SVNS giants handed tough World Championship pool draw for Valladolid

South Africa have emerged as the team to beat in men’s sevens after winning four of six regular season events and the opening stop of the HSBC SVNS World Championship. But the Blitzboks have been handed a brutal pool draw as the circuit heads to northwestern Spain.

Argentina were the defending champions at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, having won their first title at the fan favourite event the year before. Los Pumas Sevens made the big dance at this season’s tournament as well, but a SVNS juggernaut stood in the way of title-winning glory.

South Africa suffered a shock defeat to Spain during pool play at Kai Tak Sports Park but secured their place in the quarters with a shutout win over the Argentinians. The Blitzboks claimed a nail-biting win over Kenya in the knockout rounds, before overcoming New Zealand in the semis.

Tristan Leyds, Shilton van Wyk, Selvyn Davids and Ryan Oosthuizen were all prolific as the Boks once again reaffirmed their standing as the top team in men’s sevens. The Blitzboks ran away with a 35-7 triumph over Los Pumas Sevens.

Having taken out the first of three World Championship events, the Blitzboks are the front-runners for the top prize ahead of Valladolid and Bordeaux. But it won’t get any easier for the Blitzboks, who have been drawn in a tough pool for Valladolid on May 29 to 31.

South Africa will renew their SVNS rivalry with Australia, who flew through pool play in Hong Kong China with an unbeaten 3-0 record. Kenya and Great Britain round out the group, which is far from predictable ahead the penultimate stop of the season.

After kicking things off against Great Britain at 12:34 pm local time on Friday, South Africa will face Kenya and then Australia. Kenya fell agonisingly short of an upset win over South Africa at the Hong Kong Sevens and will no doubt be eager for another clash.

The All Blacks Sevens face SVNS 2 qualifiers Uruguay in the first men’s match of the three-day tournament, getting underway at 10:44 am. Los Pumas Sevens then face Germany at 11:06 am, ahead of two women’s Pool A matchups.

Pool C is arguably the toughest pool to call, with Fiji pitted against three skilful sides, including the reigning Olympic champions France. Fiji take on France first up, before playing the USA and an in-form Spanish outfit at home.

These three rounds of pool matches will determine the eight quarter-finals, with starts at 4:27 pm on Saturday afternoon. The semi-finals are early on day three, taking place at 10:44 am and 11:06 am on Sunday morning.

It’s an important weekend up ahead for all teams, at the World Championship standings continue to take shape. These three events will determine the overall champions, the eight teams qualify for the 2026/27 SVNS 1 campaign, and the four teams left to fight their way back up from SVNS 2.

SVNS Valladolid Match Schedule (local time)

Friday 29 May 2026

Women’s Pool B

USA vs Fiji — 10:00
Australia vs South Africa — 10:22
USA vs South Africa — 14:29
Australia vs Fiji — 14:51

Men’s Pool B

New Zealand vs Uruguay — 10:44
Argentina vs Germany — 11:06
New Zealand vs Germany — 15:13
Argentina vs Uruguay — 15:35

Women’s Pool A

Japan vs Brazil — 11:28
New Zealand vs Argentina — 11:50
Japan vs Argentina — 16:02
New Zealand vs Brazil — 16:24

Men’s Pool A

Australia vs Kenya — 12:12
South Africa vs Great Britain — 12:34
Australia vs Great Britain — 16:46
South Africa vs Kenya — 17:08

Women’s Pool C

Canada vs Spain — 12:56
France vs Great Britain — 13:18
Canada vs Great Britain — 17:40
France vs Spain — 18:02

Men’s Pool C

Fiji vs France — 13:40
Spain vs USA — 14:02
Fiji vs USA — 18:24
Spain vs France — 18:46

Saturday 30 May 2026

Women’s Pool B

Fiji vs South Africa — 10:00
Australia vs USA — 10:22

Women’s Pool A

Brazil vs Argentina — 10:44
New Zealand vs Japan — 11:06

Women’s Pool C

Spain vs Great Britain — 11:33
France vs Canada — 11:55

Men’s Pool B

Uruguay vs Germany — 12:17
Argentina vs New Zealand — 12:39

Men’s Pool A

Kenya vs Great Britain — 13:01
South Africa vs Australia — 13:23

Men’s Pool C

France vs USA — 13:50
Spain vs Fiji — 14:12

Women’s Cup Quarter-Finals

Pool B Runner-Up vs Pool C Runner-Up — 14:49
Pool A Winner vs 2nd Best 3rd Place — 15:11
Pool C Winner vs Pool A Runner-Up — 15:33
Pool B Winner vs Best 3rd Place — 15:55

Men’s Cup Quarter-Finals

Pool B Runner-Up vs Pool C Runner-Up — 16:27
Pool A Winner vs 2nd Best 3rd Place — 16:49
Pool C Winner vs Pool A Runner-Up — 17:11
Pool B Winner vs Best 3rd Place — 17:33

Women’s 9th Place Semi-Finals

Best 4th Place vs 2nd Best 4th Place — 18:10
3rd Best 3rd Place vs 3rd Best 4th Place — 18:32

Men’s 9th Place Semi-Finals

Best 4th Place vs 2nd Best 4th Place — 18:54
3rd Best 3rd Place vs 3rd Best 4th Place — 19:16

Sunday 31 May 2026

Women’s Cup Semi-Finals

Winner W19 vs Winner W20 — 10:00
Winner W21 vs Winner W22 — 10:22

Men’s Cup Semi-Finals

Winner M19 vs Winner M20 — 10:44
Winner M21 vs Winner M22 — 11:06

Women’s 11th Place Play-Off

Loser W23 vs Loser W24 — 11:31

Men’s 11th Place Play-Off

Loser M23 vs Loser M24 — 11:53

Women’s 9th Place Play-Off

Winner W23 vs Winner W24 — 12:15

Men’s 9th Place Play-Off

Winner M23 vs Winner M24 — 12:37

Women’s 7th Place Play-Off

3rd Best Quarter-Final Loser vs 4th Best Quarter-Final Loser — 13:04

Men’s 7th Place Play-Off

3rd Best Quarter-Final Loser vs 4th Best Quarter-Final Loser — 13:26

Women’s 5th Place Play-Off

Best Quarter-Final Loser vs 2nd Best Quarter-Final Loser — 13:58

Men’s 5th Place Play-Off

Best Quarter-Final Loser vs 2nd Best Quarter-Final Loser — 14:20

Women’s 3rd Place Play-Off

Loser W25 vs Loser W26 — 14:54

Men’s 3rd Place Play-Off

Loser M25 vs Loser M26 — 15:16

Women’s Cup Final

Winner W25 vs Winner W26 — 15:46

Men’s Cup Final

Winner M25 vs Winner M26 — 16:26