SVNS Watch: SH tournaments take centre stage in pivotal weekend

With the Nations Championship, Nations Cup and Junior World Championships wrapping up last weekend, sevens stars will be plying their skills at a domestic level this weekend.

It is important to note that while it is the off-season, several regional tournaments are also set to get underway, or continue this weekend.

First up, the 2026 Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series is set to play its third round at Mikuni World Stadium in Kitakyushu.

With several international stars featuring across the 12 core teams, the weekend will prove a critical one before the tournament concludes with its grand final round in Sapporo on 9th August.

Meanwhile, the National 7s Circuit will get underway this weekend in Kenya, kicking off the first of six weekends of action set to play out from July-September across the African nation.

However, with the club season over in the northern hemisphere and regional sevens tournaments still a few weeks away, the main action this weekend will be taking place in the southern hemisphere – and there is no shortage of sevens stars in two key games.

Super Rugby Aupiki

The women’s domestic season is set to wrap up over the next fortnight with several big finals – and one of the biggest will be played at Te Kaha in Christchurch as Matat? welcome the Blues Women for the Super Rugby Aupiki final.

Both sides have welcomed established sevens players into their squads this year, with Black Ferns 7s’ Maia Davis set to start at fullback and Alena Saili on the wing as the hosts look to claim their first title since 2023.

However, they will have stiff competition in the defending champions, the Blues going for a three-peat while having also beaten Matat? in Christchurch in the final regular round of action last week – their sevens stars having a major impact, scoring four their six tries.

Fresh off a double last week, Braxton Sorensen-McGee will start again at fullback and manage the kicking duties, with Jaymie Kolose starting on the wing.

Lastly, Katelynn Vahaakolo will provide some serious power off the bench as the Blues look to spoil the party.

Super Rugby Women’s 

Whoever wins the Aupiki Final in Christchurch will be keeping an eye on the winner at Four R Stadium in Ba, which is hosting the first ever Super Rugby Women’s final in Fiji as the Drua await the defending champions, the NSW Waratahs.

The winner of the match will also go on to play the winner in Christchurch in the Super Rugby Champions final next week.

The hosts will be falling back on two key sevens stars in Kolora Lomani at scrumhalf and Atelaite Buna on the wing, with Lomani’s experience seeing her wear the captain’s armband.

The Drua will have reason to feel confident at home, but they will face a Waratahs side that has welcomed back several of its biggest stars.

Going for a three-peat as well, the Waratahs have welcomed back sevens star Tia Hinds, who will partner with Waiaria Ellis in the halves, the youngster having also been closely involved with the Aussie 7s program and played for the Australia A sevens team.

They will be unleashing Wallaroos top try scorer Maya Stewart on the wing, who made her debut in sevens earlier this year, scoring a try with her first touch at the Singapore SVNS.

Lastly, the Tahs will have fellow Aussie 7s star Piper Simons coming off the bench as Hinds’ backup, with NextGen Sevens star Amelia Whittaker set to finish off a breakout season as a utility option on the bench.

Club rugby

Lastly, the Shute Shield will see Aussie 7s star James McGregor take the field at fullback for Sydney University, as they look to take down Southern Districts and close down the gap between the top three sides in Gordon, Warringah and Eastern Suburbs.