Australia crowned SVNS World Championship winners on dramatic final day

Australia are the 2026 HSBC SVNS World Championship winners after defeating New Zealand 26-19 in the Bordeaux Women’s Cup Final. This is the first time since December 2023 the Aussies have gone back-to-back as champions at consecutive SVNS events. 

It was all to play for ahead of the big dance at SVNS Bordeaux, with both the Aussies and Black Ferns Sevens one win away from the circuit’s top prize. Australia went into the tournament as the top-ranked side on the standings, but that had the potential to change in season finale. 

New Zealand completed a miraculous escape to beat Canada earlier on day three, with Jorja Miller touching down for a final play try. Then, the Aussies punched their ticket to yet another Cup Final with a clinical victory against SVNS Valladolid finalists the USA. 

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There was plenty of emotions in the anthems, with tears streaming down the faces of some players ahead of the decider. You could also feel the tension around Stade Atlantique during the match, with an entire season coming down to a 14-minute match for both sides. 

Black Ferns Sevens playmaker Manaia Nuku kicked things off, with Maddison Levi setting the tone early with a skillful take. Both teams made an error early, before Heidi Dennis eventually broke the game open in the fourth minute. 

Dennis put a big fend on Nuku before racing more than half the length to the house. The No. 13 then added the extras, as the Aussies took an early 7-0 lead. But Teagan Levi made an error off the restart, which presented the Black Ferns Sevens with an opportunity. 

Nuku took the ball towards the line before throwing a dummy pass, then running through a big gap in the Australian defensive line. The New Zealander placed the ball down for the bounce back points before adding the extras with the conversion. 

It was a seven-all with half-time looming, but there was still plenty of drama left in this one. The Aussies took a seven-point advantage into the half-time huddle, with co-captain Isabella Nasser setting up Maddison Levi with a clever offload. 

Teagan Levi failed to send the kick-off beyond the 10 metre lien to start the second term, but it didn’t lead to points right away. Katelyn Vahaakolo dove over for some crucial points with four minutes remaining, which cut Australia’s lead down to two. 

But Australia hit back immediately. 

Kahli Henwood took the restart while looking up into the French sun, beat two defenders, and got a pass off to Faith Nathan out wide. Nathan, who is one of if not the quickest player in the Aussie side, had too much pace in the race for the try line. 

New Zealand looked to hit back soon after, with Vahaakolo making a long break down the park, but Maddison Levi trailed back to make a try-saving stop. Levi then turned defence into attack, racing away for the match-sealing try moments later. 

Maddison Levi was named Player of the Final and was later unveiled as a member of the Women’s SVNS Dream Team of the Year in partnership with HSBC. Nasser was the other representative from Australia, capping off a standout season on the circuit.

“Just couldn’t be prouder of the squad we have, not only the 14 here but everyone back home, all the staff members, it was just a full team squad effort,” Nasser told RugbyPass in Bordeaux.

“I’ve said it time and time again but New Zealand are such a quality side. We love versing them, they’re such a challenge and we had to be really crafty to get up on them and get the win.

“To be able to do that and put on a performance like that when it really mattered and at the crunch time was really, really good.”