Australia’s Dietrich Roache predicts the top contenders on SVNS Series

Australia’s Dietrich Roache expects “the usuals” to challenge for glory on the upcoming HSBC SVNS Series. The new season gets underway in two weeks at Dubai’s The Sevens Stadium before the circuit picks up again a week later at DHL Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa.

It might be the first of six regular season legs on the circuit, but the Dubai Sevens is a crucial event for all teams as they prepare to lay down a marker for the campaign ahead. 12 months ago, the Aussies learnt some lessons en route to a frustrating quarter-final exit.

Ireland handed Australia a loss on field two to start the 2023/24 season, and an emphatic 31-14 loss to Argentina left them on the cusp of a bottom-four finish. While the men in gold were able to sneak into the quarters, eventual Cup winners South Africa sent them packing.

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Argentina went on to finish second behind South Africa in Dubai, with New Zealand placing third. Those two teams proved to be some of the heavyweights in the competition, and Roache anticipates they’ll be up there with the best once again during the 2025 season.

Roache has also tipped Olympic champions France and Olympic silver medallist Fiji to also be in that conversation. France brought an end to a 19-year Cup Final drought last season before going on to claim overall Series glory at the World Championship in Madrid.

As for Fiji, they were disappointing on the SVNS Series in 2023/24 but coach Osea Kolinisau got the best out of the team at the Olympic Games. Fiji have made every men’s gold medal match in Olympic history, and they’ll want to back that up with strong performances on the Series.

“Just sort of the usuals. New Zealand, Fiji are always good, they’ve never had a bad team. I know we’ll be looking forward to versing them,” Roache told RugbyPass at the Rugby Australia Awards.

“The other two that have come in the last few years are probably Argentina and France will be very hard to beat. Obviously, Argie’s had a great year last year and France are coming off their gold medal.

“We’re ready to have a good crack so us Aussie boys, we’re not going to shy away from no battle so we’ll be ready to go.”

That last comment speaks volumes about the character of this Australian side. Coach John Manenti has moved on to take up an opportunity in Major League Rugby, with former All Black Liam Barry stepping into the role, and they’ve had some changes to their roster as well.

Last season’s captain Nick Malouf has retired from international rugby sevens, and it’s been reported that the team’s reigning Player of the Year Nathan Lawson is off to the NRL. But Australia still boasts plenty of quality, with the likes of Roache leading the way.

They’re a pack of fighters.

“Honestly, I think one word I’d say, just the way we’ve been training, just a lot of fight. I think fight is the word for our team,” Roache explained.

“We’ve got a lot of young guys, new guys, but just the way I see them every day just fighting for a position, no one’s guaranteed a spot in our team, so it’s good to see that everyone’s fighting for a spot, working really hard, and just not leaving any stone unturned.”

This Australian side may also feel like they have something to prove on the SVNS Series. They came painfully close to a medal at the Olympic Games, but a late try to Selvyn Davids saw South Africa take their place on the podium after winning a bronze medal thriller.

Australia had shown signs of medal potential with strong wins over Samoa, Kenay and Argentina in pool play, and an 18-nil win over the USA in their quarter-final left players, coaches and fans alike daring to dream of what that team could achieve.

But a 31-7 loss to Fiji in the semis and a heartbreaking 26-19 defeat to South Africa brought an end to hops of Olympic history. It was the same story for the women’s side, who also finished fourth, with Charlotte Caslick among those who have spoken about that pain.

It doesn’t go away overnight.

“To be honest, it’s been very hard for me personally. I think it took me three or four weeks just to get over that.

“You work a long time trying to get to that one goal, you only get one shot and sometimes you just don’t have that. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out for you. It was very tough.

“I’m very lucky that I’ve got a great support system around me so I’ve been able to come back, recovered, ready to go. I feel like I’m better than last year so definitely keen to get this season kicked off.”

The 2025 HSBC SVNS Series gets underway in Dubai from November 30 to December 1, before heading to Cape Town from December 7-8. Perth, Vancouver, Hong Kong China, Singapore and Los Angeles are the other stops on the upcoming circuit.