Chile, Zimbabwe and rising nations chase Olympic dreams at SVNS 3 in Dubai

The SVNS 3 tournament for the 2026-27 HSBC SVNS season has been confirmed for the final weekend of November in Dubai, running alongside the SVNS Series opener and offering competing nations a route into SVNS 2 — and ultimately a shot at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

A format that is already proving its worth

It is barely a year since the first SVNS 3 weekend took place in January 2025, yet the format has already demonstrated its value at the highest level. South Africa Women and Argentina Women both progressed from SVNS 3 all the way to the SVNS World Championship during the 2025-26 season — a trajectory that appears to have convinced World Rugby to expand the concept with a second edition this season.

Both sides are expected to begin the new campaign in SVNS 2, where a full season of higher-level competition should sharpen their credentials for a tilt at SVNS Series qualification. Should another SVNS 3 side replicate that journey, the upcoming SVNS 2 tournament becomes considerably more compelling.

New arrivals ready to turn heads

Eleven teams have been confirmed for Dubai at the time of writing. The men’s draw features Hong Kong China, Canada, Italy, Chile, Zimbabwe and Samoa, with Chile and Zimbabwe the notable new arrivals. Both nations have shown genuine promise in their respective regional tournaments and will be eager to test themselves against broader international competition.

The women’s competition is still awaiting one final confirmed entry, with China, Mexico, Poland, Colombia and Samoa all set to contest SVNS 2 qualification. China, who reached SVNS 2 last season before finishing bottom, will be looking to rebuild momentum after a regional campaign that saw them finish as runners-up to Japan — a result that raised questions for established SVNS Series sides.

The broader picture is one of growing depth across the global sevens landscape. The Germany men’s side reaching the SVNS World Championship format is one example of developing nations making rapid strides, and SVNS 3 is increasingly the stage where those stories begin.

Olympic qualification raises the stakes

Beyond promotion and prize money, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics cast a long shadow over proceedings in Dubai. For many of the nations involved, SVNS 3 represents their most realistic entry point into a qualification pathway, and the chance to face higher-ranked opposition is one that cannot be wasted.

With Olympic spots ultimately on the line, the tournament carries a weight that belies its status as the third tier of the SVNS structure — and that tension is likely to produce some of the most competitive rugby of the entire SVNS weekend.