Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Olympics
Football
Netball
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Full Noise by SN
The Live Sport Bible is here!No return in sight for New Zealand Sevens
Alex Chapman • May 4th, 2026 12:11 pm
Wellington sevens | Photo: Photosport
The prospect of a revival of a New Zealand Sevens leg appears unlikely.
The enormous success of Super Round at Christchurch’s One NZ Stadium over ANZAC weekend brought comparisons, particularly on the Saturday, to the heyday of the Wellington Sevens, and subsequent questions of a potential comeback.
Often held in late-January or early February, the annual tournament was a highly sought after ticket throughout large periods of the capital hosting it from 2000-2017.
It was moved to Waikato Stadium in Hamilton from 2018-2020, before returning in 2023 after the 2021 and 2022 tournaments were cancelled due to the impacts of Covid-19.
But World Rugby’s focus on a more condensed series with all events featuring both men’s and women’s tournaments saw it removed from being a stop on the calendar in 2024.
And that's unlikely to change any time soon.
Sport Nation understands a return isn’t on New Zealand Rugby’s radar, with the national governing body not contemplating entering into discussions with World Rugby.
Wellington sevens fan in 2012 | Photo: Photosport
Two years ago, it’s believed NZR was asked for an expression of interest for bidding to host an event but those conversations didn't progress, and it doesn't intend to re-engage any time soon.
At its peak, the Wellington World Series event would sell out the 34,00 seat stadium which housed it, with tickets snapped up within minutes of release.
Varying levels of creative costumes would see multiple Jesus’ celebrating with Santa and his elves, Flintstones partying alongside aliens, and nationalities ranging from Jamaican bobsledders to proud kiwis (birds and people), all adding to a weekend-long party and carnival atmosphere.
The sport, at times, was just the bonus.
However, restrictions around crowd behaviour and tightening of liquor laws resulted in claims the 'fun police' had become too involved, resulting in dwindling interest.
Karl Te Nana on a potential NZ Sevens tour stop | Sport Nation Afternoons
In its final edition in Wellington in 2017, ticket sales barely reached 10,000 per day, forcing a rethink of its future in New Zealand, and a subsequent four-year move to Hamilton.
Now known as “SVNS”, three divisions make up the competition model which was again restructured in May 2025.
Eight men’s and eight women’s “core” teams compete in six events, with all advancing to the three-tournament, season-ending World Championship series.
In division two, four of each of the six men and women progress after three events, and two of each for the eight men’s and women’s sides in div three after playing one standalone Challenger event qualifying from regional competitions.
The defending champion Black Ferns Sevens and the All Blacks Sevens are the most-successful teams in women’s and men’s history.
Millsy mourns the loss of NZ Sevens events | Millsy & Guy
