Just six months after the last stopover, the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series returns to Canada this weekend. We take a look at the past history of the men’s and women’s tournaments.
With its renowned hospitality and breathtaking scenery, Canada has been a popular rugby touring destination for many a decade.
And it has also been home to some of rugby’s big occasions, notably the Rugby World Cup in 2006 when the best teams in women’s rugby came together in Edmonton and the men’s Churchill Cup.
In recent years, the choice of BC Place in Vancouver and Langford as one of the stopovers on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in both the men’s and women’s events has only cemented its reputation as a must-visit country for all discerning rugby fans.
Vancouver joined the line-up as a World Series host city in 2016, and with its city centre location and passionate fans – not to mention the thrills and spills on the field of play, the tournament hit the ground running.
RECORD CROWDS
Over 70,000 spectators attended the first tournament, making it the most highly attended rugby event hosted on Canadian soil, and that figure has also been passed in each of the four subsequent years.
Current HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series leaders South Africa have won there twice, in addition to the extra leg in Edmonton last September, and are the defending champions following their success in September.
South Africa have played the most Cup finals of any team in Canada, reaching this stage in four of the past six tournaments. They finished second in 2016 and 2017 before winning their maiden Cup title at this event in 2019 before claiming gold for the second time in 2021.
New Zealand won the inaugural event in 2016 and again in 2020, in the last tournament to be staged before the enforced break brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
England claimed the gold medal in 2017, Dan Norton getting the winner against the Blitzboks and equalling Collins Injera’s try-scoring record in the process, while Fiji won for the only time in Vancouver the following year.
Home fans have not had much to shout about in terms of on-field success, with Canada’s bronze medal in 2020 the only time they have reached the podium.
However, the Canadian fans are never ones to let such disappointments dampen their spirits and the crowds in BC Place are known to be as colourful and raucous as anywhere else, if not more, on the circuit.
BLACK FERNS SEVENS DOMINATE
The same applies to the Westhills Stadium in Langford, British Columbia, which has played host to the women’s Canada Sevens since 2015.
Like most other venues around the world, New Zealand have typically been the dominant force.
The Black Ferns Sevens have won four out of the first five Canada Sevens titles on offer, with England the exception in 2016.
In beating Australia 21-17 in the 2019 final, it was the first time the All Blacks Sevens had completed four tournament wins at the same venue.
The 2020 tournament fell victim to the global pandemic, while in 2021, an abbreviated Fast Four tournament took the place of a full-blown World Series event, Great Britain doing the double by winning in both Vancouver and Edmonton.
Rugby sevens fans around the world can watch the action via live stream on World Rugby digital platforms including www.world.rugby, YouTube and Facebook in countries where there is no national broadcaster covering the event.
2022 Vancouver Sevens Draw
SAT APR 16 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Pool D, Match 1
ARGENTINA 7S V FRANCE 7S
Local time kick off 09:00 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 04:00, Sun 17 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Pool D, Match 2
IRELAND 7S V SCOTLAND 7S
Local time kick off 09:22 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 04:22, Sun 17 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Pool B, Match 3
SAMOA 7S V WALES 7S
Local time kick off 09:44 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 04:44, Sun 17 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Pool B, Match 4
NEW ZEALAND 7S V JAPAN 7S
Local time kick off 10:06 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 05:06, Sun 17 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Pool A, Match 5
USA 7S V KENYA 7S
Local time kick off 10:31 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 05:31, Sun 17 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Pool A, Match 6
FIJI 7S V ENGLAND 7S
Local time kick off 10:53 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 05:53, Sun 17 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Pool C, Match 7
SOUTH AFRICA 7S V SPAIN 7S
Local time kick off 11:15 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 06:15, Sun 17 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Pool C, Match 8
AUSTRALIA 7S V CANADA 7S
Local time kick off 11:37 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 06:37, Sun 17 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Pool D, Match 9
ARGENTINA 7S V SCOTLAND 7S
Local time kick off 12:11 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 07:11, Sun 17 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Pool D, Match 10
IRELAND 7S V FRANCE 7S
Local time kick off 12:33 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 07:33, Sun 17 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Pool B, Match 11
SAMOA 7S V JAPAN 7S
Local time kick off 12:55 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 07:55, Sun 17 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Pool B, Match 12
NEW ZEALAND 7S V WALES 7S
Local time kick off 13:17 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 08:17, Sun 17 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Pool A, Match 13
USA 7S V ENGLAND 7S
Local time kick off 13:42 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 08:42, Sun 17 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Pool A, Match 14
FIJI 7S V KENYA 7S
Local time kick off 14:04 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 09:04, Sun 17 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Pool C, Match 15
