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Paulin Riva’s reaction says it all after France book spot in quarter-finals


Paulin Riva of France at SVNS Valladolid. Picture: World Rugby.
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France captain Paulin Riva literally fell to his knees in celebration, watching on from the sidelines as Les Bleus Sevens held on for a tournament-defining result. The French have booked their spot in the quarter-finals at SVNS Valladolid after defeating the USA 19-14 in a thriller.

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France sat in eighth spot on the ladder after the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, and were at risk of missing the quarters in Valladolid. It came down to a final-round pool clash with the USA, who were chasing valuable competition points as well.

Antoine Zeghdar and Yerim Fall (double) were the try-scorers for France, who secured a 19-14 win at Estadio Jose Zorrilla. That has seen the French punch their ticket to the quarters and claim a massive result in the overall top-eight race.

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With the SVNS ladder resetting for the World Championship Series, and four qualifiers taking their place out of the second-tier SVNS 2, the 12 best teams in the sport had it all to play for across the final three legs of the season.

World Championship contenders will have their sights set on the top prize, but every side is looking to finish in the top eight by season’s end. Those sides will earn core status for the SVNS 1 2026/27, while the bottom four will be left to fight their way back up from the second tier.

“The Championship is very close, very difficult with 12 big teams,” Riva told RugbyPass in Valladolid.

“We are happy to go into the quarter-finals because in Hong Kong [China] in was very difficult for us, so let’s go.”

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Australia finished in top spot in Pool A after overcoming World Championship front-runners South Africa on Saturday. Harry Wilson, Henry Hitchonson, Ben Dowlng and Josh Turner all crossed for five-pointers in the statement 24-14 triumph.

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The Australians will take on Kenya in the second quarter-final, with the winner set to play either New Zealand or Fiji in the final four. Fiji were beaten by Spain 12-14 at about 2:30 pm, seeing the hosts qualify for the knockout rounds.

It doesn’t get any easier for the home side, with Spain matched up against regular-season winners South Africa in the third quarter-final. Whoever wins that match will take on either Argentina or France for a spot in the big dance.

HSBC SVNS Valladolid Men’s quarter-finals

New Zealand vs Fiji at 4:27 pm (local time)

Australia vs Kenya at 4:49 pm

Spain vs South Africa at 5:11 pm

Argentina vs France at 5:33 pm

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