The Club Challenge

Sell 50 tickets, send a team. Every club that passes 50 tickets through its own page sends a team into the fan zone on club Saturday for a run of rugby skill tests. Scores are added up. The highest total takes the whole prize pot.

How it's decided

A rugby pentathlon. Your team goes through a set of skill tests in the fan zone, each one scored, and the scores are added together. The tests will come from this list:

• Scrummagingon the Ironback sled
• Kickingover the posts
• Passingaccuracy under the clock
• Tacklingtechnique on a bag, never live
• Speedsprint relay

The exact tests, team size and scoring are published at least 30 days before the event, so every club trains for the same thing. Every test is a test of skill. Nothing is decided by a draw.

What your club wins

1. 25tickets

   Your name in the stadium

   Your club is called out in the stadium on club Saturday, in front of every other club in the stand.

2. 50tickets

   A team in the Club Challenge

   Your club competes in the fan zone in front of the crowd and is in the running for the whole prize pot.

3. No.1most sold

   The NY Club Cup

   The club that sells the most tickets lifts the NY Club Cup on the day. The trophy goes on sales; the pot is won in the fan zone.

The rules

1. The Club Challenge is run by the organisers of HSBC SVNS New York 2027 (the organisers). Prizes are provided by Rhino, Ironback, Bondi and the organisers (the prize providers).
2. It is open to rugby clubs and school programmes with an official HSBC SVNS New York club ticket page. One entry per club.
3. A club qualifies when 50 or more tickets have been bought through its own club page by the time the club rate closes (currently 1 November 2026), after refunds. Counts are taken from the ticketing system and the organisers' count is final.
4. Each qualifying club enters one team in the Club Challenge, held in the fan zone at Sports Illustrated Stadium on Saturday 13 March 2027. The organisers may move it onto the pitch. Teams must report at the published time; a club that does not take part cannot win the pot.
5. The Club Challenge is a series of rugby skill tests. Each test is scored against published criteria, the scores are added, and the highest total wins. The tests, team size, who may be in a team and how each test is scored are published at least 30 days before the event.
6. Every test is a test of skill. No part of any result, including a tie, is decided by chance. A tie is settled by a further skill test.
7. Team members must be 18 or over, current members of the club they represent, and sign the organisers' participation waiver on the day. No test involves live tackling.
8. The winning club receives the full prize pot: a set of playing shirts from Rhino, a scrummaging sled from Ironback, beer from Bondi, HSBC SVNS New York match balls, and a training session at the club run by a player or coach from the tournament, on a date agreed with the club in the weeks after the event. Prizes are delivered to the club by the prize providers within 60 days of the event. There is no cash alternative. If a prize becomes unavailable the organisers may substitute one of equal or greater value.
9. Beer is provided only to clubs whose members are 21 or over and is delivered in line with state and local law. If a school programme wins, it receives an alternative of similar value in place of the beer.
10. The winning club may need to complete a tax form before prizes are released and is responsible for any tax due on them.
11. By taking part, a club agrees that the organisers may use its name, crest, and photos and video from the Club Challenge in event communications.
12. The organisers may amend these rules, change the format or cancel the Club Challenge if circumstances require, and will tell qualifying clubs if they do. Their decisions on counts, scoring and results are final.
13. These rules are governed by the laws of the State of New York.