BC Rugby is delighted to announce the return of the Vancouver Sevens Invitational (VSI) in partnership with Sport Hosting Vancouver for 2024, with the event taking place at UBC’s Gerald McGavin Centre on February 22-23, 2024, ahead of the HSBC SVNS Vancouver.
The VSI returns to the BC Rugby Calendar for the first time since 2020 and will provide a complete Sevens experience for participants, combining thrilling gameplay with the opportunity to watch world-class international competition at BC Place.
Taking place on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nation in the week leading up to the HSBC SVNS Vancouver, the VSI aims to provide competition to motivate, challenge and inspire young athletes, Coaches and Officials, and bring together elite youth 7s players from across all regions of BC.
The two-day tournament will help foster the growth of competitive Rugby throughout BC, while also serving to prepare athletes for the Provincial Regional Championships in July 2024.
BC Rugby gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the City of Vancouver and the Province of British Columbia.
Sport Hosting Vancouver is a partnership between the City of Vancouver, the Vancouver Hotel Destination Association, and Destination Vancouver. The Sport Hosting Vancouver mandate is to proactively identify a balanced portfolio of sport events that deliver significant economic and social benefits for Vancouver.
CRITICAL STAGE IN BEARS 7S PATHWAY
The event will feature regional teams from the Fraser Valley Rugby Union, North Vancouver Island Tsunami, Northern BC (Aurora Wolves Rugby), TORA (Thompson/Okanagan region), Vancouver Island Tide and the Vancouver Rugby Union, as well as teams from Edmonton, Washington, and Nova Scotia. Teams will compete across four distinctive leagues: U18 Boys, U18 Girls, U16 Boys and U15 Girls (there is no U16 Girls Division as to avoid conflict with the BC Bears U16 Girls 7s Program). A full schedule and livestream schedule will be released by BC Rugby prior to the event.
The VSI will also act as a critical stage in the selection process for BC Bears Age-Grade 7s Programs, with athletes having the opportunity to impress any watching BC Bears Coaches in attendance. Coaches will be looking to identify players for selection to the BC Bears U18 Girls and Boys 7s Programs ahead of the 2024 Global Youth Sevens in December, as well as keeping an eye on talented athletes for future BC Bears Programs.
“We are delighted to welcome back the Vancouver Sevens Invitational to the BC Rugby calendar for 2024. This tournament will bring together BC’s top youth Sevens athletes for two days of thrilling competition, before giving them a fantastic opportunity to take in world class Rugby 7s at the HSBC SVNS Vancouver – truly encapsulating the excitement of Sevens Rugby!” BC Rugby CEO David Newson
“It’s fantastic to have the regions competing again at 7s following a successful initial Regional 7s tournament this past August alongside the exciting growth of Kamloops 7s in the Fall. Both our athletes and Coaches need 7s tournament experience and game-understanding such as how to prepare, perform, recover, and repeat alongside learning to manage possession, the clock and the opposition. These development opportunities are critical in building towards potential future National Team selections. We will be using this regional competition to continue to identify both players and Coaches who can lead our BC Bears teams at future tournaments such as the Global Youth Sevens in New Zealand.” BC Rugby Technical Director John Tait
More information on the 2024 VSI can be found on the event page here.
VOLUNTEER AT THE VANCOUVER SEVENS INVITATIONAL
BC Rugby is seeking volunteers to help across a variety of roles at the 2024 Vancouver Sevens Invitational.
Without volunteers, this event would not be possible.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Volunteers will be provided details on their role prior to the event. Volunteers will then be given a brief orientation onsite before beginning their shifts. Each shift will be 4 hours and volunteers will be provided with snacks and drinks.
DEADLINE TO SIGN-UP
If you’re wishing to support, please complete the below form no later than Friday, February 9, 2024.
ROLES
Below are the different roles which will be on offer:
- Score Runners – VSI UBC – Collecting scores from officials and relaying to event HQ
- Site Assistant – VSI UBC – Collecting trash, checking and cleaning facilities as needed
- Field Control – VSI UBC -Make sure games are on time getting teams on field, Identify medical help if required flagging down therapists, Direct teams and personnel in the right direction, Ensure spectators stay off field and officials have room to complete their roles
- Field Set up – VSI UBC – Set up flags and post pads, tents, cameras, and signage near field of play
- Field Take down – VSI UBC – Take down flags, post pads, tents, cameras, signage from field of play
- Scoreboard operator Field 1 – VSI UBC- Score and time keeping (CRITICAL to keeping everything running on time)
- Scoreboard operator Field 2 – VSI UBC – Score and time keeping (CRITICAL to keeping everything running on time)
- Ball Retrievers – VSI UBC -Retrieving balls and keeping games moving
BC Rugby
A: 2015 Main Street, Vancouver, BC | V5T 0J8
T: 604.737.3065
E: info@bcrugby.com
BC Rugby gratefully acknowledges that its offices reside on the traditional and unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
