NYC Sevens 2023 – Million Dollar Prize from World RFL

A new Rugby Sevens tournament, the NYC Sevens, is scheduled to take place at Red Bull Arena on July 15 2023 and is offering the highest prize in the sport’s history with the organisers announcing ambitious plans for the World RFL.

*Updated 9 June 2023

NYC Sevens 2023 – Postponed

The planned event has been postponed due to the ongoing poor air quality it was confirmed on June 8, 2023. The organisers RFL released a statement saying “After consulting with health officials and its partners at World Rugby and USA Rugby, the World Rugby Football League announced today it was forced to reschedule the new league’s kick-off RFL Champion Sevens due to the worst air quality ever recorded for New York City due to Canadian wildfires, and the inability to predict when the over 400 wildfires will be controlled.”

World RFL officials are working closely with health officials, World Rugby, and USA Rugby to determine a new date for the World RFL’s NYC Champion Sevens.

It is hoped 25,000 fans will descend on the Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ to see NYC Sevens, with the organisers saying they will be “attracting the world’s best players from around the globe…The New York Sevens is rugby like you’ve never seen it before.”

The press release from World RFL says the “event will showcase World Rugby’s top-ranked rugby sevens teams baring their teeth for $1 million; the sport’s richest-ever prize pool” and is sanctioned by the U.S. Olympic and World Cup governing body USA Rugby.

Rob Cornelius, President of 44FiftyFive Sports & Entertainment and Head of Operations for NYC Sevens said “NYC Sevens is not just fast-paced, hard-hitting rugby that features the best teams in the world; it’s an all-day festival showcasing the energy and passion of international rugby sevens through music and sport.

As a leading promoter of the Las Vegas USA Sevens, the most successful rugby sevens event in the United States, we are excited to be a part of The World RFL’s premiere kick-off event by introducing Olympic-calibre rugby sevens to New York City.”

NYC Sevens 2023 Format, Teams & Pools

The condensed one-day sevens rugby tournament will feature 16 games over 8 hours event, and the competing teams will be playing for a $1 Million cash pool.

Nations are now confirmed to participate at NYC Sevens (only Men’s teams) include:

Red Pool – NYC Sevens 2023

• New Zealand
• Australia
• South Africa
• Kenya

Blue Pool – NYC Sevens 2023

• France
• Fiji
• Ireland
• USA

No Asian teams or players were confirmed to be involved in 2023 at the time of publishing.

In addition to the rugby, there will be a range of entertainment, DJs, food and drink. Sean Verity, the World RFL’s Executive Producer added: “We are developing creative solutions and identifying venue and broadcast innovation that presents rugby sevens in the most dynamic way possible across the modern landscape of live and televised sports. We have an incredible opportunity to bring the world’s best rugby sevens players to the Big Apple, and we intend to build a strong foundation to expand The World RFL as a major league sport.”

Editors Note – we have updated the confirmed teams and pools confirmed. The World RFL don’t mention why there is no women’s rugby or how they selected the teams, as a number of leading men’s teams have been left out including Argentina, GB and Samoa.

Heroes Championship – NYC Sevens 2023

In addition to the 12 national invitational teams selected to join the inaugural NYC Sevens, a Heroes Championship will feature local police and fire departments at its NYC Champion Sevens rugby tournament at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ on July 15 2023.

Teams participating in the exhibition games are:

• New York Police Department
• New York Fire Department
• Philadelphia Fire Department
• New Jersey State Troopers

World RFL Plans – Rugby Sevens

The World RFL claims it was “founded to establish America’s first professional major rugby sevens league, delivering avid and casual fans an exciting, world-class live sports event and media experience.”

The league will be offering private investment opportunities via sports franchise ownership says it is “committed to developing the league’s six-year growth into the top sixteen U.S. media markets, producing and distributing a range of sports, entertainment and gaming content, marketing initiatives, and grassroots programs aimed at educating and exciting America and the world’s rugby fans and players.”

The event in New York in 2023 will be the launch of the World RFL which has an ambitious plan for the future:

• 2024: 48 games and $4 Million cash pool. This phase will showcase playoffs in NYC and LA. The finals taking place in Las Vegas.
• 2025: 112 games across seven events, with a $12 Million cash pool. This will include a playoff format with events being held in Dallas, Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco. The finals will be taking place in NYC, LA, and Las Vegas.

How To Watch The NYC Sevens 2023?

World RFL confirmed that ESPN+ will stream the NYC Champion Sevens rugby tournament live from Red Bull Arena on Saturday, July 15, 2023.

• Coverage will be available to ESPN+ subscribers, along with ESPN international networks in Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
• ESPN+ will stream nine hours of non-stop NYC Champion Sevens action, including 16 games starting at 11:45 a.m. EST.

The RFL will also offer an all-access package with “continuous live streaming of the championship’s 16 games and will also include exclusive interviews with players, coaches, and rugby VIPs from around the world.”

Tickets for the New York Sevens went on sale on April 10, 2023, starting at USD $55.

Rugby Sevens News 2023

• Brian O’Driscoll – Safeguarding Rugby & Promoting Its Values.
• NZ Men Win HSBC Singapore Sevens 2023 & Qualify for Olympics 2024.
• Nolli Waterman and Bryan Habana – Taking Opportunities In all Walks of Life.
• Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2023 Delivered On So Many Fronts.