Australia’s Women and South Africa’s Men Seize World Sevens Crowns

The three-stage World Rugby Sevens Championship concluded in Bordeaux this weekend with the coronation of two familiar powers. Australia’s women were crowned world champions after a commanding 26-19 victory over New Zealand in the final, while South Africa’s men, despite not reaching the tournament decider, did enough over the Hong Kong, Valladolid and Bordeaux legs to secure the men’s overall title. The French Atlantic coast provided a dramatic backdrop for the season’s denouement, with the hosts themselves emerging as the story of the final tournament.

In the women’s competition, Australia’s Maddison Levi defied a knee injury to score two tries and steer her side to a second consecutive tournament triumph, following their win in Valladolid. The Wallaroos’ back-to-back successes overturned New Zealand’s early dominance from the opening round in Hong Kong, and handed Australia their first world championship since the series was rebranded. Analysts in Sydney note that the seamless integration of youth and experience under coach Tim Walsh has restored Australia to the summit of women’s sevens, with Levi’s resilience emblematic of a campaign built on grit as much as flair.

For the men, the arithmetic was less straightforward. France, roared on by a capacity Stade Atlantique, produced a defensive masterclass to beat New Zealand 14-5 in the final, avenging a pool-stage defeat earlier in the week and capping a tournament that included a semi-final victory over South Africa. Yet the overall championship trophy travelled to Johannesburg, not Paris. The Springbok Sevens, consistent finalists throughout the season, had banked sufficient points from their wins in Hong Kong and Valladolid to render the Bordeaux result immaterial. Viewed from Pretoria, the title consolidates a period of sustained excellence under the SVNS format, even as the French performance signals a potential power shift in the European game.

Argentina arrived in Bordeaux as the nearest challenger to South Africa, but a shock pool stage exit — losing to France and New Zealand — condemned Los Pumas Sevens to a ninth-place finish in the tournament and a fifth-place standing overall. There was consolation in Marcos Moneta’s hat-trick against Germany, which lifted the winger to 202 career tries on the world circuit, a milestone widely celebrated in Buenos Aires. The Yaguaretes women also ended their campaign with a win over Great Britain to secure ninth place. Commentators in Argentina stress that a young, rebuilt squad will learn from the pressure of leading the standings before faltering at the final hurdle.

The Bordeaux finale underscored the growing competitiveness of sevens ahead of its next evolution. While the Antipodean giants remain the benchmark, the rise of France and the resilience of South Africa point to a shifting landscape. As the sport continues to globalise, the coming season will test whether the old order can withstand the increasingly sophisticated challenges from Europe and South America.