SVNS giants collide as World Championship race heats up

The two best regular season teams in men’s sevens have been drawn in the same pool ahead of the HSBC SVNS World Championship finale, as the battle for the circuit’s top prize comes down to the wire in Bordeaux. 

Stade Atlantique will host the last event of the 2025/26 campaign, following the first two World Championship stops in Hong Kong China and Valladolid. South Africa remains the team to beat, but the SVNS race is far from over. 

The Blitzboks have extended their lead at the top of the overall standings, now four points clear of Argentina in second. South Africa improved their advantaged in Valladolid, despite losing a thrilling Cup Final to Australia 26-19 on Sunday. 

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That was Australia’s first men’s SVNS title in more than 1,300 days, and it’s seen them move into third on the ladder. The Aussies are one of the six teams still mathematically in contention for the World Championship. 

South Africa, Argentina and Australia all have at least 30 competition points ahead of SVNS Bordeaux on June 5 to 7. Fiji, Spain and New Zealand round out the top six, having earned 26 points across the other two stops. 

The Blitzboks can guarantee the World Championship title if they make the Cup Final this weekend. If South Africa secure third and Argentina claim the title, those two will be level on the ladder, with match points differential then used to determine the champion. 

South Africa have been handed a tough draw leading into the season’s final stop, getting things underway against Great Britain, who have welcomed Scotland’s all-time leading try-scorer Darcy Graham into their squad. 

Kenya almost stunned the SVNS world in a nail-biting quarter-final against South Africa at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, but it wasn’t to be. The Shujaa will face the Blitzboks again in the second round of pool matches in Bordeaux. 

South Africa rounds out the group stage against Fiji, who fell agonisingly short of the regular season title at SVNS New York. Those two sides were level on the ladder going into the stop but the Blitzboks did enough to claim two trophies that weekend. 

Those four sides make up Pool A, while Australia and Spain headline the sides contesting the second group. The USA and Uruguay are chasing a best-possible finish of seventh, but they’ll need to make history in northwestern France. 

Argentina and New Zealand will renew their rivalry in Pool C, which also includes home side and reigning Olympic champions France. Germany will also look to build on some solid performances in Valladolid, including a staggering 52-0 blitz of Uruguay. 

HSBC SVNS Bordeaux Men’s Pools 

Pool A: South Africa, Fiji, Kenya, Great Britain 

Pool B: Australia, Spain, USA, Uruguay 

Pool C: Argentina, New Zealand, France, Germany