Pools confirmed for World Championship opener in Hong Kong

All 24 teams for the HSBC SVNS World Championship have now been confirmed. It took 10 events across HSBC SVNS Series, SVNS 2 and SVNS 3 events to get here.

World Championship events in Hong Kong, Valladolid and Bordeaux await with the top 12 men’s and women’s teams set to compete over nine days of high intensity action. Spots on the Series are up for grabs. Everything will be to play for.

There is even a place for South Africa and Argentina’s women. Both teams started their seasons in SVNS 3 and secured top four spots in SVNS 2 after competitions in Nairobi, Montevideo and São Paulo.

In the wake of the SVNS 2 finale in Brazil last weekend, the pools have been drawn for the World Championship’s first stop in Hong Kong between 17-19 April.

Series champions will not have it easy

One thing that is certain is that Series champions the Blitzboks and Black Ferns Sevens will not have an easy ride at Kai Tak Sports Stadium.

Philip Snyman’s South Africa have been named in Pool A alongside Argentina, Spain and Uruguay.

In Argentina and Spain the Boks will be taking on two teams wounded by their Series excursions which resulted in their sixth and seventh place finish in the standings.

New Zealand have been placed in Pool A with Fiji, Japan and Brazil. Fiji placed sixth in the overall standings and Japan ended the season in seventh.

Crystal Kaua’s Brazil are the most intriguing prospect. It took the emotion of being on home soil to propel the team to a SVNS 2 victory in São Paulo and last-gasp qualification for the World Championship.

Fiji and Australia out for revenge

It took until the final games of the Series season for South Africa and New Zealand to win the tournament.

While there were two teams left delighted at the end of six tournaments, there were you had to spare a thought for Fiji and Australia, who had their hopes of Series titles heart-achingly dashed.

Now they are out for revenge as the World Championship hones into view. And what better place to mount a title charge than Hong Kong?

Fiji have a soft spot for Hong Kong. Since the tournament’s inception in 1976 the Pacific Islanders have topped the podium 19 times. Albeit not since 2019.

Women’s rugby was added to the Hong Kong Sevens in 2023. Only three editions of the tournament have taken place so far.

New Zealand have won every edition and Tim Walsh’s Australia were runners-up on two of those occasions.

Finalists in all six finals on the Series this season and only winners of one, if anyone can stop the Black Ferns steam train it is Australia.

From SVNS 3 to the World

South Africa and Argentina’s women have enjoyed a rapid rise to the World Championship.

In January they were two of eight teams that took to The Sevens Stadium in Dubai as SVNS 3 got underway.

They faced one another in the Final just over 24 hours later. That day it was South Africa took the spoils with a 12-5 win.

When SVNS 2 made its way to Kenya for the opening tournament it was clear that these two were going to be inseparable again.

At the end of the round robin competition in Nairobi, Argentina were the champions. South Africa missed out on top spot because of a bonus point.

In South America their fortunes were slightly different. In Montevideo, Argentina were table toppers again, while the Springboks placed third. A week later, as injury took its toll and with both teams safe in the knowledge they has secured a place at the World Championship, both teams missed out on the podium.

Now South Africa have been named in Pool B with Australia, Canada and Great Britain. Argentina will be joined in Pool C with fellow SVNS 2 graduates Spain, along with France and Emilie Bydwell’s USA.

Men’s Pools

Pool A: South Africa, Argentina, Spain, Uruguay

Pool B: Fiji, France, Great Britain, Germany

Pool C: Australia, New Zealand, USA, Kenya

Women’s Pools

Pool A: New Zealand, Fiji, Japan, Brazil

Pool B: Australia, Canada, Great Britain, South Africa

Pool C: USA, France, Argentina, Spain