SVNS World Championship: How the ladder looks after Hong Kong Sevens

Black Ferns Sevens captain Risi Pouri-Lane produced a Player of the Final performance in last weekend’s 19-14 win over Australia at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens. It was New Zealand’s sixth title of the season and their first step towards the SVNS World Championship.

Pouri-Lane spoke about last weekend’s decider about how those Cup Finals unlock “different versions” of the Black Ferns Sevens. This is a team that’s only lost twice all season, having fallen to the USA in Dubai and Australia at SVNS Cape Town.

The Black Ferns Sevens started the 2025/26 campaign with a drought-breaking title at the Dubai Sevens last December, before claiming silverware in Singapore and Perth early in the New Year. They wrapped up the SVNS 1 crown with titles in Vancouver and New York.

But with the standings effectively resetting for the new-look World Championship Series, which includes four qualifiers out of the second division SVNS 2, there are more trophies to be won and history to be made before the season comes to an end.

New Zealand sit in first place on the World Championship standings after the fan favourite Hong Kong Sevens, but there are two more tournaments to be played. The circuit heads to the northwest of Spain on May 29-31, set to be held in Valladolid for the first time.

SVNS Bordeaux will be final chance for teams to challenge the Black Ferns Sevens for the World Championship title. The top eight sides also qualify for the first division 2026/27 SVNS Series as well, so there’s plenty to play for in a bid to avoid relegation.

“Every single time that we have the privilege of playing in a final, it’s always a tough one. It always unlocks different versions of us,” Pouri-Lane said after the five point win, which you can watch for free on RugbyPass TV HERE.

“To come out here to play at the home of sevens at such an iconic stadium and event, it’s been such an awesome privilege.

“The girls just showed grit and heart. We talked about playing the whole 14 minutes and I’m just so glad the girls showed up today, the ones that came on, it takes a whole squad.

“When you have something, a purpose that’s greater than yourself, it always give you a bit more drive to just play for more than just yourself.”

New Zealand and Australia have been the two best women’s teams this season, having met in all six Cup Finals during the regular season. With those traditional rivals meeting in the Hong Kong decider as well, they remain the teams to beat with the World Championship underway.

France piled on 31 unanswered points as they defeated Canada in a one-sided third-place playoff at Kai Tak Sports Park. The Canadians overcame North American rivals USA in the first quarter-final, with the Women’s Sevens Eagles going on to claim fifth.

Japan, Fiji and Spain round out the top eight after the first World Championship event. Spain are looking to earn a spot back on the SVNS 1 circuit, having been relegated from the top flight after the 2024/25 campaign.

Great Britain may have claimed a drought-breaking SVNS Series win during last weekend’s event, but the SVNS 1 outfit are currently in the bottom four. Brazil are ninth overall, while Argentina and South Africa make up the bottom two.

Women’s HSBC SVNS World Championship standings

After Hong Kong Sevens

New Zealand – 20 (points)

Australia – 18

France – 16

Canada – 14

USA – 12

Japan – 10

Fiji – 8

Spain – 6

Brazil – 4

Great Britain – 3

Argentina – 2

South Africa – 1