Viwa Naduvalo takes big lead in RugbyPass SVNS MVP race after Perth

RugbyPass SVNS Series writers will review each tournament this season with their MVP votes. Finn Morton, Ben Smith, Joe Harvey and Lachlan Grey weigh in with 3-2-1 votes towards the RugbyPass Men’s and Women’s SVNS Series MVP leaderboard.

Fiji’s Viwa Naduvalo holds a 10-vote lead in the race to become the inaugural RugbyPass Men’s SVNS Series MVP for 2025/26. While Fiji fell to South Africa 21-19 in last weekend’s Cup Final in Perth, Naduvalo still polled a total of seven votes from a possible 12.

Naduvalo was crowned the Player of the Final at SVNS Singapore for the second year running after Fiji beat France 21-12 at the National Stadium earlier this month. The 29-year-old carried that form into the fourth stop of the season, playing a key role in Fiji’s run to the decider.

In Fiji’s dominant 35-nil semi-final win over the All Blacks Sevens, Naduvalo stole the show with a hat-trick of tries. Naduvalo’s try was especially skilful, kicking the ball ahead twice before beating Akuila Rokolisoa to the loose ball in the in-goal.

Ricado Duarttee converted a clutch shot at goal with four minutes remaining in the Cup Final, which was ultimately the difference against Fiji. But Naduvalo’s efforts didn’t go unnoticed, with the SVNS Series top try-scorer crossing for Fiji’s first in the sixth minute.

Naduvalo is still first on the SVNS Series leaderboard with 19 votes from four events, 10 more than three others who share second place. Perth Player of the Final Ryan Oosthuizen is the big mover in the men’s standings, receiving maximum votes from two writers.

“Very happy with that performance,” Oosthuizen said post-game, having been named Player of the Final.

“Playing against Fiji, it’s always a battle. We always expect a war against them and today they definitely delivered.

“I’m super proud of my team. I think we fought for one another and that’s the Blitzboks standard we set for each other.”

South Africa’s Shilton van Wyk and Argentina’s Luciano Gonzalez share equal second, while New Zealand’s Rokolisoa and Fiji’s Terio Veilawa are one vote back. Brady Rush, Dietrich Roache, Paulin Riva and Duarttee are other contenders for MVP honours.

Perth was the fourth stop of the season, with another two tournaments left in SVNS 1 before the new-look World Championships. All eight teams from the first division will compete with four sides out of SVNS 2 to be named overall SVNS Series champions.

Next up, SVNS Vancouver will be held at BC Place on March 7 to 8.

RugbyPass SVNS Series MVP 3-2-1 votes – Perth

Finn Morton

Men: Viwa Naduvalo (Fiji), Rayn Oosthuizen (South Africa), Ricardo Duarttee (South Africa)

Women: Kelsey Teneti (New Zealand), Jorja Miller (New Zealand), Madison Ashby (Australia)

Joe Harvey

Men: Ricardo Duarttee (South Africa), Terio Veilawa (Fiji), Ben Dowling (Australia)

Women: Kelsey Teneti (New Zealand), Risi Pouri-Lane (New Zealand), Tia Hinds (Australia)

Ben Smith

Men: Ryan Oosthuizen (South Africa), Viwa Naduvalo (Fiji), Terio Veilawa (Fiji)

Women: Kelsey Teneti (New Zealand), Risi Pouri-Lane (New Zealand), Madison Ashby (Australia)

Lachlan Grey

Men: Ryan Oosthuizen (South Africa), Viwa Naduvalo (Fiji), Henry Hutchison (Australia)

Women: Kelsey Teneti (New Zealand), Jorja Miller (New Zealand), Madison Ashby (Australia)

RugbyPass Men’s SVNS Series MVP leaderboard

Viwa Naduvalo (Fiji) – 19 votes

Shilton van Wyk (South Africa), Luciano Gonzalez (Argentina), Ryan Oosthuizen (South Africa) – 9 votes

Akuila Rokolisoa (New Zealand), Terio Veilawa (Fiji) – 8 votes

Brady Rush (New Zealand) – 6 votes

Dietrich Roache (Australia), Paulin Riva (France), Ricardo Duarttee – 4 votes

Donovan Don (South Africa), Wallace Charlie (Australia) – 3 votes

Nacani Boginisoko (Fiji), Kele Lasaqa (New Zealand) – 2 votes

Pilipo Bukayaro (Fiji), Ryan Oosthuizen (South Africa), Marcos Moneta (Argentina), Andy Timo (France), Rob Rush (New Zealand), Ben Dowling (Australia), Henry Hutchison (Australia) – 1 vote

RugbyPass Women’s SVNS Series MVP leaderboard

Jorja Miller (New Zealand) – 30 votes

Kelsey Teneti (New Zealand) – 17 votes

Maddison Levi (Australia) – 14 votes

Isabella Nasser (Australia) – 11 votes

Jazmin Felix-Hotham (New Zealand), Olivia Apps (Canada), Risi Pouri-Lane (New Zealand)  – 4 votes

Teagan Levi (Australia), Madison Ashby (Australia) – 3 votes

Mahina Paul (New Zealand) – 2 votes

Hanako Utsumi (Japan), Reapi Ulunisau (Fiji), Maya Stewart (Australia), Tia Hinds (Australia)  – 1 vote