New Zealand couldn’t have began the 2025/26 HSBC SVNS Collection any higher, with each groups claiming titles on the season-opener in Dubai. Whether or not they can repeat these heroics stays to be seen, however the countdown to this weekend’s SVNS Cape City ticks nearer to kick-off.
Each New Zealand groups defeated arch-rivals Australia on the Emirates Dubai Sevens, with Jorja Miller placing on a clinic within the girls’s decider. The Black Ferns Sevens stormed dwelling for a scientific 29-14 victory at The Sevens Stadium.
The All Blacks Sevens held on for a four-point win of their very own, with a comparatively inexperienced Australia aspect placing up a formidable struggle. Debutants Will Cartwright and Harry Wilson scored a minimum of one attempt every, however the New Zealanders did sufficient to say a drought-breaking title.
Cartwright, who was the hero for Australia of their 14-0 semi-final overcome France, spoke with RugbyPass forward of SVNS Cape City. The Australians watched New Zealand elevate the trophy earlier than boarding a 3:00 am flight for South Africa, hungry to go one higher in Cape City.
The Black Ferns Sevens begin their quest for SVNS Cape City glory towards Nice Britain at 10:06 pm NZT, earlier than different Pool A matches towards the USA and Fiji. Australia, Japan, Canada and France make up a extremely aggressive Pool A within the girls’s draw.
Australia will take part within the second match of the event, going through the French at 7:22 pm AEDT on Saturday night. Their second match is towards Paris Olympics silver medallists Canada at 10:38 pm, earlier than a pool-stage finale towards Japan – who completed third in Dubai.
Within the males’s draw, New Zealand headline Pool A alongside Nice Britain, Fiji and South Africa. The Blitzboks are the defending champions at their dwelling occasion, earlier than occurring to say the general SVNS Collection title on the winner-takes-all World Championship in Might.
The All Blacks Sevens will play Nice Britain at 11:22 pm NZT, who have been low on inexperience however confirmed actual promise in Dubai. New Zealand will take hosts South Africa within the second spherical of pool fixtures, earlier than a pivotal conflict with Fiji at 6:19 am NZT on Sunday morning.
Australia males are in Pool B with Argentina, France and Spain. France recorded a record-breaking 59-7 win over Argentina in Dubai, earlier than falling to the Australians 14-0 within the semi-finals after which Fiji within the battle for bronze.
The Australians open their account in Cape City towards two-time defending League Winners Argentina at 9:00 pm AEDT. They’ll face an ever-dangerous Spanish aspect in what can be a must-win matchup no matter their first outcome, after which France to spherical out pool play.
“The arrogance is certainly there. We performed some arduous groups and we all know that we will beat them,” Cartwright instructed RugbyPass.
“We didn’t play Fiji in Dubai however we performed them in NZ and we obtained up on them. I feel the arrogance is there.
“If something, we had a fairly stern speaking to from Hutch on the sector afterwards, watching NZ maintain that trophy up the place we undoubtedly ought to’ve been holding it. He was simply principally saying, ‘we’re sick of being on this place watching that, and we’re too good to be staying in that second place’.
“The starvation’s there immediately afterwards. The boys obtained on the flight, just about simply need to get into coaching and work for this weekend. I feel everybody, now that we’ve gone that shut, and clearly there’s so many boys in right here that haven’t gained one, the starvation is there to actually do it.”
RugbyPass Males’s SVNS Collection MVP leaderboard
Akuila Rokolisoa (New Zealand) – 8 votes
Brady Rush (New Zealand) – 6 votes
Dietrich Roache (Australia) – 4 votes
Wallace Charlie (Australia) – 3 votes
Viwa Naduvalo (Fiji) – 2 votes
Pilipo Bukayaro (Fiji) – 1 vote
RugbyPass Girls’s SVNS Collection MVP leaderboard
Jorja Miller (New Zealand) – 12 votes
Maddison Levi (Australia) – 5 votes
Teagan Levi (Australia), Mahina Paul (New Zealand) – 2 votes
Kelsey Teneti (New Zealand), Hanako Utsumi (Japan), Reapi Ulunisau (Fiji) – 1 vote
