All to play for: The big talking points ahead of SVNS Vancouver

Only two rounds remain in the 2025-26 HSBC SVNS regular season following an action-packed weekend in Perth, and there are plenty of questions still to be answered.

As Fiji, New Zealand and South Africa jostle to lead the men’s title, New Zealand and Australia continue to change hands at the top of the women’s competition, with the Kiwis landing back-to-back results in February.

RugbyPass examines the big talking points ahead of a critical final fortnight of events in March as the circuit rolls on to Vancouver before a historic maiden event in New York.

Perth continues to deliver

Hot, challenging conditions welcomed the SVNS circuit in Perth this weekend, but that didn’t stop the WA locals turning out in force at HBF Park.

With temperatures coming close to cracking 40 degrees Celcius on the turf, the fans let their voice be heard, with strong attendances across the weekend.

With the local sides also pushing deep into the tournament, the fans were also rewarded with strong, exciting rugby from Fiji and eventual men’s champions South Africa.

Halfway through the regular season – and all still to play for in the men’s

Speaking of champions, with the Blitzboks securing their second championship with a thrilling 21-19 win over Fiji, the result has thrown the men’s race wide open.

The Fijians still hold a slender four-point lead at the top of the ladder heading into Vancouver, with their big semi-final victory over New Zealand proving a critical result in the context of the season.

The Boks’ victory sees them leapfrog over the Kiwis into second place, with New Zealand losing to hosts Australia in the bronze medal play-off to finish fourth.

While the three leaders will likely be in calculations come the end of March, the likes of France and Australia could also spring their way into the top three, with both sitting only eight points behind New Zealand in fourth and fifth.

A two-way race in the women’s – with Miller, Teneti, the difference

Meanwhile, in the women’s title race, rivals Australia and New Zealand have once again opened up a big lead at the top of the ladder.

With 20 points now separating the two sides from the chasing pack, March looms as the decider for who finishes on top, the Aussies only sitting four points behind the Kiwis.

New Zealand fired a warning shot to their Trans-Tasman rivals throughout February, with back-to-back victories in Singapore and Perth, both finals blowing out into big results.

Australia has found it particularly hard to shut down the work rate of Jorja Miller, who beat ten defenders and topped New Zealand’s tackle count, as well as the try-scoring efforts of Kelsey Teneti, who scored six tries – second only to Maddi Levi’s seven tries.

Australia has the firepower and ability to chase down New Zealand, but have their work cut out against these two stars in particular, who are playing some of their best rugby so far in their careers.

Nothing beats experience as the casualty ward is set to empty for Canada

Across the tournament, plenty of young blood have put their hands up. But as the business end of the season draws closer, the leading sides will turn to their experienced heads to deliver under pressure.

Overall, the 2025-26 season has been one where the veterans have excelled, if the numbers are anything to go by.

While Maddi Levi and Kelsey Teneti have dominated the scoresheet, the work of USA’s Ariana Ramsey, Fiji’s Reapi Ulunisau, New Zealand’s Risi Pouri-Lane and France’s Marie Dupouy has also been noted, topping the carries made (24), defenders beaten (14), tackles completed (18) and offloads (7) in Perth, respectively.

Spain’s Jeremy Trevithick has excelled in the men’s competition, topping tries scored (9), metres gained (351) and clean breaks (9), in Perth, with Australia’s Ben Dowling, Fiji’s Vuiviawa Naduvalo, France’s Rayan Rebbadj and player of the tournament Ryan Oosthuizen also delivering impressive performances.

With a month off, several omissions, including Australia’s Maurice Longbottom and Spain’s Pol Pla have the chance to offer a late charge in Vancouver.

Vancouver is a line in the sand for contenders and champions

March will be the month where the contenders have to deliver, and for the ladder leaders to secure their positions. Bar the three-leg finals, it sets up Vancouver to potentially be the most critical leg of the season.

With the men’s title an open race and the women’s title a clash between two rivals, the results in Vancouver not only lay the groundwork for New York but will also significantly affect how the finals series will look.

There will be all to play for come March 7th at BC Place.