The SVNS Play Off competition involves the teams ranked ninth to twelfth in HSBC SVNS 2025 together with the top four ranked teams from the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger.
Four successful teams will qualify from the Play Off competition to HSBC SVNS division two in 2026. The pool winners secure their SVNS division two status automatically and China women and Uruguay men achieved this feat on day one in Los Angeles.
Meanwhile the teams who finish second and third in their pools will face a winner-takes all Play Off final match on Sunday for a place in SVNS division two, while the bottom placed teams in the pools miss out.
SVNS Play Off pool A standings. PHOTO/World Rugby
The USA’s Lucas Lacamp was the top men’s try scorer on day one with four tries, helping the hosts to a pair of wins over Portugal and Samoa. If the USA overcome Kenya – recent finalists in Singapore – in their last pool match on Sunday they will secure their spot in SVNS division two.
Kenya 7s, popularly known as Shujaa, returned to winning ways with a spirited 26-14 comeback victory over Portugal in their second group stage match at Dignity Park Pitch B.
Shujaa will however need to win their match against USA to qualify for the World SVNS division two. With the win, Kenya moved to four points, level with Samoa, while USA top the group with six points.
SVNS Play Off pool B standings. PHOTO/World Rugby
In women’s pool A there will be a straight shoot-out between Brazil and Spain for a place in SVNS division two as both countries claimed a pair of victories over Colombia and Kenya on day one.
Women’s SVNS Play Off pool A standings. PHOTO/World Rugby
The unsuccessful Play Off teams will begin the 2026 season in their respective regional competitions from which they have the opportunity to qualify for a standalone SVNS division three event where they can reach SVNS division two by finishing in the top two.
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Following an action-packed season, the superstars of sevens will be celebrated as the HSBC SVNS Awards 2025 take place with Rookie, Top Try Scorer and Player of the Year among the categories set to be presented at the final showdown in Los Angeles on Sunday, 4 May.
Women’s SVNS Play Off pool B standings. PHOTO/World Rugby
Men’s – Playoffs:
- Pool Play-Off B (Pitch Two):
Ireland 7s (IRE) 0 – 15 Germany 7s (GER) - Pool Play-Off B (Pitch Two):
Uruguay 7s (URU) 24 – 7 Canada 7s (CAN) - Pool Play-Off A (Pitch Two):
Kenya 7s (KEN) 12 – 19 Samoa 7s (SAM) - Pool Play-Off B (Pitch Two):
Ireland 7s (IRE) 12 – 19 Canada 7s (CAN) - Pool Play-Off A (Pitch Two):
USA 7s (USA) 26 – 15 Portugal 7s (POR) - Pool Play-Off A (Pitch Two):
Spain 7s (ESP) 33 – 14 Kenya 7s (KEN)
Women’s – Playoffs:
- Pool Play-Off B (Pitch Two):
Ireland 7s (IRE) 7 – 12 South Africa 7s (RSA) - Pool Play-Off B (Pitch Two):
China 7s (CHN) 25 – 0 Argentina 7s (ARG) - Pool Play-Off A (Pitch Two):
Spain 7s (ESP) 33 – 14 Kenya 7s (KEN) - Pool Play-Off A (Pitch Two):
Brazil 7s (BRA) 45 – 12 Colombia 7s (COL) - Pool Play-Off B (Pitch Two):
Ireland 7s (IRE) 12 – 19 Canada 7s (CAN) - Pool Play-Off A (Pitch Two):
Spain 7s (ESP) 17 – 12 Colombia 7s (COL)
May 5th Matches:
Women’s – Playoffs:
- Pool Play-Off B (Pitch Two):
South Africa 7s (RSA) vs Argentina 7s (ARG) - Pool Play-Off B (Pitch Two):
China 7s (CHN) vs Ireland 7s (IRE) - Pool Play-Off A (Pitch Two):
Kenya 7s (KEN) vs Colombia 7s (COL) - 7th Place Play-Off (Pitch One):
Great Britain 7s (GBR) vs Fiji 7s (FIJ) - Pool Play-Off A (Pitch Two):
Brazil 7s (BRA) vs Spain 7s (ESP) - Pool Play-Off A (Pitch Two):
Kenya 7s (KEN) vs USA 7s (USA) - 5th Place Play-Off (Pitch One):
France 7s (FRA) vs Australia 7s (AUS) - Pool Play-Off A (Pitch Two):
Portugal 7s (POR) vs Samoa 7s (SAM) - 7th Place Play-Off (Pitch One):
Japan 7s (JPN) vs France 7s (FRA) - 5th Place Play-Off (Pitch One):
Great Britain 7s (GBR) vs Fiji 7s (FIJ) - Cup Semi Finals (Pitch One):
Australia 7s (AUS) vs Canada 7s (CAN) - Cup Semi Finals (Pitch One):
New Zealand 7s (NZL) vs USA 7s (USA)
Men’s – Playoffs:
- Pool Play-Off A (Pitch Two):
USA 7s (USA) vs Samoa 7s (SAM) - Pool Play-Off A (Pitch Two):
Kenya 7s (KEN) vs Portugal 7s (POR) - Pool Play-Off B (Pitch Two):
Germany 7s (GER) vs Canada 7s (CAN) - Pool Play-Off B (Pitch Two):
Uruguay 7s (URU) vs Ireland 7s (IRE)
May 5th (Finals):
Women’s:
- 12:16 AM: Play-Off Final (Pitch One)
- 12:40 AM: Play-Off Final (Pitch One)
Men’s:
- 1:04 AM: Play-Off Final (Pitch One)
- 1:28 AM: Play-Off Final (Pitch One)
- 2:05 AM: 3rd Place Play-Off (Pitch One)
- 2:33 AM: 3rd Place Play-Off (Pitch One)
- 3:05 AM: Cup Final (Pitch One)
- 3:41 AM: Cup Final (Pitch One)
