Welcome to HSBC SVNS in Los Angeles

I’m delighted that HSBC is once again playing a leading role as the HSBC SVNS moves to the home of Hollywood for what’s sure to be a blockbuster finale.

It’s been a long  and gruelling rugby season, and now  this iconic city - the sport and entertainment capital of the world - will play host to the HSBC SVNS World Championship, where the best eight men’s and women’s rugby sevens teams in the world will compete. After New Zealand women and Argentina men secured the regular season trophies in Singapore, the pressure is on to see who will be crowned the best of the best.

Adding to the dramatic tension will be the HSBC SVNS Playoff. This truly global spectacle is where rugby dreams will become reality, as teams from across the world, including Colombia, Samoa, Germany, South Africa, Canada and the HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025 champions Kenya women and Portugal men, will get the chance to earn their way on to the top table of the HSBC SVNS. Opening the sport up to new markets has been a huge part of our long-term partnership with rugby sevens, so to see such a wide global field competing in LA is a great joy.

Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles is a fitting venue for this showpiece, as rugby continues to rise in the United States. Following a surge in popularity, there was a historic first Olympic medal for the USA Women’s Sevens in Paris. Now the USA is preparing to host both the Olympics in 2028 (with Dignity Health the venue for rugby) and the Rugby World Cup in 2031. With the best players in the world coming to stateside, the nation looks set to be the next great frontier for the sport. We are proud to be part of this journey, working with our partners to leverage our networks to help the sport and its players reach new opportunities.

Just as important as seeing the best players in the world compete is giving the next generation the chance to pick up a ball themselves. We’re delighted to be partnering with The Todd Clever Foundation this week on a clinic to give young people from across Los Angeles the chance to experience the very best of rugby. It’s another  excellent addition to HSBC’s global rugby grassroots program, which  has allowed over half a million young people around the world to experience the joy and values of the sport we love so much.

Good luck to all the teams competing this weekend, and to all our clients, customers and colleagues who will be watching this weekend, I hope you enjoy what should be an exciting weekend of world-class sport.

Lisa McGeough, President, CEO & Head of Banking, HSBC USA