HSBC Canada Sevens Rugby Festivals

NOTE: The women's 2020 tournament is cancelled due to Covid-19

The world sevens rugby series is an annual tournament of the planet's best male and female rugby sevens teams. The series is comprised of several weekend-long tournaments throughout the year located in host cities around the globe.

Canada taking the field at the sevens rugby tournament in Vancouver

Each event is a weekend of non-stop action filled with heart pounding, bone crushing excitement. And then there’s the costumes! The sevens tournaments are building a reputation for the most fun, most colourful, most crazy, most amazing weekend of sport.

Rugby fans dressed as RCMP members give high fives after team Canada scored a try during the World Rugby Seven Series match against Australia at B.C. Place on Saturday, March 10, 2018. Photo credit Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press

The format of the tournament is unlike any other sport I am aware of.

Each location has its own flair and crazy mix of fans, but the tournament structure is basically the same at each venue.

Canada hosts the men’s tournament in Vancouver each March and the women’s tournament is held right here in Greater Victoria at Westhills Stadium in Langford, usually on or around Mother’s Day weekend.

William and I at men's sevens tournament in Vancouver

Sevens Rugby at Westhills

On a typical Day One at Westhills, you will be entertained by 18 games plus whatever activities are planned for the breaks. Here in Canada you can expect more rugby such as national U18 championships or high school games.

Each team plays 3 games in a round-robin format– one game against every team in their pool. All teams will play further matches on Sunday with the top-ranking teams in pursuit of the Championship Cup.

Westhills marks the 5th stop on the HSBC women’s sevens tour:

Glendale, United States
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Sydney, Australia
Kitakyushu, Japan
Langford, Canada
Paris, France

New grandstand at the refurbished Westhills Stadium

Fueled by the spectacular showing by Canada’s women at the Rio Olympics, there has been a significant interest in sevens locally and across the country.

This is evidenced by the exploding number of youths joining their local rugby clubs. Here in Victoria, the rugby team choices for men and women include James Bay Athletic Association located in James Bay, Castaway Wanderers in Oak Bay and Westshore Rugby Club out of the West Shore Parks and Recreation Society.

With the increased interest in rugby, there are many communities who would be thrilled to host a high calibre sporting event such as the HSBC Sevens Rugby Series. Victoria is fortunate to have this in our own backyard.

What better way to support Team Canada and spend a spring weekend? Get your tickets now and plan to be at one of the best spectator sports events around. Come to Langford to cheer on and support these strong, powerful, kick-ass women.