(Photo World Rugby)
Fiji edged out France 21-12 in a thrilling men’s final at the Singapore leg of the HSBC SVNS while New Zealand thumped rival Australia 36-7 to claim the women’s title.
The French men fought hard throughout but it was Fijian flair that won the day as they capped a brilliant weekend in style, coming back from behind in both the semi-finals and final.
Final: Fiji conjure latest comeback win to take gold
France charged into a 12-0 interval lead with tries from Jordan Sepho and Paulin Riva.
But Fiji, blessed with so many attacking options, steadied themselves and roared back to take the title.
Viwa Naduvalo, Kavekini Tanivanuakula and Pilipo Bukayaro were their try-heroes as Fiji scored 21 points without reply.
Player of the match Naduvalo said: “First of all I want to thank the Lord Almighty for giving us the victory.
“Credit to the boys for giving their effort – we work together as a unit and we came up with the ‘W’.”
It was Fiji’s first title of the season but their second in a row in Singapore, a city they enjoy playing in.
Naduvalo added: “I made my debut here, so it’s like playing at home.
“Yes, Singapore is a great place to play.”
Captain Jeremaia Matana echoed his team-mate’s sentiments after their third comeback win of the season, following previous successes over South Africa and New Zealand.
An emotional Matana said: “It’s amazing and I want to give the glory and honour to the Man above.
“I’m so happy and proud of the boys. We came back strongly and I want to thank the boys for their hard work.”
Bronze final: Manson magic secures third spot for New Zealand
New Zealand beat South Africa 14-12 in the third place play-off courtesy of Michael Manson’s brilliant winning try.
Rising star Kele Lasaqa, 19, put New Zealand in front with some delightful footwork but the Blitzboks hit back with scores from Tristan Leyds and Shilton van Wyk.
That put them 12-7 ahead but Manson scored a stunning individual effort, collecting his deft chip over the South African defence and racing 80 metres to touch down inside the left channel.
Riley Williams added the conversion to a try worthy of winning any game as the All Blacks Sevens edged the victory.
Fiji beat New Zealand 21-14 in the first blockbuster semi-final after spectacularly coming from 14-0 down in an exhilaratingly high-tempo encounter.
New Zealand wasted no time in stamping their authority on proceedings as converted tries from Frank Vaenuku and Brady Rush appeared to have put them in control.
Fiji steadied themselves and replied through Joseva Talacola and Viwa Naduvalo to level the scores at 14-14 before Naduvalo’s second sealed the win.
A titanic second semi-final between France and South Africa saw the French prevail 12-5 and reach their first final of the season.
Paulin Riva and Simon Desert put France in control before the Blitzboks hit back through Christie Grobbelaar to ensure a tense finish.
Spain and Argentina met in the first of the fifth-place semi-finals and it was the former whose class told in a 26-12 win as they beat Los Pumas 7s for the third successive Sevens game.
Jeremy Trevithick scored a clinical hat-trick for the Spanish and Juan Ramos was also on target, while Argentina’s tries came from Marcos Moneta’s brace.
It was a disappointing day for an Argentina side who suffered three losses on Saturday and who came second in Cape Town just a fortnight ago.
Australia made their class pay with an entertaining 26-19 win over a Great Britain side who battled gamely throughout before succumbing to Henry Hutchison’s last-gasp try.
William Cartwright, Dietrich Roache and Josh Turner scored for Australia with Matt Davidson, Callum Woolley and skipper Charlton Kerr touching down for Great Britain.
And with the scores level at 19-19, Hutchison burst clear to score and send his country through to the fifth-place play-off.
In the fifth place play-off, Australia’s class told as they beat Spain 19-5.
The prolific Jeremy Trevithick opened the scoring but Australia soon gained control to win comfortably with tries from Dietrich Roache, Aden Ekanayake and master craftsman Henry Hutchison.
Argentina sealed victory over Great Britain in the seventh place play-off with a hard-fought 14-10 victory.
Luciano Gonzalez and Marcos Moneta scored their tries, both of which were converted, with Marcus Kershaw and Callum Woolley touching down for Great Britain.
Women’s final: Black Fern dominate traditional rivals
New Zealand beat fierce rivals Australia 36-7 in the final to secure their third successive title in Singapore.
In a sport built on rivalries, these two powerhouses had met in the previous two finals this season with New Zealand title winners in Dubai before Australia reigned supreme in Cape Town.
