New Zealand U18 Girls have taken out the Global Youth Sevens title at Auckland’s Dilworth College with a dominant performance in the final, overcoming some of their compatriots from the New Zealand Cavaliers Girls 27-10 on Sunday.
The New Zealand U18s side booked their spot in the decider with a comeback 26-19 win over defending champions Japan. Japan led 19-0 at the break but the New Zealanders fought their way back during a dominant second-half display.
As for the Cavaliers, they secured their place in the big dance with a clinical 27-12 triumph over Rugby Vault Sevens in the other semi-final. That set up an intriguing matchup between two New Zealand squads, who had beaten talented opposition during their run to the final.
Playmaker Emacyn Ieremia got the final underway with a well-placed kick-off, leading New Zealand to set the tone with a menacing shot in defence first up. The New Zealanders turned the ball over within 10 seconds of the kick-off and ultimately turned that opportunity into points.
Ieremia found Levonah Motuliki, who set up Te Arani Vulu for the opening try of the match. The try-scorer had come close to scoring only a few phases earlier, but the No. 14 was stopped about five metres out from the try line.
It was a similar story soon after as Motuliki registered another assist by sending Asha Taumopeau-Williams over for New Zealand’s second. Asha James sliced through the Cavaliers’ second live soon after to extend New Zealand’s lead even further.
New Zealand’s commanding first-half performance came to an entertaining end when Koiatarau Edwards crossed in the corner. It was 22-0 at the break and the New Zealanders almost built on their lead to start the second term.
Edwards was brought to a halt by a scrambling Cavaliers defence. The Cavaliers ended up striking first on the scoreboard in the second term, only for Arani Vulu to effectively cancel out that effort a couple of minutes later.
Arani Vulu slammed the ball down with authority as she lunged for the try line, with the New Zealanders all but wrapping up the win. To their credit, the Cavaliers gave it their all right until the very end.
Amarante Sititi crossed for what ended up being the Cavaliers’ final try of the tournament, with the No. 7 fending off a New Zealand player before racing away for the score. In the final play of the decider, the Cavaliers mounted one last attack, but a pilfer penalty brought an end to the match.
When the full-time whistle sounded, the New Zealanders began to celebrate immediately. After a series of dominant performances, New Zealand U18 Girls had emerged as champions at the 2025 Global Youth Sevens.