SVNS Series: All Blacks Sevens and Australian Women dominate on Day 1

HSBC SVNS Series Day one: The Sevens Stadium in Dubai played host to the first HSBC SVNS Series leg of the 2025-26 season, after a long, and interesting off-season.

There were some huge upsets in day one, alongside some of the most consistent teams in the past couple of years continuing where they left off earlier this year.

On the Men’s side of the draw, the All Blacks Sevens top pool B after a phenomenal, three from three day one against Australia, Spain, and Great Britain.

The Tomasi Cama-coached side held on late against Australia in their second game of pool play, with Bay of Plenty NPC flyer Kele Lasaqa stealing the show late in the piece, making a game defining, try-saving tackle to give the All Blacks Sevens the victory.

It was a second half to forget for the Kiwis, but Cama will be pleased with his first half where they ran in three converted tries.

The last of their pool-play games on Day one, was against Spain, where Frank Vaenuku’s double extended the lead out of reach for the European side.

In Pool B, Australia has qualified for the semi-finals on day two, with victories over both Great Britain and Spain in Dubai.

Young superstar Wallace Charlie opened the scoring against Great Britain in the second game, and another standout  for Australia on day one was Dietrich Roache, who scored in both encounters in pool B.

In pool A, France have qualified as the top seed in the group, on points differential over Fiji as both teams finished pool play with two victories on day one.

France beat Fiji 24-19, in round three, after smashing Argentina 59-7 in the second round and going down 15-12 to the Blitzboks.

Fiji on the other hand, dealt to the Blitzboks and Argentina before slipping up in the final game of the group stage against France.

The first Men’s semi-final will be France against Australia at 11:06pm NZT, followed by the All Blacks Sevens taking on Fiji at 11:28pm NZT in Dubai.

On the Women’s side of the draw, it was Australia who dominated in pool play, winning all three games in Dubai to start the 2025-26 campaign.

Australia beat Japan, Canada and the Great Britain side to go unbeaten and book their place in the semi-finals against Fiji this evening.

Maddison Levi scored a double in their 24-17 victory over Canada, while her sister, Teagan, ran in a double in their rampant 55-0 thrashing of Great Britain.

In pool A, the Black Ferns Sevens have battled past a disappointing defeat to USA, to top their pool like the All Blacks Sevens, overcoming France and Fiji on day one.

Women’s Rugby World Cup star Jorja Miller impressed in her return to Sevens, while Risi Pouri-Lane also enjoyed a positive return for to the SVNS Series.

Cory Sweeney’s side have qualified alongside Fiji in their pool, joining Japan and Australia from the other side of the draw.

HSBC SVNS Dubai – Semifinals

Men’s Semifinals

• France 7s vs Australia 7s — 11:06pm NZT

• All Blacks Sevens vs Fiji 7s — 11:28pm NZT

Women’s Semifinals

• Black Ferns Sevens vs Japan 7s — 10:12pm NZT

• Australia 7s Women vs Fiji 7s Women — 10:34pm NZT