The world’s finest Rugby Sevens players – and thousands of fans from around the world – will descend on San Francisco next year.
AT&T Park in San Francisco has been announced as host of the Rugby World Cup Sevens on July 20-22, 2018.
The three-day tournament features 24 men’s national teams and 16 women’s teams doing battle for the title of world champions and tickets and travel packages will go on sale in July 2017.
It will also be boon for local tourism with thousands of overseas visitors expected.
"San Francisco is the ideal location for the best-ever Rugby World Cup Sevens. Our city has become an expert at hosting global sporting events like the recent Super Bowl 50 and the 34th America’s Cup," said Joe D’Alessandro, president and CEO of the San Francisco Travel Association.
It will also showcase the sport to a new generation of fans in the US says USA Rugby CEO Dan Payne.
"We are proud to play host to the Rugby World Cup Sevens. This event will bring the world’s best and put them in front of a large audience of rugby fanatics and showcase our great sport to a new batch of sports fans. We’re equally excited that this great tournament will be played in our backyard and in front of our youth, inspiring the next group of rugby stars," Payne said.
World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said: "Announcing the exact dates of the tournament is an important stage of preparation as it means that supporters can really start to plan their trip. This will be the first time the RWC Sevens has been held in North America and I know rugby fans in the USA and also in Canada are really looking forward to it."
