Another chapter in the fierce HSBC SVNS Series rivalry between Fiji and New Zealand will unfold on Saturday at Singapore’s National Stadium. Following the conclusion of the Hong Kong Sevens final, the pools for the season-ending round-robin event on April 5-6 have been set.
Fiji and New Zealand headline Pool D in the men’s draw, but the USA is also a strong contender, having challenged some of the top teams this season. With the same format as SVNS Cape Town in place, only one of these teams will advance in the title race.
The four pool winners will progress to the semi-finals, making every match crucial for teams aiming to finish the regular season with silverware before the World Championship in Los Angeles on May 3-4.
Australia faces a tough challenge in a pool that includes Spain, one of the most consistent SVNS Series teams, and Uruguay, the surprise package that defeated both Fiji and New Zealand in Perth earlier this year. The Australians will be looking to improve on their third-place finish in Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, South Africa and Great Britain have a challenging path after being grouped with Argentina, the reigning Hong Kong Sevens champions and current overall leaders in the men’s standings.
“There are a lot of emotions because Hong Kong means so much to us,” Argentina’s Marcos Moneta told RugbyPass after their Cup Final victory. “It’s such a historic tournament.
“It was my debut, and last year I broke my fibula here before the Olympics. This time, we won, and my parents traveled all the way from Argentina to watch—it’s just amazing.”
On the women’s side, North American rivals Canada and the United States are set for an exciting clash in Pool C, with Great Britain also in the mix. This group is wide open as teams prepare for next month’s winner-takes-all World Championship.
France, Fiji, and Ireland will compete in Pool D, while Hong Kong Sevens runners-up Australia will take on Japan and Spain in Pool B. SVNS Series leaders New Zealand will face Brazil and China as they aim for yet another semi-final appearance.
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
