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
- Pool A: Czechia, Mexico, South Africa, Thailand
- Pool B: Argentina, Colombia, Poland, Samoa
Men’s pools
- Pool A: Colombia, Hong Kong China, Samoa, Tonga
- Pool B: Belgium, Canada, Italy, Madagascar
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.
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.
World Rugby Sevens General Manager Sam Pinder said: “With one month to go, HSBC SVNS 3 represents an important milestone in the evolution of our global sevens pathway.
“Bringing this standalone event to Dubai provides teams with a clear, competitive route towards the SVNS World Championship, while reinforcing our commitment to growing the game sustainably and globally.”
How to Watch
The Sevens Stadium will host sevens action once more following on from the hugely successful HSBC SVNS Dubai which took place in November. Tickets for HSBC SVNS 3 are free with fans able to turn up each day.
Fans around the world will be able to watch every match live on RugbyPass TV, bringing the excitement of HSBC SVNS 3 directly to global audiences.
