The top seven boys at Global Youth Sevens 2025

Without a doubt, the best player at the tournament. We saw the Reds flyer dominate the New Zealand Schools v Australia U18 15-man matchup earlier on this year, and this tournament was no different. Pritchard was a walking highlight reel and led Australia to some convincing wins through the three days. Unfortunately, we didn’t see Pritchard in the final, as he picked up a concussion in the semi-final, and the Australian team looked slightly lost without their star. The 18-year-old’s quick feet at the line were unstoppable, and it almost seemed like a try was scored every time he touched the ball. He was electrifying in open space, and good players always have time with ball in hand, which was a common reoccurrence when watching the tournament MVP. Who knows what the final may have looked like with him in it, but if they didn’t already know, the Reds and Australia have got a good one.

Fleming, who just recently won New Zealand Rugby’s try of the year award, was a standout for the Kiwi U18’s on the weekend. His playing style is almost identical to All Blacks Sevens player Sam Dickson, and more often than not, like Dickson, Fleming was used as a jumper when retrieving kick-off’s. Fleming won the finals MVP award for his performance in the victory over across-the-ditch rivals, as his effort on both sides of the ball and Sevens skillset was a huge factor in the team’s success. After the final at Dilworth College in Auckland, All Blacks Sevens head coach and legend Tomasi Cama was seen having a chat with the rising star out of Westlake Boys High School, clearly about his future in a black jersey. It’s likely only a matter of time before he’s in and around an All Blacks Sevens jersey.

What can’t this man do? Top in points, top in tries, and named the fairest player by his competitors over the course of the three-day tournament. Another who was snubbed from the official tournament team, likely due to where his team finished in the overall standings, but whose class was hard to miss for USA. The Lincoln University athlete’s playmaking skills, which often meant he received a lot of the ball, were a key part of USA’s attack. Sky Sport commentator and former All Black Ant Strachan liked what he saw on day two, complimenting the playmaker’s abilities. “He’s been a critical member of this group all the way through the tournament, both yesterday and today. His ability to identify space behind the little kick we saw just most recently. And of course, now he’s just using his physical ability to just use his footwork and get into space, and then the speed to run away from the defence,” Strachan said on the broadcast.

The Aotearoa Maori playmaker had a brilliant weekend of Sevens, showcasing his clinical finishing ability and raw talent that had previously earned him a Rugby Southland academy contract. Out of Timaru Boys High School, Reihana was involved in the New Zealand Maori team this year, as well as testing for the New Zealand U20’s, where he recorded the second-fastest 10m sprint in the group. Reihana’s Global Youth Sevens campaign was another step in the right direction for the rising star, finishing in the top three for points scored and tries scored, despite his Aotearoa Maori team failing to make the semi-finals.