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Fiji fight back, Blitzboks hold on in blockbuster SVNS openers
By Finn Morton
Fiji and South Africa have opened their 2025/26 HSBC SVNS Series campaigns with hard-fought wins in the ‘pool of champions’ at the Dubai Sevens. Fiji beat reigning League Winners Argentina 24-19, while South Africa defeated Paris Olympics gold medallists France 15-12.
New Zealand started the season with a thrilling 21-14 win over Great Britain, before Australia upset Spain in the other Pool B fixture. It was then time for the other four men’s teams to make their mark, starting with a blockbuster between Fiji and Argentina.
The Fijians took out the Dubai Sevens title last season, before claiming another regular-season trophy at Singapore’s National Stadium later on. Argentina still emerged as the team to beat before the World Championship, taking out the League title for the second season in a row.
Marcos Moneta came close to scoring with his first touch, but the speedster ran out of space down the left edge at The Sevens Stadium. Moneta danced inside the field before passing the ball on, leading to Santiago Alvarez’s first try of the season.
Alvarez returned the favour of a couple of minutes later, offloading the ball to Moneta, who raced away for a try inside the left sideline. With the conversion missing the mark, the scoreboard read 12-0 in favour of Los Pumas Sevens.
Fiji fought their way back into the contest through Viwa Naduvalo in the fifth minute, which made it a one-score game. Jeremaia Matana levelled the scores with an effort deep into the half, and the Fijians were done there.
Naduvalo completed a double in the final play of the first half, as Fiji took a hard-earned 19-12 lead into the break. George Bose scored Fiji’s fourth try of the match later on, with an effort in the 10th minute, leaving the fan favourites in a strong winning position.
Sebastian Dubuc helped reduce the deficit with one minute left, with the successful conversion from Santiago Vera Feld making it a five-point game. Argentina had a chance in the final play, but Fiji hung on for a statement win to start their campaign.
In the other first-round men’s Pool A fixture, defending SVNS Series World Championship winners South Africa looked to start their quest for Dubai Sevens glory on a winning note. South Africa have won this event 11 times, more than any other nation.
SVNS Series veteran Ryan Oosthuizen helped get the Blitzboks off to a great start, scoring in the second minute. France hit back soon after through Célian Pouzelgues, but a try to Donavan Don in the seventh minute saw the Blitzboks take a three-point lead into half-time.
The Boks extended their advantage through Christie Grobbelaar in the ninth minute, with the scoreboard reading 15-8 with just under five to play. Olympic gold medallist Antoine Zeghdar gave France hope with a try in the 13th minute, but much like Argentina, time wasn’t on their side.
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