The Australian Sevens sides have endured mixed fortunes as they play their final weekend of the 2025 season, doing battle in the Cape Town leg of the 2025-26 SVNS World Series.
In sweltering conditions in Cape Town, the Aussie Women, hungry for revenge after their Dubai winning streak was broken in the Final by New Zealand, hit the ground running with commanding victories over France and Japan as well as overcoming a determined Canada to top Pool B.
Watch the 2025-2026 HSBC SVNS Series live and on demand via Stan Sport.
The side will look to push for the final yet again, coming up against the USA in their first match of the semi-finals on day two.
The Men, coming off their own trans-Tasman defeat to the Kiwis in the Final, endured a difficult opening day going down heavily to Argentina, followed by a close loss to Spain and France.
The side will look to salvage their campaign when they face New Zealand in the fifth-placed semi-final, the first match featuring the Aussies of the final day.
Follow a recap of all the action, game by game, below:
Australia Women 41 v France Women 0
With both sides coming into the match having never lost a pool game in Cape Town, the Aussie Women proved triumphant, starting their campaign in ruthless fashion against France.
The Aussies made things difficult for themselves early on, with Teagan Levi failing three consecutive restarts; however, the French struggled to capitalise with errors of their own and fell apart at the breakdown, with Heidi Dennis, Kahli Henwood and Madi Levi all grabbing tries from long-range counterattack.
A French knock-on at halftime saw Isabella Nasser nab the Aussies’ fourth, with Madison Ashby scoring her first try on her return to Sevens early in the second half to put the result beyond doubt.
Valentine Lothoz was sent to the bin for hair-pulling on Bienne Terita, adding further misery for the French, with Nasser scoring her second. Terita got her revenge with a try off several penalties in the final minute, with France unable to capitalise after the siren.
Australia Men 0 v Argentina Men 36
Argentina came into this clash having won their last five matches against Australia, and they put a disappointing opening weekend in Dubai firmly behind them.
The South Americans dominated possession early on, scoring off Santiago Mare, with the Aussies struggling both for possession and capitalising with the ball in hand. The four-time Cape Town finalists’ pressure stifled the breakdown, with Marcos Moneta pouncing on a kick through to give them a two-try lead at halftime.
Luciano Gonzalez provided a crucial score after the break, seeing the floodgates open as Matteo Graziano followed shortly afterwards.
The Australians’ woes with errors and lack of possession continued, and when Gonzalez nabbed his second and the Argentines’ fifth, the match was beyond doubt with two minutes to play. An error off the lineout from the Australians saw Graziano nab his second to put the icing on the cake.
Australia Women 26 v Canada Women 19
The Canadians drew first blood through Kennedi Stevenson; however, the Aussies struck back immediately through a long-range effort from Madison Ashby.
From that moment, the Aussies took control, with Faith Nathan scoring two tries before halftime.
Asia Hogan-Rochester pulled one back for the visitors after halftime, but Isabella Nasser returned fire in quick succession. Carmen Izyk would get the last laugh after full-time, but the Aussies did enough to pick up their ninth straight win over Canada, sitting at the top of their pool with a match in hand.
Australia Men 17 v Spain Men 19
Spain hit the ground running, with Anton Legorburu Anso scoring inside the first 30 seconds to have the Aussie Men behind early.
However, Dietrich Roache struck back just as quickly to claim the lead, before Eduardo Lopez returned fire, with Jayden Blake being shown a yellow card. Despite being a man down, the Aussies struck immediately through James McGregor, with the scores level at halftime.
After both sides were denied tries early in the second half, Roache finally broke the deadlock with a long-range effort. Spain bounced back through Roberto Ponce, converting the try to grab a valuable two-point lead, with a crucial knock-on off the restart proving the difference.
Australia Women 36 v Japan Women 5
The Aussie Women have topped Pool B in Cape Town, overcoming Japan to post their third win.
Tries to Faith Nathan, Maddison Levi and Kahli Henwood saw the Women take an imposing 17-0 lead at halftime, with Levi, Heidi Dennis and Ruby Nicholas adding to the tally in the second half to put the match beyond doubt.
