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Blitzboks and Black Ferns win thrilling finals to claim Series crowns
By Joe Harvey
The Blitzboks and Black Ferns both claimed 2025/26 HSBC SVNS Series titles with dramatic tournament wins at HSBC SVNS New York.
South Africa beat their closest Series rivals in the standings, Fiji, 10-7 in a gritty final at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Tries for Gino Cupido and Tristan Leyds were enough to cancel out Terio Veilawa’s converted score in New Jersey.
In Impi Visser’s 50th tournament on the global circuit, Philip Snyman’s South Africa clinched their fourth tournament win of the season after already having secured crowns in Cape Town, Perth and Vancouver.
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Fiji were consigned to their sixth finish on the podium this season and the Blitzboks won their fifth Series title.
Selvyn Davids, HSBC SVNS Player of the Final, said: “What a performance. We stuck to our guns because we knew Fiji were going to be physical, but thankfully we came out on top.”
Visser said: “It was a massive defensive effort and testament to all our hard work. We couldn’t have scripted it any better and we’re just thankful we came up with the win.”
New Zealand won their fifth HSBC SVNS Series tournament of the season with their 22-21 win over Australia in an enthralling tournament closer.
A brace for the Black Ferns’ Kelsey Teneti, along with efforts from Alena Saili and Katelyn Vahaakolo, cancelled out a Teagan Levi brace and a Maddison Levi score.
Teneti, who was named HSBC Player of the Final, said: “It was a full fight and it didn’t take one person [to win it] – it took the whole team. Words can’t even describe the feeling and I couldn’t be more grateful to be a part of this amazing team.”
Risi Pouri-Lane, Black Ferns captain, said: “It was about heart because finals footie can go either way, so we had to grind it out. But the belief in every single one of us was huge and we spoke about doing the simple things well.
“Those Aussie girls are so talented and we knew what we had to do to try and shut them down.”
Alan Gilpin, World Rugby CEO, said: “It’s been amazing, what’s not to love? Sevens rugby in one of the best cities in the world. It’s been brilliant and just shows what’s possible for rugby in the US.
“The players have been excited to be in New York because it’s an iconic city.”
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