Calendar of Events
International rugby sevens returns to The Sevens Stadium, Dubai just 7 weeks after 2025’s epic Emirates Dubai 7s weekend, as HSBC SVNS 3 takes centre stage across two days between 17-18 January 2026.
The standalone event will feature eight men’s and eight women’s teams, all competing for promotion to HSBC SVNS 2. Qualification for HSBC SVNS 3 has been earned through regional tournaments, further extending the reach and profile of rugby sevens.
Teams will be split into two pools of four (Pools A and B) in both the men’s and women’s competitions.
Women’s pools
Men’s pools
Opening fixtures
The action gets underway on Saturday 17 January, with the women’s tournament opening at 10:00 (GMT +4) as Colombia face Poland. The men’s competition follows at 11:28, with Madagascar taking on Belgium to kick off pool play.
View full match schedule here >>
Sunday’s programme will see teams progress to the play-offs, all aiming to be crowned HSBC SVNS 3 champions, with the top two men’s and women’s teams securing promotion to HSBC SVNS 2.
HSBC SVNS 2 will take place in February and March 2026, with events hosted in Nairobi, Montevideo and Sao Paulo, where promoted teams will face established sevens nations including China, Kenya, Uruguay and USA.
Across HSBC SVNS 2, the top four men’s and women’s teams will earn promotion to the elite HSBC SVNS World Championship Series. This winner-takes-all series will see 24 teams (12 men’s and 12 women’s) compete at prestigious stops in Hong Kong, Valladolid and Bordeaux.
Matches are free to attend at The Sevens Stadium
All matches will be played on Pitch 2, with the venue’s much-loved Beats on 2 raised platform and viewing deck reopening for the weekend, serving food and beverages and creating a lively social hub for fans throughout the day.
The HSBC SVNS 3 weekend will also coincide with the stadium’s annual mini and youth sports festival, taking place across the venue’s other rugby pitches and netball courts, showcasing the UAE’s grassroots sporting talent. Local mini and youth rugby and netball teams will compete in a two-day tournament, adding to the weekend’s festival atmosphere. Activities will begin from 8am, with HSBC SVNS 3 matches running from 10am to 7:30pm on Saturday and 4:30pm on Sunday making it an ideal family-friendly sporting weekend for residents and visitors alike.
A new era for HSBC SVNS
These fixtures form part of World Rugby’s newly evolved HSBC SVNS competition model, designed to deliver long-term financial sustainability and accelerate the global growth of rugby sevens in the lead-up to the LA 2028 Olympic Games.
The model provides a clearer and faster pathway from regional competition to the SVNS World Championship within a single season, supported by an expanded 13-tournament calendar from 2026.
How to Watch
Fans unable to attend the matches for free in Dubai, will be able to watch every match live on RugbyPass TV, bringing the excitement of HSBC SVNS 3 directly to global audiences.
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