Watch: Marcos Moneta scores after just 11 seconds at Hong Kong Sevens

Los Pumas Sevens flyer Marcos Moneta has scored what must be one of the quickest tries ever seen on the HSBC SVNS Series, with the former World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year touching down after just 11 seconds against Spain.

Argentina returned to the fan favourite Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens as defending champions for the first time, with Moneta starring during the team’s run to a maiden crown at Kai Tak Sports Park 13 months ago.

While the 2025/26 regular season didn’t quite go to plan for Argentina, with South Africa and Fiji emerging as the teams to beat, they’re able to make a statement as the new-look three-event World Championship Series got underway.

Moneta set the tone with the opening points of the contest; the type of start that couldn’t have been scripted any better for Argentina. The ball was batted back Spain’s way off the kick-off, but sailed over the head of Eduardo Lopez.

 

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It came down to the bounce of the rugby ball, which sat up perfectly for Moneta, who was already in a sprint. Moneta returned the kick-off to the house, outracing defenders before placing the ball down less than 15 seconds into the contest.

“It is Marcos Moneta who picks it up, straight from the kick-off,” commentator Rupert Cox said on the broadcast, which you can watch on RugbyPass TV.

“The money man cashing in with his first touch in Hong Kong. It did not take long.”

Los Pumas Sevens dominated most of this Pool A contest, with Pedro De Haro and Santiago Vera Feld helping pile on points during the first term. But it was fitting that, just before the half-time huddle, Moneta would score the final points of the half.

Argentina had an attacking scrum inside Spain’s half, with the ball finding Vera Feld, who put a kick ahead for Moneta to chase. Moneta won the race to the ball, which again sat up for the try-scorer – with the half-time siren sounding as he caught the ball.

Moneta’s two tries helped Argentina take a commanding 26-0 lead into the break, and the reigning Hong Kong Sevens champions weren’t done there. De Haro completed a double early in the second half, before Martiniano Arrieta got in on the try-scoring fun.

Spain were able to score some points towards the end of the contest, with Tobias Sain-Trapaga and Anton Legorburu Anso crossing inside the final four minutes. Francisco Cosculluela and Juan Ramos were successful with a conversion attempt each.

Moneta spoke post-game on the broadcast about the importance of winning first-up at a SVNS Series event, believing it makes the other matches easier as teams build up some momentum in the race for a quarter-finals spot.

SVNS Series regular season champions South Africa started their quest for a first-ever Hong Kong Sevens title with a tense 12-7 win over Uruguay in the other Pool A match. The Uruguayans are one of four qualifiers out of the second-division SVNS 2.