New Zealand were confirmed as series winners of HSBC Sevens 2026 by booking their place in tomorrow’s semi-finals in New York.
The Black Ferns claimed three straight wins in Pool A to set up a semi-final showdown with the USA, while Australia will face Fiji in the other semi-final after topping Pool B.
New Zealand are now confirmed as regular-season champions as they cannot be caught in the overall standings ahead of tomorrow’s finals day at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey.
Having backed up their title from last year the Black Ferns Sevens, widely regarded as the best team in the sport, are now hunting a third straight USA Sevens title.
Risi Pouri-Lane, 25, admitted: “Winning the Series has definitely been a goal of ours this season.
“To win the league, and be consistent throughout it, is probably one of the hardest things to do because it’s such a long season.
“I’m proud of the girls to get that done but, just because we’ve got the league title, it doesn’t mean we can slack off.
“The girls know that we’ve got more to give, so nothing changes.”
POOL A: Black Ferns proving unstoppable once again
In the opening game of the women’s tournament, Fiji beat France 22-17 in golden-point extra-time thanks to Ilisapeci Delaiwau’s winning score.
A youthful France side were fourth in Vancouver last week and have gained some consistency after a tough start to the season.
They led against Fiji with a blistering score from Lou Noel, who soon added her second to help France into a 12-0 lead.
Fiji replied before the break when Atelaite Ralivanawa finished off some delightful handling and then Ana Maria Naimasi scored on the stroke of half-time.
Further Fiji scores from Sesenieli Donu and Anaick Konyi traded scores to make it 17-17 and sent the match into extra-time where Delaiwau claimed the winning try down the right flank.
The second match in Pool A saw a number-one ranked New Zealand run out emphatic 46-5 winners over Great Britain, who slipped to their 26th consecutive Sevens Rugby defeat.
A much-changed Black Ferns side, coming off victories in Singapore, Perth and Vancouver so far this year, had too much class for a Great Britain side who remain winless season.
The Black Ferns scored through Stacey Waaka, Jorja Miller (two), Alena Saili, Katelyn Vahaakolo (three) and Manaia Nuku with Katie Shillaker replying for Great Britain.
France picked up their first win of the day after beating a spirited Great Britain 31-19.
Tries from Lou Noel, Marie-Aurelie Castel (two), Alycia Christiaens and Valentine Lothoz secured victory for the French.
Nevertheless, Great Britain fought bravely and scored through Katie Shillaker's superb brace and Ellen Scantlebury’s touchdown.
New Zealand then secured the regular-season title with their impressive 31-10 win over Fiji.
Jorja Miller scored a brilliant early brace to show why she is the reigning 2024/25 HSBC SVNS Series Player of the Year.
Stacey Waaka and Risi Pouri-Lane (two) were also on target while Reapi Ulunisau scored twice for the Fijiana.
Fiji beat Great Britain 36-12 with tries from Adi vani Buleki, Sesenieli Donu (two), Rogosau Adimereani, Ana Maria Naimasi and Ilisapeci Delaiwau, while Georgie Lingham and Heather Cowell scored in reply.
New Zealand beat France 29-19 as Jorja Miller and Stacey Waaka both scored twice and Kelsey Teneti was also on target while Lilou Graciet, Lou Noel and Cleo Hagel replied for the French.
POOL B: Australia clinch top spot with three wins
In the first match of Pool B, Australia flexed their muscles with a comprehensive 47-7 win over Japan.
Their tries came from Faith Nathan, Madison Ashby, Kahli Henwood, Kaitlin Shave, Heidi Dennis (two) and Isabella Nasser while Japan’s solitary score came from Hana Nagata.
In the second match of Pool B, USA impressively beat Canada 24-0, much to the delight of the home crowd.
Canada went into the game having won just four of their 15 pool matches this season and they fell behind when Ariana Ramsey raced under the posts to put the USA ahead.
Captain Kristi Kirshe finished off another fine move for a second USA try and Ramsey reclaimed centre stage to complete her brace before Sammy Sullivan raced down the left flank to score a fourth.
Australia beat Canada 40-0 with four tries from Maddison Levi and two from younger sister Teagan.
USA went one better by claiming a 47-0 victory over Japan with Kristi Kirshe (two), Sariah Ibarra, Sammy Sullivan, Kaylen Thomas (two) and Ariana Ramsey all touching down.
Japan claimed an entertaining 31-19 win over Canada with tries from Chiaki Saegusa, Hana Nagata (two), Mei Ohtani and Michiyo Suda.
Shoshanah Seumanutafa, Charity Williams and Vanessa Chiappetta scored in reply, and in the final game of Pool B, Australia beat USA 26-19.
Faith Nathan and Maddison Levi both scored twice while Ariana Ramsey (two) and Sammy Sullivan replying for the USA.
Record-breaking Levi, the fastest player to reach 200 Series tries, said: “The USA are always really tough but for us to play in front of that home crowd, it was really good for us to keep building into day two.
“We’re just going to keep building and getting better. That’s how we’ll end up on top.”