SVNS World Championship race set for exciting finish after Bordeaux draw

The Black Ferns Sevens dominated the HSBC SVNS Series regular season with five Cup Final wins from six events, but a couple of surprise results at SVNS Valladolid sees them sit in second ahead of the World Championship finale in Bordeaux.

Australia were stunned by the USA during pool play in southwestern Spain, seeing them line up on the same side of the knockout draw as their fierce rivals. New Zealand went through the group stage unbeaten and booked their spot in the semis with a big win over Spain.

New Zealand scored less than 30 seconds into their elimination clash with the Aussies, with Jorja Miller among the try-scorers during a first-half blitz. But the Aussies fought their way back to beat the New Zealanders, just as they did the last time they’re in Spain.

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The Aussies had taken out the SVNS Grand Final event in Madrid two years earlier, with Tia Hinds producing some goal-kicking magic that afternoon. It was a similar story in Valladolid, with Hinds impressing in the comeback win.

Australia defeated the USA in the Women’s Cup Final, which saw them take hold of top spot on the World Championship standings. If the Aussies win the Cup Final in Bordeaux on June 5 to 7, then they will be crowned the SVNS world champions for 2026.

But if New Zealand and Australia end up level on competition points, the World Championship winners will be decided by match points differential as a start. There are a series of tie-breakers that will be used if needed.

New Zealand will face home side France in Pool A, along with two qualifiers out of SVNS 2, South Africa and Argentina. France are fourth on the overall standings with 28 points and are still mathematically a chance of taking out the World Championship for the first time.

Australia are in the box seat, knowing a Cup Final win in Bordeaux will secure them the top prize. New Zealand, the USA, France, Canada and Japan can all mathematically surge up the standings if the Aussies fail to fire at Stade Atlantique.

The Aussies have been drawn in Pool B along with Japan, Fiji and Brazil. North American sides the USA and Canada are both in Pool C, following their runs to at least the semi-finals in Valladolid last weekend.

Brazil, South Africa, Argentina and Great Britain make up the bottom four as things stand, meaning they are at risk of relegation depending on results this weekend. Those teams are chasing a best-possible finish of sixth.

HSBC SVNS Bordeaux Women’s Pools 

Pool A: New Zealand, France, South Africa, Argentina

Pool B: Australia, Japan, Fiji, Brazil

Pool C: USA, Canada, Spain, Great Britain