The HSBC Rugby Sevens Series has kicked off in style, with tournaments in Dubai, Cape Town, and Perth showcasing the thrilling speed and skill of rugby sevens. Here’s the latest update from these electrifying events:
Dubai
The Dubai tournament marked the beginning of the HSBC SVNS Series for 2024. Here, Australia’s women’s team and South Africa’s men’s team, the Blitzboks, emerged victorious.
Both teams extended their winning streaks at the competition, with Australia securing their fourth consecutive Dubai 7s title and South Africa winning their fifth.
The South African women’s team showcased strong performances but did not advance to the quarter-finals, despite running both New Zealand and Fiji close.
Cape Town
In the HSBC SVNS Cape Town leg, Australia’s women’s team edged out France with a 29-26 win to claim consecutive titles. This victory strengthened their lead in the series, as they also won in Dubai.
Meanwhile, Argentina’s men dominated Australia 45-12, securing their first Cape Town title. The event also saw Fiji’s men and New Zealand’s women claim bronze titles.
South Africa’s men’s team qualified for the quarter-finals but they were ultimately thwarted by Argentina. Similarly, the Springbok Women’s Sevens faced a challenging tournament, losing all their pool matches against tough competitors like France, Canada, and the USA.
Perth
At the inaugural HSBC SVNS Perth event, history was made before a sell-out crowd as Ireland’s women secured their first-ever SVNS title following a gripping 19-14 win over Australia.
On the men’s side, Argentina continued their impressive run by securing back-to-back SVNS victories, defeating Australia 31-5 in the final. The event also saw Great Britain’s women and Ireland’s men clinch bronze medals.
The South African men’s team achieved notable victories against Canada and Spain, ultimately securing 5th place after a win against France. The women’s team faced tougher challenges, with losses to Australia and Canada, but managed wins against Great Britain and Spain, ending their campaign with a narrow loss to Brazil in the 9th place playoff.
Looking Forward
The HSBC Rugby Sevens Series has enthralled fans across Dubai, Cape Town, and Perth, featuring standout performances and historic wins. As the series moves towards the next rounds in Vancouver and Los Angeles, it continues to highlight rugby sevens’ global appeal and the intense competition leading up to the Olympic Games in Paris.
In the next two events, Antoine Dupont will take to the field as he gears up for his Olympic bow this summer. So, watch out, the competition is about to get even more fierce.
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