HSBC SVNS is heading to Los Angeles on Friday-Sunday, March 1-3 for the fifth stop on the international rugby series. For the first time ever, the USA leg is hosting men’s and women’s tournaments, with 24 teams competing inside Dignity Health Sports Park (Carson, Calif.). It’s the last time for Eagle fans to see Team USA play in-person ahead of the 2024 Olympics in Paris. [Lead photo: Alex Ho @hoiho_photo]
RELATED: LA 7s Tickets
Action begins Friday evening and trophies will be awarded Sunday. The USA Women, currently ranked 4th in the standings, are competing in Pool C against Canada, Spain and Great Britain. The USA Men, currently ranked 8th in the series standings, have Australia, New Zealand and Samoa in Pool B. Both USA teams are looking for their first podium visits this series, and LA would be the perfect time and place to do it. (At the time of print, the match schedule had not been released.)
It’s worth noting that World Rugby, and not a private enterprise, now owns and operates LA 7s. There are pros and cons there, with the major benefit being that the women’s tournament is finally getting equal billing as the men’s tournament. There’s a long, shameful history of resisting a joint tournament in the U.S. (although the women’s-only tournament that existed in Glendale, Colo., for a few years was hands-down TRB’s favorite international event in the states), but the change in ownership has ended the infuriating era of, “What about the women?”
One con, however, is that World Rugby passed on holding an amateur tournament (i.e., Los Angeles Invitational 7s) adjacent to the international tournament. It’s a regrettable loss, but hopefully not a permanent one, as it was a great driver for attendance and really drove that festival feel. (There is something called “Turf Games” that is occurring on Saturday but the team-based competition doesn’t seem to have anything to do with rugby.) Even if World Rugby never picks up LAI 7s, it’s a great opportunity for a local tournament, as teams around the country are already used to pencilling in that weekend.
So there should be some noticeable differences from the 2023 LA 7s, and if you’re a returner, be sure to check the weather. California isn’t always warm and sunny!