SVNS is alive and well after being 'reborn' in Cape Town
Seasons change, new champions are crowned and players come and go like clouds rolling over Table Mountain. But the Cape Town SVNS remains just as eternal as the mighty mountain that towers over the stadium.
The majestic Table Mountain was perhaps the perfect backdrop for the tournament this year at Cape Town Stadium, serving a reminder that the HSBC SVNS Series only stands on the foothills of its revolution- but the revolution has begun.
World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin announced at the weekend we are at the start of a “revolution” with rugby sevens, as the SVNS Series was “reborn” in Dubai and most recently Cape Town. But these were not baby steps that the tournaments took into a new era, rather giant revolutionary strides.
Maybe it’s what a cloudless summer’s day can bring to a rugby tournament, maybe it’s the ever-present frisson of excitement that pervades South African rugby currently after the Springboks lifted their fourth Webb Ellis Cup October, but there was an all-too-apparent sense that this was the beginning of something new at the carnival in Cape Town.
Both Gilpin and World Rugby’s Director of Experiential Greta Cooper stressed at the Cape Town Stadium that rugby remains at “the heart of what we’re doing,” and that seemed to be the case. But it also served as the lifeblood to the “all action entertainment product” that Gilpin said SVNS now is.
The product on the pitch helped. The Australia women’s team dominated as they did the week before in Dubai, cementing their status as the team to beat in the upcoming series. The men’s tournament was full of upsets and drama, with Argentina coming away as victors, depriving Australia of a clean sweep in the men’s and women’s game. South Africa men’s and women’s were unsurprisingly the crowd favourites, creating mass hysteria every time they ran onto the field, receiving a rapturous welcome that we previously thought was solely reserved for the Springboks, as The Cranberries’ Zombie further became a fixture of South African rugby culture.
But the rugby on the pitch was only one faction of what was a marvellous entertainment tapestry. While it may remain at the heart of the tournaments, the extras are what make the SVNS Series unique.
Fans in the stands were treated to a rugby feast on the sun-drenched Cape Town Stadium pitch, but on the other side of the four walls, hordes of fans were being treated to a sensory feast, in what Gilpin described as “bombarding their senses across a wider range of entertainment.”
The new series is about attracting a younger demographic, specifically 18-34 year olds. As rugby seeks to reach a new audience, SVNS is the vehicle to reach that crowd, as it “entertains in a different way”. Gilpin added that “SVNS does a job for rugby that other parts of the sport don’t do,” and a stroll along the concourse of the Cape Town Stadium at any point over the weekend showed that it was doing its job well, as a youthful crowd enjoyed everything that the Cape Town SVNS had to offer, well after play ended and the sun had set.
“We’re tapping into the passion points and what 18 to 34 year olds really engage with,” Cooper said when outlining the all-round package that SVNS will provide. “We’re doing that through food and drink, music and entertainment, and health and wellness.”
From the 2023 Cape Town Turf Games being held at the stadium to DJ Zinhle performing at the Beach Club on the concourse, Gilpin perhaps summed up the festival – and more importantly, what is to come – most accurately when he said SVNS is about “providing a lot more entertainment and a lot more fun,” which it unequivocally did. But as the party continued outside, the in-bowl crowd swelled and hummed in the background with every point scored- the SVNS heartbeat giving life to everything else.
Come the end of the weekend, the rugby on show almost felt like a pleasant bonus to what else was on offer.
With two of the eight legs of the series complete, it is on to Perth next in January, where the party will start again.
Comments on RugbyPass
‘War of independence’. Such a grand name for a few skirmishes. Where were all the great battles of this ‘war’ ? Smith got goosebumps as he was being emotionally manipulated, another mushroom.
1 Go to commentsFor all those disputing the veracity of Etzebeth’s very public recollections of the Irish players’ comments, I have one question: should we be holding our collective breath in anticipation of a barrage of strenuous denials from the Irish squad? Then again, perhaps not…
117 Go to comments> If the game of rugby is to grow globally, then the rugby Sth Africa play needs to be exterminated. Their performances at World Cup ‘19 & ‘23 were the antithesis to what the game should be. If the World Cup final is the grand spectacle of the game, please no more having to endure the drudgery and insipid ‘style ‘ of play harking back to pre WWII days, where the soulless rugby of the Bok reflected the mindset of a nation. > Gotta agree with Ben Smith, “ the Springboks took the trophy by default, with what might be the most unimpressive escape of all time “.
