France handed tough SVNS Valladolid pool after World Championship opener

Canada will have the chance to avenge their third-place playoff defeat to France at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, with the two teams drawn in Pool C ahead of the next World Championship event in Valladolid on May 29 to 31.

Charity Williams raced away for what proved to be Canada’s only try of that fixture at Kai Tak Sports Park on Sunday, before France piled on 31 unanswered points. Anaick Konyi crossed for a double, with Anne-Cecile Ciofani another one of the team’s four try-scorers.

Regular season champions New Zealand have continued their dominance, taking out the World Championship Series opener 19-14 over Australia. That was the seventh time in as many events this season those two fierce rivals have met in a Cup Final.

New Zealand and Australia have been presented with their own pool-stage challenges ahead of the tournament in the northwest of Spain, but it’s Pool C that really stands out. France are looking to build on their third-place finish in Hong Kong, but it won’t be easy.

Canada are the reigning Olympic silver medallists, and they showed plenty of promise during the second half of the regular season in particular. SVNS 2 qualifiers Spain will be raring to go ahead of their home event, and Great Britain are coming off a drought-breaking win in Hong Kong.

The Black Ferns Sevens are in Pool A with three rapidly improving sides. Japan claimed a famous win over Canada earlier this season, while both Brazil and Argentina showed what they’re capable of during successful SVNS 2 campaigns.

Australia will have some fierce battles before the knockout rounds as well, joined by the USA, who finished third at SVNS New York last month. Fiji and South Africa round out that group, which presents the chance for an upset or two.

This is the penultimate round of the SVNS World Championship Series, before the season finale in Bordeaux in early June. That will determine the World Championship winners and which eight teams qualify for the top flight next season.

The Black Ferns Sevens have already retained core status by taking out the regular season crown, and it’s the same for the Blitzboks in the men’s competition. Those two sides are exempt from a possible relegation battle.

HSBC SVNS World Championship Valladolid women’s pools

Pool A: New Zealand, Japan, Brazil, Argentina

Pool B: Australia, USA, Fiji, South Africa

Pool C: France, Canada, Spain, Great Britain