Photo courtesy of USA Rugby
As the HSBC SVNS Series arrives in the New York City metropolitan area this weekend at Sports Illustrated Stadium, it marks a rare opportunity for the United States women’s national rugby sevens team to compete in front of a home crowd. For players like Ariana Ramsey and Kristi Kirshe, the stop carries extra meaning.
For Ramsey, a Philadelphia native, the tournament brings a personal connection that most international stops cannot replicate.
“This is a really rare experience for us to play in our area of the United States,” Ramsey told amNewYork. “So I’m really excited to have all our family out. It’s always fun having a home tournament. I’m just excited to have my family out and play for them, and it brings a whole new level of energy.”
The HSBC SVNS circuit typically takes teams around the globe, limiting opportunities to play in front of American fans. This is the first time the sport will be played at its highest level in the NYC area. Kirshe emphasized the significance of bringing elite international rugby to a region with deep rugby roots.
“New York is the hub of so much culture,” Kirshe said. “And also the Northeast has a really strong rugby population, so to get to bring world-class rugby to this area is really exciting.”
For fans attending the HSBC SVNS Series stop this weekend, Kirshe says the experience will feel different from a traditional sporting event.
“It’s going to be different than any other sporting event,” Kirshe said. “We play three games in a day, there are games every 20 minutes, you’re going to see a new team run out to play their 14-minute long game. It’s really dynamic… It’s a party atmosphere.”
With the fast-paced format of rugby sevens, the action rarely slows, creating a festival-like atmosphere for fans while showcasing the speed and excitement that make the sport unique.
Ariana Ramsey and Kristi Kirshe (Photo courtesy of USA Rugby)
While the focus this weekend is on the New York stop, both Ramsey and Kirshe also have their eyes on the future, specifically the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, where rugby sevens will be showcased on home soil.
It is a golden opportunity to build on the momentum that the sport gained when the US squad shocked the world to win a bronze medal at the 2024 Games in Paris.
“It’s so exciting,” Kirshe said. “Even going into [the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris], we were like, if we want to put rugby on the map in the U.S., the Olympics is our best opportunity to do it. We knew that going into Paris that we would be able to put rugby on the map by winning a medal, and I think we did a big part of that. But the opportunity to try and compete for a medal on home soil, I think that would just be huge for the game of rugby in general, especially in America.”
For Ramsey, the goal is clear as the team continues building toward that moment.
“Our goal is to get gold,” Ramsey said. “We want to win. We’re building every single tournament from here up until LA. Yes, it’s far away, but we have a whole plan of what we’re trying to do with each game and how we’re getting better and growing as a team. Constantly building each game and trying to bring our best to every game so that we are ready for that moment when it’s time to win gold.”
For Ramsey, Kirshe, and the rest of the U.S. squad, the New York stop is more than just another tournament. It’s a chance to connect with home fans, showcase world-class rugby, and continue building momentum toward the moment when the Olympic spotlight returns to American soil.
Fans interested in attending the HSBC SVNS Series New York stop this weekend can purchase tickets online here.
For more on Team USA rugby sevens, visit AMNY.com