Under the five-year deal, the Series will now be known as the HSBC Sevens World Series, beginning with the Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens on December 3-4 this year. The 2011 Hong Kong Sevens, however, will not feature HSBC branding HSBC branding due to a title sponsorship clash with a rival company in the banking sector, Credit Suisse.
“These are very exciting times for our sport and this deal will benefit rugby at all levels,” said IRB president Bernard Lapasset. “The appointment of a market leader in the banking industry as title sponsor of the IRB Sevens World Series further enhances rugby sevens’ prominent stature as an Olympic sport with significant prestige and attraction within the global marketplace.
“HSBC is an internationally renowned brand and a true champion of the development of Rugby around the world. HSBC has a massively successful history of working with its partners to develop the Game on and off the field through the HSBC Rugby Festivals and sponsorship of the Asian 5 Nations.”
The Series comprises of tournaments in Dubai, South Africa, New Zealand, USA, Australia, Hong Kong, England and Scotland.
