Rugby sevens is already beginning to define its path to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. World Rugby has confirmed the qualification system that will determine the 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams competing for Olympic medals, through a process combining international performance, regional tournaments and a final repechage. United States, as the host nation, will have a guaranteed place in both competitions.
The road to LA28 will begin even before the Olympic tournament takes place. The HSBC SVNS 2027 season, scheduled to start in Dubai in November 2026 and conclude in Bordeaux at the end of May 2027, will play a central role in the qualification race. The results achieved throughout the season will not only determine the world circuit champions, but will also open the first doors to the Olympic Games.
HSBC SVNS 2027 will open the first Olympic qualification spots
The first qualification route will be directly linked to the HSBC SVNS 2027 World Championship. At the end of the season, the four highest-ranked eligible men’s and women’s teams, excluding the United States due to its host status, will secure a place for their respective National Olympic Committees. As a result, eight of the available places — four in each gender competition — will be determined through international competition before the regional tournaments begin.
The importance of SVNS 2027 will go beyond the battle for the circuit title. Every match and every position in the standings will carry additional significance for the teams seeking to secure their place in Los Angeles, turning the season into a parallel race between the fight for the world championship and the goal of reaching the Olympic Games. For the teams finishing among the top four eligible sides, the reward will be to secure their place at LA28 in advance and avoid the subsequent stages of the qualification process.
Six regional tournaments and one final opportunity in 2028
Once the SVNS 2027 season concludes, the process will continue during the second half of the year with six regional qualification tournaments organized by the associations of Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania and South America. Each region will award one men’s and one women’s Olympic place, putting 12 additional spots up for grabs and expanding the opportunities for teams that have not qualified through the world circuit.
The final stage will take place in June 2028 with the Olympic repechage. Eight men’s and eight women’s teams, coming through the regional qualification processes or the Games, will compete for the remaining places, with one final spot available in each competition. In total, 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams will compete in Los Angeles, with delegations of up to 12 players per qualified National Olympic Committee. The repechage tournament will therefore be the final opportunity for teams still seeking a place at LA28.
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