Flying Fiji stay sharp, BlitzBoks steal a thriller and Auckland FC rule the derby once again

Pacific rugby fans had plenty to celebrate and plenty to gasp at as the HSBC SVNS second leg wrapped up in South Africa.

Two new champions stood atop the podium, while Fiji once again showed why they remain one of the most dependable forces in world sevens rugby.

A sharp and confident Flying Fiji side claimed third place with a 26-19 win over France in Cape Town, leaning on their trademark speed and freedom to pull ahead in a tough early-season matchup that now sits 2-1 their way.

In the women’s division, Australia avenged their earlier defeat against New Zealand with a convincing 26-12 victory, dominating the Black Ferns throughout the match.

In a complete reversal of their first-leg clash in Dubai, New Zealand couldn’t match Australia’s tempo, and the Aussies made full use of the Black Ferns’ defensive lapses.

Leading 19-0 at halftime with three unanswered tries from Heidi Dennis, Teagan Levi, and Isabella Nasser, Kiwi fans were left in disbelief as their team failed to put any points on the board before the break.

Stacey Waaka of New Zealand during day two of the 2025 HSBC Cape Town SVNS. Photo/Reinhardt Hamman/BackpagePix/Photosport

New Zealand finally scored in the second half through Kelsey Teneti, who slipped through a tackle to run in a crucial try.

The fightback continued with a try to Stacey Waaka from a well-executed edge-to-edge set of hands, but ultimately the margin proved too big for the Black Ferns to overcome.

Maddison Levi, the 2025 Rugby Australia Defender of the Year, stamped her trademark flair by scoring her team’s final try of the match as she surged down the right flank.

South Africa Mens 7s Team Champions of the HSBC Cape Town SVNS. Photo/Reinhardt Hamman/BackpagePix/Photosport

It was a nail-biting finish to the Men's Cup final as the South Africa BlitzBoks held out Argentina 21-19 in a last-minute thriller.

The hosts found themselves down by five points with less than two minutes to play, but managed to regain possession quickly.

Tournament newcomer Christoffel Grobbelaar broke through the Argentinian defence to score under the posts and break the South American hearts just before full-time.

With Cape Town marking the final competition of the year, teams will now take a break before gearing up for the third leg in Singapore from 31 January to 1 February. For more information on fixtures and results, click here.

Football update

Meanwhile, Auckland FC extended their New Zealand Derby winning streak with a 3-1 victory over the Wellington Phoenix. Auckland’s Lachlan Brook opened the scoring with a phenomenal goal, sending crowds at Go Media Stadium into a frenzy.

Auckland FC were hot on offence with countless attacking opportunities, saved impressively by Phoenix Goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi.

The second half delivered more excitement, with both teams back and forth at goal until a recovery off a corner came from Phoenix captain Alex Rufer. With Rufer’s kick travelling through several players, it put his side back into the match.

However, Wellington’s lack of discipline cost them, and with a red card already against them, Auckland’s Francis de Vries extended the lead with a second penalty goal.

They sealed out the match with a final goal in the 80th minute, to stay third on the overall leaderboard, while the Phoenix dropped to seventh.

Auckland will now play the Central Coast Mariners in Australia this coming weekend. Kick off is on Friday at 9.35pm (NZ Time) while the Wellington Phoenix take on the Newcastle Jets on Sunday at 3pm (NZT). For more information on fixtures and results, click here.

Rugby World Cup 2027 draw: Fiji reunited with old rivals, Tonga to face England and Wales, as Sāmoa pooled with France, Japan, and USA

The draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup has been released, giving Pacific fans plenty to look forward to. Fiji have been placed in Pool C, where they will face Spain, Canada, and tournament favourites Argentina.

According to RNZ Pacific, John Sanday, the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) chairman, says the clash against Argentina brings back memories: it’s a repeat of the inaugural event in 1987.

Sanday was a part of the 1987 Fijian team that defeated Argentina 38 years ago, in New Zealand.

Tonga have been drawn into the fifth and final pool, where they will take on England, Wales, and Zimbabwe. The ‘Ikale Tahi are coming off their last World Cup appearance in 2023, where they finished with a strong 45-24 win over Romania.

Manu Sāmoa qualify into Pool E, where they will face France, Japan, and USA. For more information on the 2027 Rugby World Cup, click here.