All to play for as HSBC SVNS arrives in New York

Even amid the rain and snow of New York, spirits could not be dampened at the captains photo ahead of this weekend’s HSBC SVNS Series finale.

This weekend at Sports Illustrated Stadium every team is fighting for something. But at the very top, it is all very much still to play for.

In the women’s competition New Zealand have a six point lead over Australia in the standings thanks to their victory last weekend in Vancouver.

The two teams have met in every final so far this season, with the Black Ferns having won four of those winner-takes-all clashes.

The USA Women’s Eagles Sevens are currently third and are looking forward to playing in front of a home crowd in New York for the first time ever.

“We’ve been trying to grow the game in America, so I think this is a really cool opportunity,” she said.

“We’re bringing out some of the best athletes in the world this weekend and it’s exciting to get to play on home soil – you get that little extra momentum from the crowd and we’re really excited.

“I think (fans) can expect a party – I mean, they’re electric games. It’s full contact, full sprint. It’s really an exciting time, and it’s a lot of fun.”

With their third Series win of the season South Africa have gone level with Fiji at the top of the men’s standings. Whichever team finishes higher this weekend will be 2026 champions.

Fiji have two tournament wins of their own this season and have finished on the podium in every event this season.

Whichever teams finish top of the standings will be exempt from relegation to HSBC SVNS 2 at the end of the three-tournament World Championship events held in Hong Kong, Valladolid and Bordeaux.

Men

Pool A – South Africa, Australia, France, New Zealand

Pool B – Spain, Fiji, Argentina, Great Britain

Women

Pool A – New Zealand, France, Fiji, Great Britain

Pool B – Australia, USA, Canada, Japan