NPC wraps up, SVNS stars to shine in WXV Global Series final fortnight

The southern hemisphere season is set to enter its final fortnight of action, with the final match for the women on Australian shore and the men’s domestic season wrapping up in New Zealand.

However, with the closing stages of the WXV Global Series underway with tour games in New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, USA and Japan, plenty of sevens stars will have their chance to show their potential in both XVs and ahead of the SVNS Series commencing next month.

On top of international fixtures, preseason and development fixtures are also underway, with Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Samoa commencing their preparations for the SVNS Series last week in Sydney, while several SVNS stars are set to feature in the upcoming Australia A fixtures against the USA.

RugbyPass gives a low down on the action this weekend in the world of sevens, and key players set to make a splash.

National Provincial Championship

A historic weekend in New Zealand domestic rugby looms in Christchurch, with Canterbury and Northland set to face for the NPC title – and both sides looking to break significant droughts at the top.

Canterbury have not claimed top honours since 2004, back when the format of the tournament was markedly different to what it is now. The 22-year gap has marked the longest between titles in the club’s history, a stat they will look to rectify this Monday at home.

For Northland, however, the gap has been even longer, with the side only ever claiming two titles in their history, in 1977 as North Auckland, and 1997 – and both were when the club played in the second division of the competition – meaning a title this weekend the first time would see an NPC title for the men from the far north for the first time ever.

The visitors will welcome one New Zealand Sevens star to their side, with Brady Rush, who has maintained a stranglehold on the left wing all season, set to start in the final.

Canterbury will meanwhile rely on the services of sevens alumni Andrew Knewstubb to get them home, the Olympic and Commonwealth Games medalist being named to start at flyhalf to get the home side to victory.

WXV Global Series

With a lot of crossover between sevens and XVs in the women’s game, a large amount of sevens players are set for busy weekends in the WXV Global Series.

Kicking off in Australia, the Wallaroos and Scotland will play out their final clash of the year in Canberra, with the hosts calling on sevens stars at both the national and domestic level.

In the starting side, Australia A Sevens alumni Waiaria Ellis is set to continue her strong form at flyhalf, with Next Gen 7s star Amelia Whittaker and recent SVNS star Maya Stewart lining up in the back three, being joined on the bench by fellow SVNS star Piper Simons.

The Scots will roll out Scotland 7S alumni Chloe Rollie and Helen Nelson at fullback and flyhalf, respectively, with Team GB star Rhona Lloyd also providing injection on the right wing as the visitors look to try and leave the Australian capital with a win.

Meanwhile in Ottawa, Canada will look to unleash an entire cross-code backline against the Red Roses following their victory in Toronto, with Olivia Apps, Taylor Perry, Asia Hogan-Rochester, Shoshanah Seumanutafa, Florence Symonds, Alysha Corrigan and Savannah Bauder all slated to started.

Complimented with Caroline Crossley on the bench, the Canadians will have a tough assignment against the current world champions, who will implement Team GB alumni Helena Rowland and Meg Jones in the centres for the Red Roses’ starting side.

They will be joined by Olympic superstar Ellie Kildunne on the bench, with Holly Aitchison and Alex Matthews also set to provide impact in the closing stages.

New Zealand will look to continue their strong form against France after their demolition last week in Hamilton, with sevens alumni Braxton Sorensen-McGee starting at fullback, with Justine McGregor providing injection off the bench.

Up in Nashville, the USA Eagles will play their second match of their two game series against Italy, utilising sevens star Ashley Cowdrey at fullback, with Hann Humphreys providing injection on the bench as the side looks for back-to-back results.

Lastly, the Springbok Women will also commence their two match campaign against Ireland in Cape Town, with Byrhandré Dolf, Shiniqwa Lamprecht, Maceala Samboya, Maria Tshiremba and Patience Mokone all named in the wider squad following their appearance at the SVNS World Championship earlier this year.