Latest news with #TomBurwell
South China Morning Post
03-08-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Could franchise model be way forward for rugby 7s? A new club-based event hopes to find out
With the HSBC SVNS Series undergoing another change in format and some unions cutting their rugby sevens programmes entirely, the sport has been facing an uncertain future. Tom Burwell, a former executive director of the Emirates Dubai 7s with 20 years' involvement in the sport, is the driving force behind a new professional sevens tournament based on seven franchises playing over the summer that will launch in 2026. With early seasons expected to be based in Europe before going global, Burwell, who is CEO of Bia Sports Group, which owns English Premier League side Sunderland, tells Josh Ball why the franchise model is the way forward and why some of the world's best players are already signing up to take part. Sevens tournaments are typically played over three days, but yours would be four hours once a week. Are shorter events the answer? 'The sport has often been challenged to be relevant week on week. During my time in Dubai, our interest was, how do we build the most successful three days possible here in the desert, and the important role we played within what was the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. 'But I don't think a huge number of fans were totally dialled into what would then happen in Cape Town the following week.
South China Morning Post
18-07-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Powerplays, no half-time and cannon balls: new global sevens circuit eyes 2026 launch
A new sevens tournament based on clubs not countries, and format changes such as power plays and no half-time will launch in 2026, with officials believing it would help rather than hinder the sport. Bankrolled by BIA Sports Group (BSG), the company that owns Premier League club Sunderland, the hoped-to-be global competition has a working name of Project 7s and a start date of August next year. Games would be played over the course of four hours on one evening, rather than stretched across three days, and 164 of the world's best players have reportedly already been approached about being involved in the tournament. The new circuit, which has secured an eight-figure sum in seed funding, would involve seven men's and seven women's teams competing in seven venues across seven weeks in the summer, with London, Paris and Rome among the cities floated as possible locations for matches. When asked, Hong Kong China Rugby said it did not know anything about the project, which BSG said would not be in competition with the elite HSBC SVNS Series, of which the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens is a part. Kenya (red) and United States do battle during the Hong Kong Sevens 2025 at Kai Tak Stadium. Photo: Reuters In an interview with Tom Burwell, the BSG CEO, said he considered the new competition to be 'complementary to the ecosystem'.
NBC Sports
06-06-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
World Supercross Championship (WSX) announces five-round 2025 schedule
The World Supercross Championship (WSX) announced a five-round schedule that begins October 18, 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and ends December 13, 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa. A previously announced round in London was canceled. These five rounds will bridge five continents. 'The 2025 calendar is a defining moment for World Supercross, as we continue to push the sport to new territories and audiences,' said Tom Burwell, CEO of SX Global in a news release. 'Expanding into new regions like Malaysia, Argentina and South Africa, alongside returning to key markets like Canada and Australia, highlights our vision to make supercross a truly global spectacle. Delivering elite supercross racing to five continents for the first time is a huge moment. This will be the biggest and best season yet.' The season opener in Malaysia will be hosted at Stadium Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur and it marks the first time in series history that a race has been held in that country. Round 2 also represents a new venue with Buenos Aries hosting a round on November 8 at the Oscar & Juan Gálvez Racetrack. This is the first time a WSX supercross track has been built in the confines of an existing racetrack. Vancouver, British Columbia, returns to the schedule at BC Place on November 15. Last year's round represented a return to the market for the first time in 20 years. Eli Tomac and Shane McElrath were victorious. Australia also returns to the schedule, but the venue has changed. Last year the WSX raced in Perth. In 2025, Robina on the Gold Coast will host the fourth round on November 29 at Cbus Super Stadium. The season ends with the South African GP in Cape Town, South Africa, on December 13 at DHL Stadium. This will be the first time a WSX race is held on the continent of Africa. 2025 World Supercross Championship (WSX) Schedule 10-18-2025: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 11-08-2025: Buenos Aires, Argentina 11-15-2025: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 11-29-2025: Robina, Gold Coast, Australia 12-13-2025: Cape Town, South Africa
Time Out
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Time Out
Helmets at the ready! World Supercross is coming to Cape Town
Get ready, Cape Town! For the very first time in the history of World Supercross, Cape Town will be hosting a major race. And not just any race - it's the season finale of the 2025 FIM World Supercross Championship. Now that's lekker! The South African GP is set to take place on Saturday, 13 December 2025, at the magnificent DHL Stadium. With the introduction of an African leg of the Championship, the full calendar of races will now be contested across five continents. Asia, North America, South America and Australasia are the other host continents... but we bet their crowds won't be anything like ours! Tom Burwell, the CEO of World Supercross, revealed: 'The 2025 calendar is a defining moment for World Supercross, as we continue to push the sport to new territories and audiences. "Expanding into new regions like Malaysia, Argentina and South Africa, alongside returning to key markets like Canada and Australia, highlights our vision to make supercross a truly global spectacle. Delivering elite supercross racing to five continents for the first time is a huge moment. This will be the biggest and best season yet.' Eli Tomac (450cc), Shane McElrath (250cc) and Fire Power Honda (Team) were the victors of the 2024 season. It is unclear as to whether the champions of last year will participate in 2025, as the team schedules will only be released at a later date. 2025 FIM World Supercross Championship Calendar For more information around tickets and everything World Supercross, check out the official website of the championship.
NBC Sports
12-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
London removed from 2025 World Supercross schedule
London has been removed from the 2025 World Supercross calendar due to London Stadium's inability to 'meet key requirements necessary to stage the event,' according to the sanctioning body. This would have been the third running of the British GP, following Cardiff, Wales in 2022 and Birmingham in 2023. The British GP was not on the schedule in 2024. Dan Beaver, 'Missing out on London this year is a real blow,' said Tom Burwell, CEO of World Supercross, in a news release. 'The UK fans have been nothing short of exceptional, and we know how much anticipation there was around the event. We exhausted every option to make it work, but ultimately, circumstances outside our control at the stadium made it impossible to deliver the event. 'That said, we're incredibly excited about announcing the full calendar and what's ahead. The 2025 season is set to be our biggest yet. With world-class venues and passionate fanbases lined up around the globe, we're taking another bold step in our journey as we continue to grow the championship on a global scale.' With the elimination of London, the 2025 World Supercross Championship now has three rounds announced in Argentina, South Africa, and Australia. When Australia's Gold Coast was announced, World Supercross reported that the full schedule had yet to be announced, so additional rounds may be forthcoming.
