Tom Burwell, a former executive director of Emirates Dubai 7s, is driving a new professional sevens tournament based on clubs, not nations
With the HSBC SVNS Series undergoing another change in format and some unions cutting their rugby sevens programmes entirely, the sport has been facing an uncertain future.
Tom Burwell, a former executive director of the Emirates Dubai 7s with 20 years’ involvement in the sport, is the driving force behind a new professional sevens tournament based on seven franchises playing over the summer that will launch in 2026.
With early seasons expected to be based in Europe before going global, Burwell, who is CEO of Bia Sports Group, which owns English Premier League side Sunderland, tells Josh Ball why the franchise model is the way forward and why some of the world’s best players are already signing up to take part.
Sevens tournaments are typically played over three days, but yours would be four hours once a week. Are shorter events the answer?
