Black Ferns defeat USA (Photo World Rugby)
New Zealand were confirmed as series winners of HSBC Sevens 2026 by booking their place in the semi-finals in New York.
The Black Ferns claimed three straight wins in Pool A to set up a semi-final showdown with the USA, while Australia will face Fiji in the other semi-final after topping Pool B.
New Zealand are now confirmed as regular-season champions as they cannot be caught in the overall standings ahead of the finals day at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey.
Having backed up their title from last year the Black Ferns Sevens, widely regarded as the best team in the sport, are now hunting a third straight USA Sevens title.
Risi Pouri-Lane, 25, admitted: “Winning the Series has definitely been a goal of ours this season.
“To win the league, and be consistent throughout it, is probably one of the hardest things to do because it’s such a long season.
“I’m proud of the girls to get that done but, just because we’ve got the league title, it doesn’t mean we can slack off.
“The girls know that we’ve got more to give, so nothing changes.”
POOL A: Black Ferns proving unstoppable once again
In the opening game of the women’s tournament, Fiji beat France 22-17 in golden-point extra-time thanks to Ilisapeci Delaiwau’s winning score.
A youthful France side were fourth in Vancouver last week and have gained some consistency after a tough start to the season.
They led against Fiji with a blistering score from Lou Noel, who soon added her second to help France into a 12-0 lead.
Fiji replied before the break when Atelaite Ralivanawa finished off some delightful handling and then Ana Maria Naimasi scored on the stroke of half-time.
Further Fiji scores from Sesenieli Donu and Anaick Konyi traded scores to make it 17-17 and sent the match into extra-time where Delaiwau claimed the winning try down the right flank.
The second match in Pool A saw a number-one ranked New Zealand run out emphatic 46-5 winners over Great Britain, who slipped to their 26th consecutive Sevens Rugby defeat.
A much-changed Black Ferns side, coming off victories in Singapore, Perth and Vancouver so far this year, had too much class for a Great Britain side who remain winless season.
The Black Ferns scored through Stacey Waaka, Jorja Miller (two), Alena Saili, Katelyn Vahaakolo (three) and Manaia Nuku with Katie Shillaker replying for Great Britain.
France picked up their first win of the day after beating a spirited Great Britain 31-19.
Tries from Lou Noel, Marie-Aurelie Castel (two), Alycia Christiaens and Valentine Lothoz secured victory for the French.
Nevertheless, Great Britain fought bravely and scored through Katie Shillaker’s superb brace and Ellen Scantlebury’s touchdown.
New Zealand then secured the regular-season title with their impressive 31-10 win over Fiji.
Jorja Miller scored a brilliant early brace to show why she is the reigning 2024/25 HSBC SVNS Series Player of the Year.
Stacey Waaka and Risi Pouri-Lane (two) were also on target while Reapi Ulunisau scored twice for the Fijiana.
Fiji beat Great Britain 36-12 with tries from Adi vani Buleki, Sesenieli Donu (two), Rogosau Adimereani, Ana Maria Naimasi and Ilisapeci Delaiwau, while Georgie Lingham and Heather Cowell scored in reply.
New Zealand beat France 29-19 as Jorja Miller and Stacey Waaka both scored twice and Kelsey Teneti was also on target while Lilou Graciet, Lou Noel and Cleo Hagel replied for the French.
POOL B: Australia clinch top spot with three wins
In the first match of Pool B, Australia flexed their muscles with a comprehensive 47-7 win over Japan.
Their tries came from Faith Nathan, Madison Ashby, Kahli Henwood, Kaitlin Shave, Heidi Dennis (two) and Isabella Nasser while Japan’s solitary score came from Hana Nagata.
In the second match of Pool B, USA impressively beat Canada 24-0, much to the delight of the home crowd.
Canada went into the game having won just four of their 15 pool matches this season and they fell behind when Ariana Ramsey raced under the posts to put the USA ahead.
Captain Kristi Kirshe finished off another fine move for a second USA try and Ramsey reclaimed centre stage to complete her brace before Sammy Sullivan raced down the left flank to score a fourth.
Australia beat Canada 40-0 with four tries from Maddison Levi and two from younger sister Teagan.
USA went one better by claiming a 47-0 victory over Japan with Kristi Kirshe (two), Sariah Ibarra, Sammy Sullivan, Kaylen Thomas (two) and Ariana Ramsey all touching down.
Japan claimed an entertaining 31-19 win over Canada with tries from Chiaki Saegusa, Hana Nagata (two), Mei Ohtani and Michiyo Suda.
Shoshanah Seumanutafa, Charity Williams and Vanessa Chiappetta scored in reply, and in the final game of Pool B, Australia beat USA 26-19.
Faith Nathan and Maddison Levi both scored twice while Ariana Ramsey (two) and Sammy Sullivan replying for the USA.
Record-breaking Levi, the fastest player to reach 200 Series tries, said: “The USA are always really tough but for us to play in front of that home crowd, it was really good for us to keep building into day two.
