75,000-Plus Sports Fans Expected at World Rugby Sevens in Sydney

Destination New South Wales

Passionate sports fans, outrageous costumes, and family fun – the Sydney leg of the 2018 HSBC World Rugby Sevens will coincide with the Australia Day weekend in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia’s largest city, running from Friday 26 January to Sunday 28 January.

Twelve women’s and 16 men’s rugby teams from around the world will face off in the third leg of the 2017/18 HSBC World Rugby Sevens, which will be held in Sydney, Australia.

Each one of the 28 rugby teams is made up of 12 players: seven on the field during the match, with a reserve bench of five players. Teams are allowed an unlimited interchange of players. Because of the intense nature of the sport, the players need it.

Each game comprises two seven-minute halves with a two-minute break at halftime. The competition is held in a round-robin fashion, with 79 games played over three days. Here’s a quick look at what’s on tap …

• Day One – 18 Women’s Pool Matches and 8 Men’s Pools Matches will be held on Friday.
• Day Two – Women’s qualifying finals and another 16 Men’s Pool Matches will be held on Saturday.
• Day Three – Men’s qualifying finals and Medal matches and Women’s Medal Matches will be held on Sunday.

Points are awarded for wins, losses and draws and count for each team’s points total across the entire sevens season around the world.

The first women’s match will be held at 10 am on day one between Russia and Ireland. The first men’s match will be held at 6 pm on day one between Spain and England.

One of the things that makes the World Rugby Sevens so much fun is that there is far more to it than rugby.

Fans and players start arriving in the host city a week before the competition commences, turning it into a sort of party central. An undeniable festive atmosphere permeates the locale.

Beach Club

The South Stand of Allianz Stadium will be transformed into beach-like experience with gift packs on arrival including – a beach towel, sunglasses, a beach hat, sunscreen, a misting fan, and food-and-beverage vouchers.

Rugby ambassadors will visit the Beach Club throughout the weekend to pose for photos and sign autographs.

Look out for how to win your place on the beach via HSBC Australia and Rugby Australia social media channels. There will be one more chance to win at the stadium.

Men’s and Women’s Pools

There are three women’s pool with four teams each. There are four men’s pool with four teams each.

• Women’s Pool A – Australia, France, Spain, and Papua New Guinea
• Women’s Pool B – USA, New Zealand, England, Japan
• Women’s Pool C – Russia, Canada, Ireland, Fiji

• Men’s Pool A – New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Russia
• Men’s Pool B – Argentina, France, Wales, Kenya
• Men ‘s Pool C – South Africa, England, Spain, Papua New Guina
• Men’s Pool D – Canada, USA, Australia, Scotland

2017/18 HSBC World Rugby Seven Schedule

The 2017/18 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series began in Dubai on 31 November 2017. The second leg was held in Cape Town, South Africa, on 9 and 10 December.

Following Sydney, the next legs of the 2017/18 season will be held in the following locations:

• Hamilton, British Columbia  – 3 and 4 February (men’s only)
• Las Vegas, Nevada – 2 and 4 March (men’s only)
• Vancouver, British Columbia – 10 and 11 March (men’s only)
• Hong Kong – 6 to 8 April
• Kitakyushu, Japan – 21 and 22 April (women’s only)
• Singapore  – 28 and 29 April (men’s only)
• Langford, British Columbia – 12 and 13 May (women’s only)
• London, England – 2 and 3 June (men’s only)
• Paris, France  – 8 to 10 June.

Where to Stay

The following hotels are within one mile of the stadium. Their inclusion is based on proximity to the stadium and should not be interpreted as an endorsement. Do your own due diligence.

How to Get to the Stadium

Allianz Stadium is situated in the heart of Sydney, next to the Sydney Cricket Ground in Moore Park, which is located about 2 kilometres from Central Station.

The walk from Central Station to Allianz Stadium takes approximately 25 minutes, but be forewarned: it’s mostly uphill.

If you don’t want to walk, the following bus lines will take you from Central Station to the stadium: 339, 374, 376, and 391.

If you are coming from the Central Business District or Circular Quay, any of the following bus lines make stops near the stadium: 371 to 377 and 392 to 399.

Australia Day

The Sydney Sevens gets underway on the same day this year as Australia Day, the country’s national holiday, which should add an especially festive atmosphere to the event this year.

Outdoor concerts, community barbecues, sports competitions, festivals, and fireworks are among the many events that are traditionally held across Australia on Australia Day.

Not surprisingly, Sydney Harbour is the focus of the celebrations that are held in Australia’s largest city.

The day will begin this year at 7.30 am with a traditional Aboriginal smoking ceremony and a special Indigenous dance to celebrate the world’s oldest living culture at Barangaroo.

Other events will include a ferry boat race and a parade of tall ships.

There will be an outdoor Australia Day Concert in the forecourt of the world-famous Sydney Opera House. There will be more live music at the Rocks and other venues.

The celebrations will reach a spectacular climax after dark with a jaw-dropping fireworks display over Sydney Harbour.

Where

Allianz Stadium – Driver Avenue, Moore Park, New South Wales, Australia.

New South Wales is one of the top destinations in Australia. It is the site of the Sydney leg of the HSBC World Rugby Seven Series.