4 December 2025— Cape Town is set to host the second stop of the HSBC SVNS Series on 6–7 December, as the world’s top sevens rugby teams continue their campaign after an action-packed opening round in Dubai. The event also marks ten years since Cape Town first hosted the tournament in 2015, adding significance to this year’s edition.
According to World Rugby, last year saw South Africa lift the men’s trophy after defeating France, while New Zealand topped the women’s competition. Both defending champions return to Cape Town with the aim of retaining their titles.
The tournament was officially launched at the Castle of Good Hope, South Africa’s oldest surviving building, with a historic cannon ceremony in which the reigning Cape Town champions, the BlitzBoks and Black Ferns captains, fired the cannon last used in the late 1800s.
At the launch, South Africa captain Impi Visser said:
“We are very happy to be back in Cape Town. As always, we have this one opportunity to play in front of family, friends and fans and we want to make the most of it. Winning last year was such a great feeling and we are determined to experience that again.
“The new format makes every match a must win and that adds to the pressure. Our confidence remains high that we can go out and defend our title, but we are fully aware of what it will demand from us. We are ready for that.”
Cape Town hosts the series following Dubai, where New Zealand completed a double victory, winning both the men’s and women’s titles. The opening round produced 254 tries, setting the stage for another highly competitive weekend.
Play begins at 10:00 local time on Saturday at DHL Stadium, with Canada and Japan meeting in the opening women’s pool match.
Beyond the rugby action, Cape Town will also feature a weekend programme of entertainment with performances from popular artists and various fan-engagement activities, as highlighted by World Rugby.
World Rugby has confirmed that global audiences will be able to follow the action live on RugbyPass TV.
