SVNS 3 champions South Africa and Canada clinch promotion in Dubai

South Africa’s women and Canada’s men will take a wealth of confidence into the HSBC SVNS 2 Series after winning third-tier titles in Dubai last weekend, overcoming tough opposition in hotly contested deciders at The Sevens Stadium.

With the top two women’s and men’s teams securing promotion to SVNS 2, Argentina’s women and Belgium’s men are also moving on. Argentina fell to South Africa 12-5 in a thrilling final, while Canada made a statement with a 28-10 win against Belgium.

These nations will fight for even higher honours when the second tier gets underway on February 14-15 in Nairobi, before events in Montevideo (March 21-22) and Sao Paulo (March 28-29). The top four teams will join the core eight teams at this year’s SVNS World Championship.

World Rugby unveiled its three-tier SVNS model last May, with teams able to qualify for SVNS 3 through regional tournaments. The standalone event on January 17-18 featured 16 teams, with eight women’s and men’s teams competing for their respective titles.

South Africa booked their spot in the SVNS 3 Final and in the second tier with a 36-5 win over Poland in the semi-finals, while Argentina got the better of Czechia 22-12. Marianela Escalante crossed for a double to help the Yaguaretes secure promotion.

Maria Taladrid crossed for the first try of the final to give Argentina an early lead, only for South Africa to effectively cancel out that effort, with Zintle Mpupha bringing the teams level with a try shortly after the kick-off.

Argentina were shown two yellow cards during the contest, before Patience Mokone ultimately won the match for South Africa with a late try. In the third-place playoff, Czechia bounced back from semi-final heartbreak, beating Poland 24-14.

Juliana and Leidy Soto got on the scoresheet as Colombia ran in three tries to none, defeating Thailand 17-0 in the battle for fifth. Samoa secured seventh place with a 29-0 shutout win against Mexico, with Lutia Col Aumua completing a double.

In the men’s draw, Canada punched their ticket to SVNS 2 with a hard-fought 24-19 win over Hong Kong China in the semi-finals. Belgium were too good for Samoa in the other semi-final, setting up an entertaining matchup in the Dubai desert.

Lachlan Kratz touched down for two Canada tries, while Belgium had to overcome a first-half yellow card to Vincent Hart. The Canadians took control in the second term, with Jack Shaw and Ethan Turner running in tries.

Warren Solomona ran in two of Samoa’s four tries in the third-place playoff, as they beat Hong Kong China 25-5. Madagascar secured fifth with a nine-point win against Italy, and Colombia defeated Tonga 26-21 in the seventh-place decider.