One other chapter within the storied HSBC SVNS Sequence rivalry between Fiji and New Zealand can be written on Saturday at Singapore’s Nationwide Stadium. After the Hong Kong Sevens decider on Sunday, the swimming pools for this season’s round-robin finale on April 5-6 had been allotted.
Fiji and New Zealand headline Pool D within the males’s draw, however don’t sleep on the USA who’ve pushed a few of the greatest groups on the circuit this season. With the identical competitors format as SVNS Cape City getting used, solely considered one of these sides will stay within the title race.
The winners from the 4 swimming pools will progress by way of to the semi-finals. That makes each pool matches must-win video games for all groups who’ve ambitions of ending the common season with some silverware forward of the World Championship in Los Angeles on Might 3-4.
LA’s Dignity Health Sports Park will host the World Championship and SVNS Series playoffs on May 3-4. Don’t miss out – buy your tickets HERE.
Australia have been pitted against one of the SVNS Series’ most consistent sides in Spain and giant-slayers Uruguay who beat both Fiji and New Zealand at Perth’s HBF Park in January. The Australians are looking to go a couple better after placing third in Hong Kong China.
In Pool B, Hong Kong Sevens runners-up France will come up against Ireland who showed some tremendous signs of growth over the three-day event. Kenya are also vying for a spot in the semi-finals after some promising wins at Kai Tak Stadium.
Finally, South Africa and Great Britain have a tough task ahead of them after being drawn in the same pool as Hong Kong Sevens champions Argentina. Los Pumas Sevens are also the clear leaders on the overall men’s standings and look likely to take out the league title.
“There’s a mix of emotions because Hong Kong is so much more for us,” Argentina’s Marcos Moneta told RugbyPass after winning the Hong Kong Sevens Cup Final. “It’s a really historic tournament.
“It’s the second time we’ve reached the final and this time we won it. Personally, it was my debut and then last year I broke my fibula here before the Olympics.
“It was a mix of emotions. Hong Kong, it’s a really far away place and my parents came here all the way from Argentina to support me and they are here beside me and to win, it’s all perfect. It’s amazing.”
In women’s sevens, North American neighbours Canada and the United States will meet in an intriguing Pool C showdown. Great Britain are the third side in a group which really could go either way a month out from the winner-takes-all World Championship.
France, Fiji and Ireland will face off in Pool D, while Hong Kong Sevens runners-up Australia will clash with Japan and Spain in Pool B. SVNS Series leaders New Zealand will take on Thalia Costa’s Brazil and China in a bid to make yet another semi-final this season.
Download the RugbyPass App to watch exclusive SVNS Series videos and catch up on the latest news you need to know. Download it from the App Store HERE or Google Play.
Men’s Pools
Pool A: Argentina, Great Britain, South Africa
Pool B: France, Ireland, Kenya
Pool C: Australia, Spain, Uruguay
Pool D: Fiji, New Zealand, USA
Women’s Pools
Pool A: New Zealand, Brazil, China
Pool B: Australia, Japan, Spain
Pool C: Canada, USA, Great Britain
Pool D: France, Fiji, Ireland