 1 | 1 |
Pool B
Team | Played | Won | Lost | Points Difference | Bonus Points | Points |
Argentina | 3 | 3 | 0 | +41 | 0 | 9 |
Ireland | 3 | 2 | 1 | +22 | 0 | 6 |
Australia | 3 | 1 | 2 | -6 | 1 | 4 |
Spain | 3 | 0 | 3 | -57 | 0 | 0 |
Pool C
Team | Played | Won | Lost | Points Difference | Bonus Points | Points |
USA | 3 | 2 | 1 | +29 | 1 | 7 |
Fiji | 3 | 2 | 1 | +18 | 0 | 6 |
France | 3 | 1 | 2 | -12 | 0 | 3 |
Great Britain | 3 | 1 | 2 | -35 | 0 | 3 |
As a result of the pool stage, South Africa, Australia, Ireland, Fiji, the USA, New Zealand, Samoa and Argentina advanced to the quarter-finals. The remaining teams competed in rankings play-offs.
These quarter-finals ended in the following way:
- South Africa 24-7 Australia
- Fiji 29-24 Ireland
- New Zealand 40-0 USA
- Argentina 21-14 Samoa
And the semi-finals results were as follows:
- South Africa 14-7 Fiji
- Argentina 21-19 New Zealand
Then, South Africa triumphed in the gold medal match. The Blitzboks defeated Argentina 12-7.
Dubai Sevens Tournament Review - Women’s
The women’s competition was just as captivating. Here’s a rundown of how each team progressed throughout the tournament:
Pool A
Team | Played | Won | Lost | Points Difference | Bonus Points | Points |
New Zealand | 3 | 3 | 0 | +49 | 0 | 9 |
Fiji | 3 | 2 | 1 | +17 | 0 | 6 |
Great Britain | 3 | 1 | 2 | -45 | 0 | 3 |
South Africa | 3 | 0 | 3 | -21 | 2 | 2 |
Pool B
Team | Played | Won | Lost | Points Difference | Bonus Points | Points |
Australia | 3 | 3 | 0 | +133 | 0 | 9 |
Ireland | 3 | 2 | 1 | +5 | 0 | 6 |
Brazil | 3 | 1 | 2 | -35 | 1 | 4 |
Japan | 3 | 0 | 3 | -103 | 0 | 0 |
Pool C
Team | Played | Won | Lost | Points Difference | Bonus Points | Points |
France | 3 | 3 | 0 | +83 | 0 | 9 |
Canada | 3 | 2 | 1 | +2 | 0 | 6 |
USA | 3 | 1 | 2 | -11 | 1 | 4 |
Spain | 3 | 0 | 3 | -74 | 0 | 0 |
As a result of the pool stage, New Zealand, Brazil, Ireland, Canada, France, Fiji, the USA and Australia all qualified for the quarter-finals, while the remaining teams competed in ranking play-offs.
The quarter-finals were as follows:
- New Zealand 26-14 Brazil
- Canada 14-12 Ireland
- France 38-14 Fiji
- Australia 32-5 USA
And the semi-finals ended in the following way:
- New Zealand 21-19 Canada
- Australia 21-14 France
Then, the final ended Australia 26-19 New Zealand.
Will Dubai Sevens Return for HSBC SVNS 2025?
Yes. Dates for HSBC SVNS Dubai are yet to be confirmed, but the tournament will form round 1 of the HSBC SVNS Series for 2025. It’s expected that the event will take place in early December 2024.