Here, it was the Black Ferns Sevens who took the honours in a city where they continue to make themselves at home ahead of next weekend’s tournament in Perth, Australia.
It was a poignant victory for New Zealand and an apt tribute to honour the memory of those who died in the recent landslides at Mount Maunganui.
This tragedy is close to home with the womens and mens teams based on New Zealand’s North Island.
The platform for victory was set with clinical braces from Jazmin Felix-Hotham and Jorja Miller, two players who have illuminated the tournament in Singapore, and a try from Mahina Paul.
Bienne Terita hit back for Australia but Katelyn Vahaakolo added another try for the Black Ferns Sevens to end the weekend with their fifth straight win.
There was much to admire in New Zealand’s performance as they capped a superb stay in Singapore which has seen them score 218 points overall.
Two-try Miller, the player of the final, said: “I’m so stoked and proud of the girls.
“It’s been an awesome atmosphere in a beautiful city.”
Captain Risi Pouri-Lane proudly declared: “Every single one of the girls stepped up this weekend.
“I’m so proud of them and really stoked for the team. Defence is best part of the game but we’ve got another tournament in Perth next weekend.
“Things can change quickly, but we want to do it all over again.”
THIRD PLACE: Canada seal first podium finish of the season in style
Canada clinched third place after beating USA 24-19 courtesy of the mercurial Olivia Apps’ dramatic extra-time winner.
The North American rivals were tied at 19-19 when Apps scored her second try of the game to secure her side’s first podium finish of the season.
The USA were also looking to get on the podium for the first time in 2025-26 in the 48th overall meeting between the sides.
This was only the fifth time they have met for third place and Canada’s Kennedi Stevenson was a late withdrawal through injury but they soon led through Krissy Scurfield.
The USA replied through Kristi Kirshe and a penalty try but scores from Fancy Bermudez and the mercurial Apps put Canada in control.
The USA hit back again through Kaylen Thomas and Ariana Ramsey before Apps dramatically claimed her second for Canada to win it.
A delighted Apps said: “We were in golden-point in the first game of the tournament, so it’s fitting to win this way in our last game of the tournament.
“Our team felt really calm and allowed me to make the decision I made.
“It’s been an amazing weekend – Singapore is a beautiful city and I love this stadium.”
In the first semi-final, number one seeds Australia were on a nine-game winning streak over Canada and they made it 10 on the spin with a 35-10 victory.
Maddison Levi’s hat-trick was the highlight of their win and she opened the scoring against a Canada side who were competing in their first semi-final of the season.
Alysha Corrigan hit back for Canada but Heidi Dennis restored Australia’s advantage and Levi then grabbed her second before sister Teagan got in on the act for her second try of the tournament.
But Maddison soon reclaimed centre stage by completing her treble to take her tally in Singapore to eight tries while Savannah Bauder claimed a consolation for Canada.
In the second semi-final, New Zealand booked their place in the title decider by beating the USA 44-7 in an emphatic victory.
Jazmin Felix-Hotham scored a spectacular individual effort to open the scoring before Kelsey Teneti’s double and Jorja Miller’s touchdown stretched the Black Ferns Sevens’ lead.
Teneti completed a predatory hat-trick before Stacey Waaka, Katelyn Vahaakoloalso and Olive Watherston also went over as New Zealand cantered into the final.
Fiji won the fifth-place play-off with a comfortable 36-12 victory over Great Britain.
Reapi Ulunisau claimed a four-try haul and Kolora Lomani and Alfreda Fisher were also on target while Evelyn Clarke and Georgie Lingham scored in reply.
A delightful hat-trick from Alycia Christiaens set France on their way to a 32-0 victory over Japan.
It was quickly added to by Marie Dupouy before Christiaens bagged her second.
Lili Dezou and Lou Noel added further French scores to send them through to play Fiji in the fifth-place play-off.
France edged another entertaining affair in the fifth place play-off after beating Fiji 17-14.
Reapi Ulunisau scored twice for Fiji but the French emerged victorious courtesy of Lou Noel’s try and a double from the in-form Alycia Christiaens.
Japan beat Great Britain 41-5 in the seventh-place play-off after producing a stylish display of freeflowing attacking rugby.
Ria Anoku touched down and Wakana Akita and Hazuki Ouchida scored doubles with Natsuki Ouchida and Marin Kajiki also crossing the whitewash and Georgie Lingham claiming Great Britain’s sole effort.
