Five standout performers from Vancouver SVNS

The penultimate round of the 2025/26 HSBC SVNS Series season has set up the final weekend perfectly.

This week in New York City there is so much to play for. South Africa and Fiji are level on points at the top of the men’s standings. New Zealand have an eight point lead over their incessant rivals, Australia, in the women’s competition.

Canada’s western-most coast was also the perfect stage for a number of players to make their mark for a fifth time this season.

At the end of two days’ action RugbyPass journalists cast their votes in the race for MVP.

Here are the five standout performers from Vancouver SVNS…

Jorja Miller (New Zealand)

As things stand Jorja Miller has a 20 point lead on the HSBC SVNS Series MVP leaderboard.

That lead is indicative of just how good the 22-year-old has been this season. In Vancouver the Timaru native scored her 100th Black Ferns Sevens try as the team won their fourth tournament this season.

At this stage of the season Miller’s lead at the top of the MVP race is unassailable. There is no task which forward cannot complete to perfection. No team she could not make better.

Honestly, it is hard to think when a player had this much influence or importance to a team aged only 22. We live in the time of Miller dominance. Long may it continue.

Shilton van Wyk (South Africa)

Ahead of Vancouver SVNS it was confirmed that Shilton van Wyk was the Springbok Men’s Sevens Player of the Year.

So, what better way to double down on that award than with a dominant performance in Canada.

All weekend at BC Place the 26-year-old could not be contained as the Blitzboks picked up their third tournament win of the season. Their second title in a row.

His dominance on a rugby pitch could no more be seen than in his two-try performance in the final against Spain.

A performance which meant South Africa enter the New York event level on points with Fiji.

In an interview in December, Van Wyk told RugbyPass how he had hoped to be the best player in his position by the end of this season. He may well just be the best player in the competition full-stop.

Tristan Leyds (South Africa)

While Shilton van Wyk was the overall star for the Blitzboks, there cannot be any denying how important Tristan Leyds was to South Africa’s cause.

Named HSBC Player of the Final for his efforts in the 38-12 win against Spain, as a creative force the 28-year-old was in a class of his own.

On a weekend defined by its grubber kicks, the image of Leyds dropping the ball to his boost last weekend in Vancouver will live long in the memory.

 

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But it was not just his kicking that had an impact. On Sunday afternoon Leyds showcased his full skillset. On another weekend he could have pipped his countryman to the most votes from RugbyPass journalists in the MVP race. Even then, he still received six votes.

It is truly terrifying how many players have had starring roles for Philip Snyman’s Blitzboks this season. Leyds is just another example of their full-scale dominance.

Maddison Levi (Australia)

Maddison Levi is Jorja Miller’s closest rival in the MVP standings. Even if the Australian will not catch the Kiwi this season.

To keep up the season’s pattern of all Australia-New Zealand finals on Day 2, Levi resumed her role as Australia’s main driving force and racked up a total of 50 points across two days. Otherworldly numbers.

Since the 23-year-old made her Australia Sevens debut some five years ago almost every superlative in the world has been used to describe her. Honestly, we are running out.

It is uncanny how Levi is the player that consistently provides the finishing touch, shows off her world-class footwork or how she can find a weak shoulder to burst past a defender.

You can even take a moment to consider how Levi and Miller are still so young yet finding this level of performance. We are very lucky.

Eduardo López (Spain)

There is little doubt that Spain will have been disappointed with their efforts this season.

After a third overall finish on the HSBC SVNS Series last season, Paco Hernandez’s team had not finished on the podium all season. Until Vancouver.

In a flurry of brilliance, Spain had a number of players stand head and shoulders above the rest. But rising above all others was Eduardo López.

 

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It is hard to describe exactly what the 27-year-old and his teammates were able to unlock at BC Place.

Their results included a 12-10 win over the All Blacks, a 10-0 win against Great Britain and a semi-final win against Fiji.

López’s points total for the weekend was 15 points, but does not quite underline just how much of an impact he had on every game he played in. It was hugely impressive.