The women’s teams still alive in SVNS World Championship race

Australia and New Zealand are the leading contenders for the HSBC SVNS World Championship title, with the winner to be crowned in Bordeaux this weekend. But they aren’t the only teams in with a shot, with another four sides mathematically still in the race. 

Japan are currently 13 points clear of the relegation zone ahead of SVNS Bordeaux on June 5 to 7, and 18 points behind World Championship leaders Australia. It’s possible Japan take out the top prize at Stade Atlantique, but they could also finish as low as second-last overall. 

But this path to title-winning glory does seem quite unlikely, with Japan needing Australia and New Zealand to rank in the bottom three. Their World Championship hopes would also depend on how the USA, France and Canada perform. 

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At the top of the ladder, Australia will be guaranteed champions if they take out the SVNS Bordeaux titles on Sunday. But if New Zealand secure that crown, the World Championship race will initially be decided on match points differential, and then other tiebreakers if needed. 

The Black Ferns Sevens would win the World Championship outright, without needing to consult match points differential, if they win SVNS Bordeaux and Australia place third. That would see the New Zealanders rank two points clear of their fierce rivals on the standings. 

“I think it was built up anger from the last game. Unlucky [not to] be in the final but we knew we had a point to prove out there and just wanted to finish strong,” New Zealand’s Kelsey Teneti told RugbyPass after the third-place playoff in Valladolid. 

“It’s always a tough game against Aussie. It can go both ways no matter what but I think sevens is just like that and win or lose, they were the better team for today so we just had to come out strong and make sure we finish strong.” 

The USA would move up to 50 competition points with a title win. They would need the Aussies to finish sixth and New Zealand place no higher than seventh to guarantee themselves the title, which seems unlikely considering how dominant the two have been again this season. 

Fiji would surge up to 36 competition points with a title win, but that tally would still be lower than the minimum both New Zealand and Australia can achieve. But if Fiji come last and collect just a single competition point, then they could drop down to eighth or potentially the relegation zone. 

It’s the same story for Spain, who are currently on 12 points. Spain have been drawn in a difficult Pool C as well, set to face North American sides the USA and Canada, and a Great Britain side looking to end their season on a positive note. 

Brazil, South Africa, Argentina and Great Britain make up the bottom four sides. All four are still a chance of making the top eight and earning core status for the 2026/27 SVNS 1 season, but GB and Argentina need to rank sixth and for Spain to place last.  

Australia (38): 1st / 6th 

New Zealand (36): 1st / 6th 

USA (30): 1st / 8th 

France (28): 1st / 8th  

Canada (28): 1st / 8th  

Japan (20): 1st / 11th  

Fiji (16): 3rd / 12th 

Spain (12): 3rd / 12th 

Brazil (7): 6th / 12th 

South Africa (5): 6th / 12th 

Argentina (4): 6th / 12th 

Great Britain (4): 6th / 12th 

HSBC SVNS World Championship points explained 

1st – 20 points 

2nd – 18 

3rd – 16 

4th – 14 

5th – 12 

6th – 10 

7th – 8 

8th – 6 

9th – 4 

10th – 3 

11th – 2

12th – 1