“We’re just going to keep building and getting better. That’s how we’ll end up on top.”
Australia flex their muscles
South Africa captain Impi Visser celebrated his 50th Sevens tournament but it was Southern Hemisphere rivals Australia who topped Pool A after beating the Blitzboks in the final game on the opening day of the SVNS in New York.
Visser’s team, who are vying with Fiji to secure the Sevens regular-season title this weekend, will face Argentina in the semi-final tomorrow while Australia face Fiji in the other semi-final.
South Africa claimed wins over New Zealand and France but lost their Pool A decider to Australia while Los Pumas beat Fiji and Spain before losing to Great Britain.
Australia beat France and New Zealand and then brought the curtain down on day one of the men’s tournament by edging out the Blitzboks 19-12 in a thrilling Southern Hemisphere battle.
Victorious captain Henry Hutchison said: “I’m happy and really proud of the way we won these three games.
“The boys showed a lot of physicality and grit, so we’re in a good place. Tomorrow [against Fiji] is a fantastic opportunity to go again.”
POOL A: Australia claim top spot after edging out Blitzboks
In the first match of Pool A, Australia registered a 24-0 win over France with tries from Aden Ekanayake, James Turner, Dietrich Roache and Archer Saunders.
Australia’s players wore black armbands as a tribute to Ben Dalton’s grandfather, who died earlier in the week.
South Africa, looking to win the regular season title in New York this weekend, were 22-7 winners over New Zealand and were led out by captain Impi Visser on his 50th HSBC Sevens event.
It was a proud moment for Visser, who made his debut in Dubai in 2018, and his team-mates ensured he celebrated in style as Selvyn Davids, Sebastiaan Jobb (2) and Grant de Jager touched down before Brady Rush replied for New Zealand.
The Blitzbox, three-time winners this season and top of the standings coming into the final event of the regular season and looking to win that regular-season title in a two-horse race with Fiji this weekend.
South Africa have won six all-time USA Sevens titles, the most of any nation and De Jager maiden try for his country saw him mobbed by his team-mates.
Ilona Maher was among the crowd as Australia made it two wins from two after edging out old adversaries New Zealand 12-7.
Maher, who won bronze with the United States in rugby sevens at the 2024 Paris Olympics, watched on as Dietrich Roache scored twice for Australia before Kitiona Vai’s reply for the All Blacks Sevens.
South Africa then claimed their second win of the day after beating France 12-5 with tries from Tristan Leyds and Ronald Brown, who scored either side of Celian Pouzelgues’ touchdown.
In the final Pool A game, New Zealand got their first win of the day after edging out France 26-24.
Bradley Tocker (two), Sam Clarke and Riley Williams scored for the All Black Sevens with Yerim Fall, Simon Desert, Liam Delamare and Maxim Granell touching down for France.
In the Southern Hemisphere battle to decide Pool A, South Africa and Australia served up a stirring contest which the Australians won 19-12.
James Turner and Ben Dalton scored for Australia before Selvyn Davids replied with his 100th Sevens try for the Blitzboks and then his 101st to level matters at 12-12 before Jayden Blake won it for Australia.
POOL B: Los Pumas left tasting rarefied air at the summit
The day’s action began with a resounding 31-12 victory for Argentina over Fiji in Pool B.
Marcos Moneta and Santino Zangara both scored twice and Juan Patricio Batac was also on target, with Terio Veilawa and George Bose replying for Fiji.
In the second match of Pool B, Spain beat Great Britain 24-14 with tries from Pol Pla, Josep Serres and a brace from Anton Legorburu Anso, with Charlton Kerr and Marcus Kershaw replying for Great Britain.
Viwa Naduvalo scored a clinical double as Fiji edged out 24-19 in an exhilarating Pool B encounter.
Both sides contributed to a thrilling clash with George Bose and Nacani Boginisoko also notching for Fiji and Charlton Kerr, Marcus Kershaw and Finley Lloyd-Gilmour touching down for Great Britain.
The next Pool B clash was even more dramatic as Argentina edged out Spain 27-26 after scoring four unanswered second-half to overturn a 26-7 interval deficit.
Tiago Romero grabbed a brace and Eduardo Lopez and Pol Pla also scored for the Spanish.
But tries from Luciano Gonzalez, Santiago Vera Feld, Matteo Graziano, Juan Patricio Batac and Sebastian Dubuc gave Argentina a classic victory.
Great Britain’s showdown with Argentina was another entertaining affair with Finley Lloyd-Gilmour scoring twice early on before Sebastian Dubuc replied for Los Pumas.
Matteo Graziano claimed a second try for Argentina but Joshua Radcliffe scored moments later to seal victory for Argentina.
Fiji needed to beat Spain to prevent South Africa claiming the Series championship and they claimed an emphatic 43-12 victory.
Douglas Daveta (three), Jeremaia Matana, Sevuloni Mocenacagi, Joseva Talacolo and Terio Veilawa scored for Fiji with Eduardo Lopez and Asier Perez replying for Spain.