73 Go to commentsI think Rassie should bring in some new guys and give them a go in these irrelevant games. It’s a chance to blood some guys that might otherwise not get a chance and see if they’re up to it. As for the who’s number 1 dispute? Don’t care. As long as the trophies are brought home, that argument isn’t important. Champions don’t fuss about the could’ve, would’ve, should’ve. They just do, and that for me makes SA and NZ the top dogs. Followed by Ireland and occasionally England.
225 Go to commentsThis is like the “catches win matches" saying in cricket. If ABs were pragmatic and kicked for goal instead of hunting tries, I reckon they win that game with ease. Instead, nearly 6 months later; we have World Rugby's official mouthpiece celebrating their Almost Won the Rugby World Cup trophy. Fine Victory Gentleman! Well-earned!!
73 Go to comments“…the All Blacks nearly won…” is the only phrase you need to concern yourself with relative to this “journalistic” piece. Enjoy your Almost Won the World Cup victory…
73 Go to commentsAw common. Stop winging. There were no errors by officials. It is all recorded. Whose fault was the Cane red card? Or the Savea knock? Maybe the selectors who insisted on making a very average player their captain should be blamed. Something had to give way.
73 Go to commentsThe latest ‘Ireland are arrogant’ attack from one of the two most arrogant rugby nations on earth.
117 Go to commentsWaawaawaaaaaaaa
23 Go to commentsHow does this guy still have a job?
73 Go to commentsSorry bok you can't beat facts, we heard you all crowing how great you thought you were..lol ! We all watched the game, cheatsabeth cheating cost abs a try, only a penalty considering it was cynical and a professional foul, doesn't matter who wrote this because thats how it happened, but you go enjoy your gifting of the cup,
73 Go to commentsCan we talk about the context of how this particular journalist continues to make a living and gets published? Controversy for clicks. Shame on all of us for engaging with these irrelevant opinions.
73 Go to commentsAn astounding article !
73 Go to commentsFrance didn’t lose against New Zeland in 2011, but against Joubert…
73 Go to commentsHahahaha knew the “journalist” just by seeing the headline. Not wasting my time reading it as I know it's just another toxic manifestation of the boks living rent free in this babies head.
73 Go to commentsWhen you read those facts, you can say safely that the game was handed to the Springboks by the ruling mistakes made by the Referee and TMO. Perhaps that is why South Africans were/are so “noisey” about the win….this behaviour perhaps concealing that they realise luck played a big part in the result. Certainly not a good look for the IRB going forward…pretty shoddy sadly.
73 Go to commentsI must admit to being quite surprised by all the wine-ing and hand wringing from most AB pundits; commentators and the general analysis after a classic and engrossing final. I shudder to think how the pundits would’ve reacted if the AB’s where victors with 1 point on the day.. Most Bok fans pundits; fans and commentators take a loss on the chin; congratulate the winner and move on…and till now the NZ rugby fans where the same.. Naas Botha’s famous quote has never been more apt…. Cowboys don’t cry or make excuses.. STOP IT CRY-BABIES; …..YOU LOST.
73 Go to comments4 out of 8 beats 3 out of 10 cups. Maybe NZ are bad finishers???🤣🤣🤣
73 Go to commentsBokke bokke Bokke
1 Go to commentsThe main thing you need on your side to win a World Cup is luck. ABs had their fair share of it in the 2011 final. One score game in the SF vs Springboks in 2015 means there always things you can look at and say if this thing or that thing happened then SA would/should have won that game. Smith’s try being called back broke protocol, but it was the correct decision, so I don’t have a problem with that. If it was an SA try called back in the same circumstances I don’t think many ABS fans would have a problem with it. Cane’s shot was high, it was the classic thing NZ players have been doing, and getting carded for for years - Walking around bolt upright trying to put a big hit on someone. Stupid play by someone with a poor disciplinary record. The one that was a big problem for me was Etzebeth’s obstruction. The referee just choked on this occasion. Frustrating to have the TMO in his ear all night, apart from at this moment. Minimum yellow card for Etzebeth, but a very strong case for a penalty try also. Despite all that the ABs had the opportunity to be ahead with 3 minutes to play, so it’s hard to point fingers too much. Pollard makes that kick 99/100. JB and RM make it 50/100. That’s what it came down to in the end.
73 Go to comments