Rising sides loom large: The big talking points ahead of the Montevideo SVNS 2

March will be one of the busiest months of HSBC SVNS action on record, with the final leg of the regular season World Series in Vancouver and New York being closely followed by the final two legs of the inaugural SVNS 2 series in Montevideo and Sao Paulo.

The top four sides of the SVNS 2 will join the World Series for the final three-leg Championship in Hong Kong, Valladolid and Bordeaux, and based on Nairobi this weekend just gone, the rising teams look set to cause plenty of headaches.

RugbyPass examines the big talking points ahead of a busy month of events in March, and who in SVNS 2 is in the best position to challenge on the World Series circuit.

Argentina’s women out to replicate men’s success

Starting in the women’s competition, the recently promoted SVNS 3 sides dominated, with Argentina and South Africa topping the leaderboard in the Kenyan capital.

But while South Africa won the SVNS 3 final in a tense 12-5 clash in January, it would be Argentina who topped the opening round of SVNS 2, despite losing their final match in extra time to the rainbow nation.

With no finals in SVNS 2, results ultimately come down to points overall, and stronger victories over China, Spain, Brazil, and hosts Kenya proved enough to get the Argentines over the line.

The side will now head to Montevideo full of confidence, and with the men among the heavy hitters in the current World Series circuit, the women joining for the Championship legs would only add to rugby’s growing strength in South America.

A rising European power?

With their XVs side fresh off the biggest win in their history less than two weeks ago against Romania, it was the turn of Germany’s Sevens side to shine, topping the men’s leaderboard in Nairobi.

The men’s fixtures were a tight three-way race, with the United States and hosts Kenya also finishing with the same number of wins.

Like the women, with no finals, results ultimately came down to head-to-head fixtures: Germany lost to Kenya in extra time, before the hosts suffered a 21-0 loss to the USA.

The fixture against the Germans and the USA would decide the top of the ladder on the final day. The Germans ran out 28-7 victors, and with it, delivered a second big result for German rugby in 2026.

Nairobi a winner for SVNS 2

While the Kenyan women’s side finished in fifth in the women’s standings, their tough results were the only blemish on an otherwise brilliant weekend for the host nation.

With Kenya’s men finishing in third and right in the mix for Montevideo, the local fans had plenty to cheer about, with over 15,000 turning up to sell out Nyayo National Stadium across the weekend.

In addition, the Kenyan Rugby Union and the local authorities were highly commended for the running of the event by Rugby Africa, the governing body for the sport across the continent.

The stage could be set for more rugby events to return to the Kenyan capital, especially if the Kenyan sides show strong form in SVNS 2 and then qualify for the Championship.

The chasing pack

With four teams each in the men’s and women’s tournament set to qualify for the SVNS Championship, the chasing pack becomes increasingly important in the final legs in March.

With Argentina and South Africa leading the charge in the women’s tournament, Spain took out the bronze, challenging both sides that finished above them but ultimately losing both matches by two points.

They will look to avenge those losses in Montevideo, while also contending with their biggest threat in China, who sit just four points below them on the ladder.

For the men, should Germany, the USA and Kenya continue their form, only one spot will be up for grabs for the remaining three sides, with Uruguay, Belgium and Canada set to compete for it.

Uruguay will look to shut out their two competitors when they play on home soil next month, while Canada will have their work cut out as the only side across both tournaments not to pick up a victory.

All roads lead to South America

If SVNS 2 was a smash in Nairobi, it is on track to hit its stride when the teams take the field in the Uruguayan capital next month.

One of the rising nations of South America, the series will take place at Estadio Charrúa, the home of both the Uruguayan national side and Peñarol, the most successful club side in the Super Rugby Americas competition and current defending champions.

The Montevideo leg (and the final leg in Sao Paolo the following week) looms as the jewel in the crown of a busy month for regional South American rugby.

Super Rugby Americas will kick off on February 20th and will be in full swing when the SVNS comes to town, with Peñarol hosting Brazil’s Cobras at the same venue in Montevideo the week before the SVNS 2 sides do battle.

With Uruguay contesting the men’s tournament and Brazil and Argentina the women’s tournament, there is set to be no shortage of support for both legs in March.