Queensland Reds beat Waratahs to claim 2026 Next Gen 7s crown

Caitlin Urwin and Maddi Pomerenke have been named in the inaugural Team of the Series after helping the Queensland Reds win the 2026 Next Gen 7s title, overcoming regular season leaders the NSW Waratahs 36-19 in the Series Final on Sunday.

Queensland were ranked second on the ladder after the first three rounds but went unbeaten during the finals event at Sydney’s Warringah Rugby Club. The Reds beat both the Tahs and ACT Brumbies, which saw them qualify for the big dance on Sunday.

Rhani Hagan was the star of the Series Final, with the try-scoring machine crossing for a double against the Tahs. The Reds took an early 12-0 lead after Hagan and teenager Layne Prince scored a try each inside the first four minutes.

But the Tahs remained in the fight, cutting down a 12-point half-time deficit to make it a one-score game early in the second term. But Leilani Hills and Hagan helped the Queenslanders secure back-to-back Next Gen 7s titles, with Matilda Vial having the last try-scoring say.

The Tahs were the form side during the regular season, topping the table with 26 match points after tournaments in Lennox Head, Sydney and Canberra. But the Reds went unbeaten when it mattered most, including a commanding display in the decider.

“It has been an incredibly successful four rounds of Sevens Rugby where we have seen a plethora of young talented athletes grow and develop their skills,” Head of Women’s Pathways Lachlan Parkinson said.

“Moving the series this year to align with the SVNS World Series has been beneficial as it has given the nationally contracted players who are not travelling on the circuit a chance to keep fit and hone their skills in a competitive format.

“I would like to congratulate the Queensland Reds on their back-to-back series wins and to the seven women who were named in the team of the series.”

Urwin, who was named in the Wallaroos squad for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup but didn’t take the field, was one of two Queenslanders named in the Team of the Series. Pomerenke was also rewarded for a phenomenal season in a Reds jersey.

Amelia Whitaker, Cobi Ryan-Last and Darci Turinui were the three Waratahs representatives selected, while the Brumbies had two players chosen, with those being Georgina Hayes and Merania Paraone.

National contract players were ineligible for the Team of the Series.

HSBC SVNS Series icons Maddison Levi, Teagan Levi, Madison Ashby and Kaitlin Shave are among those who played Next Gen 7s before graduating into the senior setup, later starring on the world’s premier sevens circuit.

Those four have been named in the Australian side for the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens on April 17 to 19, which is the first stop of the World Championship Series. For the first time, the winner-takes-all Series will be played over three legs instead of a one-off Grand Final.

Round 4 (Finals) results

NSW Waratahs 14-24 Queensland Reds
Queensland Reds 24-17 ACT Brumbies
NSW Waratahs 26-17 ACT Brumbies
Semi Final: NSW Waratahs 34-5 ACT Brumbies
Series Final: Queensland Reds 36-19 NSW Waratahs

2026 Next Gen 7s Team of the Series

• Amelia Whitaker – NSW Waratahs
• Cobi Ryan-Last – NSW Waratahs
• Darci Turinui – NSW Waratahs
• Caitlin Urwin – Queensland Reds
• Maddi Pomerenke – Queensland Reds
• Georgina Hayes – ACT Brumbies
• Merania Paraone – ACT Brumbies