Five reasons not to miss the women’s HSBC SVNS Hong Kong

From season-defining matches to record-breaking try scorers via likely shock results, there are so many reasons to tune in to the women in action in Hong Kong, here are just five of them:

1. Challengers poised dethrone dominant pair

Those watching the women’s HSBC SVNS series right now get it all.

At the very top, you have two standout sides slugging it out, heart-pumping battles illuminated by two of the all-time greatest try scorers (more below) going head-to-head. But while New Zealand and Australia have dominated the gold medal matches so far, it is almost impossible to predict who will be behind them.

To date, six sides other than the Trans-Tasman rivals have made it to the 2024/25 SVNS semifinals, many of them popping up to push the big two to produce their very best.

Take Vancouver. First, Brazil beat Australia in the Pool stage, before surging to fifth, their best ever finish. Then, elevating it a step further, Japan soared to the semifinals for the first time in history and finally, to cap it all, Fiji, who started the tournament ranked 11^th, won silver.

All that without mentioning three-time SVNS bronze medal winning France, reigning Olympic silver medallists Canada, and the often thrilling USA outfit.

Who is next to jump up to the top table?

2. Tracking Japan’s inexorable rise

Given the above, it may sound foolish to recommend Japan as a must-watch in Hong Kong, but there is method to the seeming madness.

While others have bobbed up and down – France suddenly dropped to ninth in Vancouver after those three third-place finishes in succession – the Sakura Sevens have been on an inexorable rise.

Appointed head coach after the team failed to qualify for last year’s Olympic Games, Yuka Kanematsu has had a simple aim for each SVNS tournament; just get better.

This, allied with an emphasis on turning supposed weaknesses into strengths, has worked. Seventh in round one in Dubai, Japan have subsequently finished: sixth-fifth-fourth.

The aim for Hong Kong? Third, naturally.

3. Black Ferns showing SVNS at its best

The sight of grinning 18-year-old debutant Maia Davis bursting through to score her first international try in the final in Vancouver sums up where New Zealand are right now. A joy to watch, the Black Ferns have stars from one to seven, not to mention a host waiting on the bench.

Numbers cannot paint the full picture, but they do help. The last time the league leaders failed to reach the final in a SVNS series was way back in Perth 2024, nine tournaments ago. Since then they have won six out of eight and are well worth their six-point advantage at the top.

From indefatigable skipper Sarah Hirini to young flier Jorja Miller and stalwart Risi Pouri-Lane, they seemingly have all bases covered. Then you add, Michaela Brake scorer of a record 264 tries in 230 matches.

Tune in from the start when they take on China in the opening Pool A match on 28 March, it will be worth it.  

4. Levi on a different level

As already underlined, there are so many superlative try scorers on show in this season’s SVNS series. But even among the likes of Brake (17 tries this season), Brazil’s Thalia Costa (21) and Frenchwoman Anne-Cecile Ciofani (14) Maddison Levi stands out.

There are many reasons she is the reigning World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the year, but 30 tries in 14 matches is the most compelling of them. That is 150 points she has scored this season, at a strike rate of 2.14 tries per match.

Back after missing the Vancouver leg, Levi is not only worth the Kai Tak Stadium entry fee alone, she will also give a huge boost to what is Australia’s most inexperienced squad in 10 years.

5. Huge matches everywhere you look

While it is tight at the top, with just six points separating New Zealand and Australia, it is even closer down the bottom, as teams fight for a place in the Grand Final in Los Angeles, 3-4 May.

Only the top eight will go for ultimate glory Stateside and currently Fiji own that final qualifying spot, thanks only to points scored over ninth-placed Brazil. While both of those nations are locked together, Ireland are only eight points behind, with China 10 points in arrears.

Those two need not look far for how quickly things can change. Pre-Vancouver both were ahead of Fiji.

The Pool stage in Hong Kong throws up several immediate opportunities for the rivals to steal an advantage; Brazil face China in Pool A, while Fiji and Ireland will lock horns in Pool B.