HSBC extends backing of rugby sevens

Banking group HSBC has renewed its partnership with World Rugby, through which it will retain title sponsorship rights to the World Rugby Sevens Series.

The new four-year deal also names HSBC as the official banking partner of World Rugby. The agreement covers the 2019 to 2023 editions of the men’s and women’s World Rugby Sevens Series.

HSBC has been a partner of World Rugby since 2010 and it will continue to work with the body to grow rugby sevens and provide unique experiences to customers and non-customers. HSBC also recently commissioned ‘The Pioneers’, an access-all-areas documentary that follows USA’s rugby sevens team.

World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said: “The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series is one of global sport’s most exciting properties. Since Olympic inclusion (at Rio 2016), we have seen the series become increasingly competitive with global audiences and fan engagement growing exponentially.

“We are thrilled to extend and expand our long-standing and hugely successful partnership with HSBC as title partner for the men’s and women’s series and to welcome them as our official banking partner.

“HSBC share our global vision and have played a key role in the global advancement of the world series and have made important contributions to the sevens success story. We look forward to working together over the next four years as we continue to grow the reach and engagement of the sport worldwide.”

Noel Quinn, chief executive of global commercial banking at HSBC, added: “Our business is built on a promise that in partnership we can achieve so much more than on our own and our partnership with World Rugby allows us to practice what we preach.

“Over the last eight years we’ve worked with World Rugby to take the sport to new audiences and new markets across the world. It has also allowed us to give customers and potential clients incredible experiences.”