Mayu Yoshino provided a consolation try for Japan after the siren, by the Aussie Women have cruised through to the semis.
Australia Men 10 v France Men 29
The men have lost their three pool matches to finish bottom of Pool B, with France opening up a lead in the first half thanks to a double from Liam Delamare and a third Jordan Sepho.
William Cartwright would score at halftime to give the Aussies hope, but tries to Diego Miranda and Enahemo Artaud put the match beyond doubt, with Dietrich Roache scoring a consolation try at fulltime.
The Men will now head into a fifth-placed semi-final against fellow Dubai finalist, New Zealand.
Day Two:
Australia Men 21 v New Zealand Men 28 – FIFTH-PLACED SEMI-FINAL
In a surprise reunion of the Dubai final, the New Zealand pressure is proving effective again in the early stages, with Scott Gregory and Jayden Keelan getting the Kiwis ahead early.
However, the Aussies regathered with a patient buildup, with returning star Ben Dowling picking up their first try. However, Keelan continued his strong form with his second try, the Kiwis going back to a 14-point lead at halftime.
An injection of fresh legs proved effective for Australia, with James McGregor pulling one try back early in the second half. A high tackle penalty gave the Kiwis the chance to put the match beyond doubt; however, the Aussies weathered the storm, then drew level thanks to a Josh Turner try.
However, a great long-range effort from Sofai Notoa-Tipo saw the Kiwis regain the lead with 40 seconds to go, leaving Australia needing a try as the siren blared.
Sam Clarke found himself in the sin bin for the Kiwis due to ill-discipline; however, with a one-man advantage and the try line open, Ben Dalton knocked the ball on to see a crucial opportunity slip through the Aussie Men’s fingers. They will now play for the seventh-placed play-off.
Upcoming Matches:
Australia Women v USA Women – December 7, 9:00 pm AEDT – SEMI-FINAL
Australia Men v TBC – December 7, 10:50 pm AEDT – SEVENTH-PLACED PLAY-OFF
Australia Women’s Sevens team for 2025/2026 HSBC SVNS Cape Town:
2. Amahli Hala – 3 events
3. Faith Nathan – 33 events
4. Mackenzie Davis – 7 events
5. Teagan Levi – 26 events
6. Madison Ashby (c) – 26 events
10. Isabella Nasser (c) – 18 events
12. Maddison Levi – 27 events
13. Heidi Dennis – 7 events
14. Bridget Clark – 7 events
15. Kahli Henwood – 7 events
22. Bienne Terita – 17 events
23. Ruby Nicholas – 11 events
28. Kiiahla Duff – 7 events
Australia Men’s Sevens team for 2025/2026 HSBC SVNS Cape Town:
1. Henry Hutchison (c) – 60 events
2. Ben Dowling – 21 events
3. James McGregor – 3 events
4. Dietrich Roache – 29 events
7. Josh Turner – 38 events
9. Will Cartwright – 1 event
10. Ben Dalton – 10 events
13. Jayden Blake – 7 events
22. Beau Morrison* – debut
23. Aden Ekanayake – 8 events
24. Ethan McFarland – 1 event
33. Harry Wilson – 1 event
77. Wallace Charlie – 2 events
*Denotes possible debut
HSBC SVNS WORLD SERIES CAPE TOWN 2025/2026
AUSTRALIA WOMEN – Pool B
Saturday, December 6: Australia v France (7:22pm AEDT)Saturday, December 6: Australia v Canada (10:38pm AEDT)Sunday, December 7: Australia v Japan (2:04am AEDT)
FINALS
Sunday, December 7: Australia v USA (9:00pm AEDT) – SEMI FINAL
AUSTRALIA MEN – Pool B
Saturday, December 6: Australia v Argentina (9:00pm AEDT)Sunday, December 7: Australia v Spain (12:16am AEDT)Sunday, December 7: Australia v France (3:57am AEDT)
FINALS
Sunday, December 7: Australia v New Zealand (7:44pm AEDT) – FIFTH-PLACED SEMI-FINAL