Aussies one SVNS title away from ending remarkable streak in Bordeaux

Australia may need to snap a long-running streak dating back more than 900 days if they’re to become HSBC SVNS World Championship winners in Bordeaux. They went into the season finale as the top ranked side on the standings, after claiming silverware at SVNS Valladolid. 

The Aussies haven’t been crowned champions at consecutive HSBC SVNS Series events in a single season since late 2023, when they claimed titles in Dubai and Cape Town. New Zealand have dominated the circuit over the two and a half years since, winning 14 of 21 events. 

Australia did take out the SVNS Grand Final in Madrid two years ago, but the Black Ferns Sevens have regularly proved tough to stop. New Zealand won the 2025 Grand Final in Los Angeles and have been victorious at five of six 2025/26 regular season tournaments. 

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But the Aussies are still leading the World Championship race as things stand, with Heidi Dennis starring in the team’s 27-14 defeat of the USA last weekend in Spain. That secured the team’s first title since December, when they beat New Zealand at SVNS Cape Town.

The Aussies are now looking to replicate those heroics at Stade Atlantique, which would see them make team history if they were successful. Teagan Levi scored two as the World Championship leaders started their quest for the top prize with a clinical 45-7 blitz against Brazil.

“Any team here can win. The boys always say it, every team’s unreal, they’re elite,” Australia co-captain Madison Ashby told RugbyPass in Bordeaux. 

“To go back-to-back, that’s our goal. Obviously no team likes to lose, we like winning and I hope that’s what we’re going to do this weekend.” 

The equation was simple for the Aussies ahead of the season finale: if they win the Cup Final in Bordeaux, they will be guaranteed World Championship winners. But if they hypothetically lost the decider to New Zealand, those two sides would draw level on competition points. 

There are a series of tiebreaks that will be used if needed to determine the World Championship winners. The first criteria of resolution is match points differential, followed by the difference between tries scored and those conceded. 

“It’s kind of exciting. That’s what makes footy interesting,” Ashby said. 

“New Zealand is up there with us… I can’t wait.” 

Kahli Henwood was next to strike, followed by Kaitlan Shave and co-captain Isabella Nasser just before half-time. It was 26-7 at the break, with the Aussies piling on more points in the second half through Levi (double) and Faith Nathan. 

Australia face Fiji in their second pool matches before rounding out pool play on Saturday against Japan. Those results will determine who the Aussies face in the quarters and map out their potential path to World Championship glory.