Teneti clear standout in New York but Miller still leads MVP race

RugbyPass SVNS Series writers will review each tournament this season with their MVP votes. Finn Morton, Joe Harvey and Nick Wasiliev weigh in with 3-2-1 votes towards the RugbyPass Men’s and Women’s SVNS Series MVP leaderboard.

Kelsey Teneti has unanimously been voted the women’s player of SVNS New York by RugbyPass SVNS Series writers, which has seen the New Zealander move into second place on the overall MVP leaderboard.

Teneti polled the maximum nine votes after the Black Ferns Sevens secured their fifth Cup Final title of the season and the HSBC SVNS Series crown. The 22-year-old has moved ahead of Australia’s try-scoring history-maker Maddison Levi on the standings.

But there’s still a clear leader in the race to become RugbyPass’ inaugural SVNS Series MVP. Jorja Miller only received one vote after this month’s New York event at Sports Illustrated Stadium, but the 22-year-old remains 17 clear of Teneti on the leaderboard.

Miller was prolific on day one, scoring doubles in New Zealand’s three pool stage wins against Great Britain, Fiji and France. While the reigning SVNS Series Player of the Year continued to impress on finals day, Teneti was the star of the show when it mattered most.

Levi sisters Maddison and Teagan combined for three tries in the Cup Final between traditional rivals Australia and New Zealand, with the women in gold taking a commanding 16-point lead early in the second half.

But Teneti led the way as the Black Ferns Sevens fought their way back into the contest, scoring one of the team’s three second-half tries. That was Teneti’s second of the match as well, having opened the scoring inside the first few minutes.

Maddison Levi made a remarkable try-saving tackle on Alena Saili in the dying stages, as the Aussies looked to protect their five-point lead, but Katelyn Vahaakolo burrowed over for the match-leveller in the next phase.

That gave Risi Pouri-Lane a chance to win it.

The Black Ferns Sevens skipper appeared cool, calm and composed while lining up the shot at the uprights. With about 20 seconds remaining, Pouri-Lane sent the ball through the sticks, giving New Zealand a one-point comeback lead.

Teneti, Miller and Pouri-Lane all polled votes, while Teagan Levi’s efforts didn’t go unnoticed either. Writer Nick Wasiliev gave one vote to Kaylen Thomas, with the USA securing a third-place finish with a 26-17 win against Fiji.

While the SVNS 1 campaign is done for the 2025/26 season, there is more rugby sevens to look forward to, and you won’t have to wait long either. The 12-team World Championship Series gets underway at the Hong Kong Sevens on April 17-19.

Valladolid in Spain (May 29-31) and Bordeaux in France (June 5-7) will host the other two legs to conclude the new-look season. These events will decide the line-up for the 2026/26 HSBC SVNS 1 campaign as well.

RugbyPass SVNS Series MVP 3-2-1 votes – New York

Finn Morton

Men: Selvyn Davids (South Africa), Terio Veilawa (Fiji), Tristan Leyds (South Africa)

Women: Kelsey Teneti (New Zealand), Teagan Levi (Australia), Jorja Miller (New Zealand)

Joe Harvey

Men: Selvyn Davids (South Africa), Viwa Naduvalo (Fiji), Tristan Leyds (South Africa)

Women: Kelsey Teneti (New Zealand), Teagan Levi (Australia), Risi Pouri-Lane (New Zealand)

Nick Wasiliev

Men: Tristan Leyds (South Africa), Terio Veilawa (Fiji), Wallace Charlie (Australia)

Women: Kelsey Teneti (New Zealand), Teagan Levi (Australia), Kaylen Thomas (USA)

RugbyPass Women’s SVNS Series MVP leaderboard

Jorja Miller (New Zealand) – 43 votes

Kelsey Teneti (New Zealand) – 26 votes

Maddison Levi (Australia) – 22 votes

Isabella Nasser (Australia) – 11 votes

Teagan Levi (Australia) – 9 votes

Risi Pouri-Lane (New Zealand) – 5 votes

Jazmin Felix-Hotham (New Zealand), Olivia Apps (Canada)  – 4 votes

Madison Ashby (Australia), Kaylen Thomas (USA) – 3 votes

Mahina Paul (New Zealand) – 2 votes

Hanako Utsumi (Japan), Reapi Ulunisau (Fiji), Maya Stewart (Australia), Tia Hinds (Australia), Jaymie Kolose (New Zealand), Su Adegoke (USA)  – 1 vote

RugbyPass Men’s SVNS Series MVP leaderboard

Shilton van Wyk (South Africa), Viwa Naduvalo (Fiji) – 21 votes

Terio Veilawa (Fiji) – 13 votes

Tristan Leyds (South Africa) – 11 votes

Luciano Gonzalez (Argentina), Ryan Oosthuizen (South Africa) – 9 votes

Akuila Rokolisoa (New Zealand) – 8 votes

Brady Rush (New Zealand), Selvyn Davids (South Africa) – 6 votes

Dietrich Roache (Australia), Paulin Riva (France), Ricardo Duarttee (South Africa), Eduardo Lopez (Spain), Wallace Charlie (Australia) – 4 votes

Donovan Don (South Africa) – 3 votes

Nacani Boginisoko (Fiji), Kele Lasaqa (New Zealand) – 2 votes

Pilipo Bukayaro (Fiji), Marcos Moneta (Argentina), Andy Timo (France), Rob Rush (New Zealand), Ben Dowling (Australia), Henry Hutchison (Australia), Jeremy Trevithick (Spain) – 1 vote