SOUTH AFRICA 7S V CANADA 7S
Local time kick off 14:26 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 09:26, Sun 17 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Pool C, Match 16
AUSTRALIA 7S V SPAIN 7S
Local time kick off 14:48 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 09:48, Sun 17 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Pool D, Match 17
FRANCE 7S V SCOTLAND 7S
Local time kick off 15:22 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 10:22, Sun 17 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Pool D, Match 18
IRELAND 7S V ARGENTINA 7S
Local time kick off 15:44 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 10:44, Sun 17 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Pool B, Match 19
WALES 7S V JAPAN 7S
Local time kick off 16:06 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 11:06, Sun 17 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Pool B, Match 20
NEW ZEALAND 7S V SAMOA 7S
Local time kick off 16:28 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 11:28, Sun 17 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Pool A, Match 21
KENYA 7S V ENGLAND 7S
Local time kick off 17:07 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 12:07, Sun 17 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Pool A, Match 22
FIJI 7S V USA 7S
Local time kick off 17:35 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 12:35, Sun 17 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Pool C, Match 23
SPAIN 7S V CANADA 7S
Local time kick off 18:05 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 13:05, Sun 17 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Pool C, Match 24
AUSTRALIA 7S V SOUTH AFRICA 7S
Local time kick off 18:33 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 13:33, Sun 17 Apr 2022
SUN APR 17 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, 9th Place Quarter Final, Match 25
3RD POOL A V 4TH POOL D
Local time kick off 09:00 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 04:00, Mon 18 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, 9th Place Quarter Final, Match 26
3RD POOL C V 4TH POOL B
Local time kick off 09:22 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 04:22, Mon 18 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, 9th Place Quarter Final, Match 27
3RD POOL D V 4TH POOL A
Local time kick off 09:44 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 04:44, Mon 18 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, 9th Place Quarter Final, Match 28
3RD POOL B V 4TH POOL C
Local time kick off 10:06 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 05:06, Mon 18 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Cup Quarter Finals, Match 29
1ST POOL A V 2ND POOL D
Local time kick off 10:40 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 05:40, Mon 18 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Cup Quarter Finals, Match 30
1ST POOL C V 2ND POOL B
Local time kick off 11:02 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 06:02, Mon 18 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Cup Quarter Finals, Match 31
1ST POOL D V 2ND POOL A
Local time kick off 11:24 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 06:24, Mon 18 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Cup Quarter Finals, Match 32
1ST POOL B V 2ND POOL C
Local time kick off 11:46 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 06:46, Mon 18 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, 13th Place Semi Final, Match 33
LOSER M25 V LOSER M26
Local time kick off 12:20 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 07:20, Mon 18 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, 13th Place Semi Final, Match 34
LOSER M27 V LOSER M28
Local time kick off 12:42BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 07:42, Mon 18 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, 9th Place Semi Final, Match 35
WINNER M25 V WINNER M26
Local time kick off 13:04 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 08:04, Mon 18 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, 9th Place Semi Final, Match 36
WINNER M27 V WINNER M28
Local time kick off 13:26 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 08:26, Mon 18 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, 5th Place Semi Final, Match 37
LOSER M29 V LOSER M30
Local time kick off 14:00 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 09:00, Mon 18 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, 5th Place Semi Final, Match 38
LOSER M32 V LOSER M31
Local time kick off 14:22 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 09:22, Mon 18 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Cup Semi Finals, Match 39
WINNER M29 V WINNER M30
Local time kick off 14:44 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 09:44, Mon 18 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Cup Semi Finals, Match 40
WINNER M32 V WINNER M31
Local time kick off 15:06 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 10:06, Mon 18 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, 13th Place Play-Off, Match 41
WINNER M33 V WINNER M34
Local time kick off 15:28BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 10:28, Mon 18 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, 9th Place Play-Off, Match 42
WINNER M35 V WINNER M36
Local time kick off 16:37 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 11:37, Mon 18 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, 5th Place Play-Off, Match 43
WINNER M37 V WINNER M38
Local time kick off 17:01 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 12:01, Mon 18 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Bronze Final, Match 44
LOSER M39 V LOSER M40
Local time kick off 17:28 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 12:28, Mon 18 Apr 2022
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 – Vancouver, Cup Final, Match 45
WINNER M40 V WINNER M39
Local time kick off 17:58 BC Place, Vancouver
NZ Time – 12:58, Mon 18 Apr 2022