Quick Read
- The 2026 HSBC SVNS Perth tournament is underway at HBF Park.
- Australia’s women’s team defeated Great Britain 54-5 and France 26-12.
- Australia’s men’s team secured a 21-14 victory over New Zealand.
- South Africa ended Argentina’s title defense with a 19-12 win.
- Key matches, including Australia vs. Canada (women) and Australia vs. France (men), are scheduled for later today.
PERTH (Azat TV) – The 2026 HSBC SVNS Perth tournament is in full swing at HBF Park, with Day One delivering intense action and setting the stage for crucial pool deciders. Both Australian men’s and women’s teams have made strong starts on home soil, securing vital victories as they aim to replicate last year’s finals appearances.
The atmosphere at HBF Park is electric, with temperatures expected to hit 35 degrees, adding another layer of challenge for the world’s best rugby sevens athletes. As the pool stages unfold, every match is critical in the fight for a spot in tomorrow’s semi-finals.
Australian Teams Dominate Opening Rounds
Australia’s women’s team, defending their title, commenced their campaign with a dominant 54-5 win over Great Britain. Star player Maddison Levi contributed to the scoring, while Mackenzie Davis, Faith Nathan, Heidi Dennis, and Sariah Paki also crossed the try line. The team continued their impressive form by defeating France 26-12 later in the day, with Maddison Levi securing a double and Bella Nasser adding to the tally. The Australian women are now set to face Canada in their final pool match, aiming to secure the top spot.
The Australian men’s team also showed their mettle, clinching a hard-fought 21-14 victory over rivals New Zealand. Ben Dowling opened the scoring for Australia, followed by crucial tries from Ben Dalton and Jayden Blake. The team demonstrated strong defensive play to hold off a late Kiwi resurgence. They are scheduled to play France and Great Britain later today as they vie for progression in their pool.
Key Results and Standout Performances
Day One has seen several other compelling matchups and notable individual efforts. South Africa’s Blitzboks ended Argentina’s title defense hopes with a thrilling 19-12 win, highlighted by a crucial try from Donavan Don. Fiji rallied to defeat Argentina 26-10, with Terio Veilawa scoring twice to spark their comeback. South Africa also overcame an early challenge from Spain, securing a 33-14 victory.
In the women’s competition, Canada kept their tournament hopes alive with a massive 45-7 win over Great Britain, featuring a hat-trick from Carissa Norsten, who scored her first try just 11 seconds into the match. New Zealand dominated Fiji 36-5, with Kelsey Teneti crossing for a hat-trick, while Mahina Paul added a double. The USA continued their strong tournament, defeating Japan 40-14 and earlier securing a tough 34-15 win over Fiji, sealed by Autumn Czaplicki’s last-minute try.
France produced an early upset in the women’s draw, defeating Canada 24-12, with Alycia Christiaens scoring twice. New Zealand also started with a 34-12 win over Japan, though Rugby.com.au noted it was a more challenging contest than the scoreline suggested, with Japan showing significant improvement.
What’s Next on Day One
The action at HBF Park continues throughout the day, with several pivotal matches remaining. For the Australian teams, the women will play Canada at 5:58 pm AWST, while the men will face France at 4:20 pm AWST and Great Britain at 7:36 pm AWST. These matches will be crucial in determining who advances to the knockout stages. Other significant fixtures include New Zealand vs. USA in the women’s draw and Fiji vs. South Africa in the men’s competition, both expected to be highly contested encounters.
The opening day of the 2026 Perth SVNS has underscored the competitive depth across both the men’s and women’s tournaments, with early results indicating that sustained performance and resilience will be key factors for teams aiming for silverware.