New Zealand Sevens tournament will return to Hamilton in 2023

International Sevens action will return to Hamilton this summer with the Black Ferns Sevens and All Blacks Sevens out to defend their respective titles when the HSBC New Zealand Sevens lights up FMG Stadium Waikato on 21-22 January 2023.

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and event partner 37 South Events today announced the return of New Zealand’s biggest sporting party, signalling the end of a two-year absence due to the COVID pandemic.

The resurrected Hamilton event, which returns to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series schedule after missing the 2021 and 2022 series, will feature full men’s and women’s draws with all matches live and exclusive on Sky.

NZR Head of Tournaments & Competitions Cameron Good said the announcement was a feel-good moment after two tough years for the events industry.

“The HSBC New Zealand Sevens has been one of the highlights of the sporting summer since it moved to Hamilton in 2018 and has left a gap in the events calendar over the past two years due to COVID. We are thrilled to be bringing a truly international sporting event back to Aotearoa, back to Waikato and back to Hamilton.

“It’s great news for the Black Ferns Sevens and All Blacks Sevens, who are desperate to play in front of their home fans again, it’s great news for the local and regional economies, and it’s great news for all the fans out there who have made it such a vibrant and colourful celebration of sevens.”

Dallas Fisher, the Managing Director of 37 South and co-promoter of the Hamilton tournament said the news was a huge boost for the Waikato region.

“Mark the date in your calendar because the HSBC New Zealand Sevens is going to be the most entertaining weekend on the summer events calendar. We’ve seen from previous events that the sevens brings people together all parts of our community and in 2023 we are going to create a truly multicultural festival at FMG Stadium Waikato. I can’t wait to see that sea of Fijian flags flying again in the stands again.”

Fisher said the tournament had injected about $3 million in new cash into the Waikato region’s economy during its first three editions in Hamilton and created numerous jobs both locally in Hamilton and across the region.

“It’s a major boost to the hospitality sector, local businesses, tourism and also the morale of the region. We’re proud to be event partners and we are looking forward to putting on another great sevens party in Hamilton.”

The 2023 edition of a tournament that’s been on the New Zealand sporting calendar for more than two decades, will see the addition of second playing field next to FMG Stadium Waikato to enable the full men’s and women’s draws to be played over two action-packed days. Fans will be able to access both fields with party zones, family zones, circus rides and world class food all part of organisers’ plans.

The HSBC New Zealand Sevens was last played in 2020 but has been missing from the World Rugby Sevens Series for the past two seasons as COVID played havoc with the international sevens schedule.

World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin said:

“We are delighted that the HSBC New Zealand Sevens will be back in 2023. The players, teams and everyone involved with the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series will be excited by the prospect of returning to Hamilton to play in front of such knowledgeable, enthusiastic and passionate rugby fans.

“We thank title partner HSBC, as well as DHL, Capgemini and Gilbert for their excellent continued support and commitment to the Series over what has been an uncertain and challenging period for all. The future of rugby sevens is very bright, and World Rugby is fully committed to the sustainable growth, innovation and success of the highly impactful and entertaining Olympic sport.”

World Rugby will announce the full 2023 HSBC World Rugby Sevens series schedule in coming days.

HSBC New Zealand Sevens facts:

• The tournament has a rich tradition in Aotearoa stretching back 22 tournaments and has been hugely popular with fans since coming to Hamilton in 2018.
• The All Blacks Sevens have won the tournament 10 times since its inception in Wellington in 2000, while Fiji’s men’s team have won it five times.
• The Black Ferns Sevens have won both of the women’s tournaments staged in Hamilton taking out the Fast4 Tournament in 2019, and the first HSBC World Rugby Series women’s event in New Zealand in 2020.
• In 2018 and 2019 the HSBC New Zealand Sevens won the Best International Event award at the New Zealand Events Association (NZEA) Event Awards in Auckland.