Spain will once again host another leg of the HSBC SNVS World Championship after Valladolid was selected to host on the 21-23rd May 2027.
In another vote of confidence for Spanish Rugby and its ability to host events, Valladolid is returning alongside every other 2025/26 host suggesting that World Rugby has finally found a stable structure for a tournament that has reduced in size and scope over recent years. However, World Rugby did boast of having a 21% increase in fans from 2025 and a record single day crowd in Hong Kong, perhaps showing there is life beyond the traditional home nations market who have retreated from the sport.
Success for Spain but structure questions remain
In more good news for Spain, the 2026-27 circuit will see Spain have both their men´s and women´s teams participate in SVNS 1 as the women finished in the top eight of last season´s World Championship, earning them a slot on the main tour. This has led to the Women´s team recieving Olympic funding from Spain, rewarding FER for its investment in the previous season. Whilst Great Britain have dropped out completely, with both teams relegated to SVNS 2.
Still, when only the final three legs count towards the World Championship (as per last year) it creates an odd structure where the first six legs can be seen as little more than glorified warm ups.
For Spain though , this tournament not only offers the chance at senior level to mix it with established Tier 1 nations but also with HSBC SVNS this season acting as a qualifier to the 2028 Olympics in LA, (with the top four automatically qualifying to LA), it takes on even more significance.
Should Spain miss out on the top four, a competitive European regional qualifier would await.
Full HSBC SVNS schedule is available here.
