Five SVNS stars making their mark in Nations Cup and Championship

The final week of the July series of the Nations Championship and Nations Cup is upon us, and with it, the last chance until November to see sides around the world do battle in this new tournament.

One of the highlights has been the transition of several sevens stars into the longer format of the game, and also see stars of the shorter format flourish in the new format.

RugbyPass gives you five new recent converts who have transitioned from 7s to 15s, and who have flourished in the new format of the international rugby calendar.

Lance Williams (USA)

Lance Williams was already having a big year in rugby before making his debut in the starting side for the USA, going on to defeat Zimbabwe 31-15 in Charlotte.

Being part of the side that got the United States back to the HSBC SVNS Series circuit earlier this year, Williams backed it up with a strong performance at blindside flanker, building on his MLR form with the California Legion.

With the USA set for their most difficult match of this leg when they take on Spain this weekend in Cary, North Carolina, Williams is likely set to build on his debut performance very quickly for the Eagles.

Jeremy Trevithick (Spain)

On the other side of the field in Cary, Spanish Sevens superstar Jeremy Trevithick is in line to get a much bigger bite of 15s action, following him making his debut off the bench in his side’s 32-19 win over Tonga in Edmonton.

While Trevithick only got seven minutes of game time on the wing in Canada, their upcoming match against the USA will likely see the sevens star called on to inject some dangerous weapons out wide for Los Leones.

With him being named in the 2025-26 SVNS Team of the Season, it won’t take long for the speedster to bring his career conquering form to the longer format of rugby.

Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang (France)

One Sevens star already doing that is Les Bleus Sevens alumni Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, who enjoyed a picture perfect debut in the longer format of rugby as France lit up Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

Defeating the Wallabies 42-26, Grandidier-Nkanang scored a double for his efforts as his side achieved their first win in Brisbane since 1972.

Despite the winger admitting the world of 15s is still very fresh to him after the result, all signs are pointing to the 2024 Olympic gold medalist transitioning well into a successful career in the long format.

Simon Benitez Cruz (Argentina)

A sevens star already making that successful transition is the now ten-capped Los Puma Simon Benitez Cruz, who came off the bench over the weekend in San Juan as his side defeated Wales 35-21.

Having been an established part of the Los Pumas 7s side that won multiple HSBC SVNS Series tournaments, Cruz made his debut against the British & Irish Lions last year, his side going on to achieve an historic first victory against the touring side.

Becoming a reliable scrumhalf option for Felipe Contepomi, it adds to an imposing level of depth the Argentine sevens program is developing for the national backline.

Juan Gonzalez (Uruguay)

Lastly, one of Uruguay’s most exciting backs, Juan Gonzalez, has marked a strong return to Los Teros, featuring in the back three in both his side’s matches against Georgia and Romania.

Starting on the wing and earning his tenth cap for the side, Gonzalez found more success shifting to fullback last weekend, standing out well in a team that includes fellow sevens alumni Ignacio Rodríguez Bosch and Joaquin Suarez.

With the Uruguayan getting regular game time since his transition out of sevens and into the Worcester Warriors side last year, he’ll be well placed to fire for his national side this upcoming weekend, and later this year in the Northern Hemisphere.