- Maggie Cogger-Orr, Ano Kuwai, Maria Latos and Jess Ling named to their first HSBC SVNS panel
- Kuwai is a former Japan international in 15s and sevens who played at Rio 2016.
- Australia’s Jordan Way set to join HSBC SVNS after completing Rugby World Cup 2023 assistant referee duties. Maggie Cogger-Orr, Lauren Jenner, Kat Roche and Tyler Miller were part of the match official team at Rugby World Cup 2021 in New Zealand
- Tokyo 2020 official Tyler Miller returns to squad after a year off focusing on her career as a police officer
- Nine of the 12 men’s competition officials have previous Cup final experience on HSBC SVNS
The squad of 24 match officials to take charge of HSBC SVNS 2024, World Rugby’s revamped and rebranded global celebration of rugby sevens, has been announced. It’ll be a big year for sevens as the the countdown to the Olympic Games Paris 2024 begins in earnest.
The men’s and women’s panels, supported by Emirates. each feature 12 representatives from 10 unions. On the men’s side, all 12 officials have refereed over 50 series matches over the last three seasons, while the women’s panel includes a blend of highly experienced referees and exciting young talent making their HSBC SVNS debuts.
Men’s panel:
Ben Breakspear (WRU), Paulo Duarte (FPR), Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR), Francisco González (URU), Nick Hogan (NZR), AJ Jacobs (SARU), Reuben Keane (RA), Adam Leal (RFU), Tevita Rokovereni (FRU), Jérémy Rozier (FFR), Morné Ferreira (SARU) & Jordan Way (RA)
Women’s panel:
Finlay Brown (SRU), Craig Chan (HKCR), Talal Chaudhry (RCan), Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZR), Lauren Jenner (FIR), Ano Kuwai (JRFU), Maria Latos (DRV), Jess Ling (RA), Cisco Lopez (USAR), Tyler Miller (RA), Kat Roche (USAR) & George Selwood (RFU)
New SVNS model
Under the new model, HSBC SVNS 2024 features seven regular season events plus a Grand Final. The top eight placed teams based on cumulative series points at the conclusion of HSBC SVNS SGP will secure their opportunity to compete in the new ‘winner takes all’ Grand Final in Madrid, where the women’s and men’s HSBC SVNS 2024 champions will be crowned.
Madrid will also play host to the high stakes relegation play-off competition where teams ranked ninth to 12th will join the top four teams from the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger, with the top four placed teams securing their place on HSBC SVNS 2025.
Experienced panel
World Rugby Sevens High Performance Referee Manager Paddy O’Brien said: “The men’s referee squad selected for HSBC SVNS 2024 is very experienced with nine of the 12 having refereed series Cup finals in previous years and all having a minimum of 50 series matches under their belts.
“With so much experience in the middle, teams can approach the season with confidence knowing there will be consistency in the application of the laws as we head into Paris 2024.”
World Rugby Women’s High Performance Referee Manager Alhambra Nievas said: “Selection has been based on performance on the HSBC SVNS but also getting in the talent detected through the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger and Olympic qualification tournaments.
“I want to congratulate Maggie Cogger-Orr, Ano Kuwai, Maria Latos and Jess Ling for being named for the first time in the HSBC SVNS squad, and to welcome back Tyler Miller. This season is paramount with the ultimate goal of Paris 2024, so we will work hard to ensure high standards and consistency through the season.”