SVNS World Championship race set for final-day showdown

The 2026 HSBC SVNS World Championship title will be decided on the final day of the season, with contenders progressing to the semi-finals in Bordeaux. Australia are two wins away from the circuit’s top prize, but what lies ahead if far from predictable. 

Jorja Miller scored twice as the Black Ferns Sevens punched their ticket to the final four with a 35-22 victory over Japan. New Zealand are now set for a semi-final showdown with Canada, who bounced back from an earlier defeat to beat Fiji 29-14. 

Canada were yet to lose heading into day two at Stade Atlantique but ended up finishing second in Pool C after losing to North American rivals the USA. The USA have since extended their unbeaten streak to four matches, now set to face a side they played twice last week. 

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The USA stunned SVNS giants Australia during the pool stage at SVNS Valladolid last week, before facing that same side in the big dance at Estadio Jose-Zorilla. But the Aussies returned to winning ways in the big dance, securing their first SVNS title since early December. 

Australia got the job done against Spain 14-0, seeing them take another step closer to the World Championship crown. But USA captain Kristi Kirshe seemed supremely confident earlier on day two, as they continue to build towards something special.  

“So much belief. This group is growing together. Coming into this year we’re a pretty young team and i think that we’ve built together all year,” Kirshe told RugbyPass in Bordeaux.  

“I think we’re the only other team on the Series that’s beat both Australia and New Zealand this year so we know we are capable of it. Now it’s just trying to figure out how to do it more consistently.  

“We’ve got the right group and we’re always trying to get better together.” 

It looked like it was going to be a scoreless first half between the USA and France, before the away side changed the game through Sammy Sullivan. Sullivan made a break from well inside the USA half, touching down to give the USA a 5-0 lead. 

World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year nominee Ariana Ramsey added to the USA’s lead with a runaway effort early in the second half. There was no further changes to the scoreboard, as the USA made it through to another semi-final. 

It took Australia more than 10 minutes to score against Spain, who had twice failed to find the sideline with penalty kicks for touch. The Aussies eventually made the most of the possession given to them, with Heidi Dennis breaking through Spain’s defensive line.

Australia co-captain Isabella Nasser won a pilfer penalty with one minute remaining, as the SVNS World Championship leaders kept their title hopes alive in Bordeaux.

HSBC SVNS Bordeaux women’s results: day two 

Pool A 

Argentina 17–5 South Africa 

New Zealand 38–7 France 

Pool B 

Fiji 28–24 Brazil 

Australia 35–7 Japan 

Pool C 

Spain 29–10 Great Britain 

USA 33–22 Canada 

Cup Quarter-finals 

Canada 29–14 Fiji 

New Zealand 35–22 Japan 

USA 12-0 France

Australia 14-0 Spain

9th Place Semi-finals 

Brazil vs Great Britain (to be played) 

Argentina vs South Africa (to be played)