Men from South Africa clinch Rugby Sevens World Championship title in Los Angeles, while New Zealand women secure their victory in the women's competition.
Rewritten Article:
In the pulsating finale at LA's Dignity Health Sports Park, the stage for the 2028 Olympic games, South Africa's Springbok Sevens edged Spain 19-5 in the men's division, while New Zealand's Black Ferns solidified their dominance with a convincing 31-7 victory over Australia in the women's division.
The Black Ferns, strong favorites for the title and reigning Olympic champions, secured the top spot in the women's regular season standings after a win in Singapore back in April. Argentina, who had clinched the men's World Sevens Series standings with successive victories in Perth, Vancouver, and Hong Kong, fell to Spain in the semifinals. South Africa took advantage of this setback, eliminating New Zealand 31-5 in the semifinals.
The men's final opened with a try from Selvyn Davids in the fifth minute, converted by Ronald Brown, giving South Africa a 7-0 lead at halftime. Spain's Pol Pla scored in the 10th minute, but missed conversion left the Springboks ahead. Mfundo Ndhlovu scored South Africa's second try, which Tristan Leyds converted, widening the gap to 14-5. Despite Zander Reynders receiving a yellow card, Ricardo Duarttee added a try in the final minute to secure a 19-5 victory for South Africa.
The women's final saw New Zealand race to a 12-0 lead after just six minutes, thanks to tries from Jorja Miller and Michaela Brake, with the latter's conversion by Risi Pouri-Lane. Australia responded through Mackenzie Davis' sixth try of the event in the eighth minute, but a reply from Pouri-Lane in the tenth minute extended the Black Ferns' lead to 19-7. Mahina Paul added a try in the 11th minute, with Pouri-Lane converting again, and Sarah Hirini sealed the victory in the 13th minute to create the final margin.
In the women's semifinals, Australia comfortably defeated Canada 33-7, while the Black Ferns saw off the United States with a 34-7 victory. Argentina's Luciano González was named the men's HSBC SVNS Player of the Year, while Jorja Miller clinched the women’s award.
[1] https://www.worldrugby.org/citep004622[3] https://www.worldrugby.org/events/hsbc-world-rugby-sevens-series[4] https://www.worldrugby.org/events/hsbc-world-rugby-sevens-player-of-the-year[5] https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/sevens/129959222/black-ferns-claim-series-title-in-style-with-final-round-victory-over-australia
- South Africa's Springbok Sevens secured victory in the men's division of the 2028 Olympic games rehearsal at LA's Dignity Health Sports Park, which will host the actual games, after defeating Africa's Spain by a margin of 19-5.
- In the women's division, New Zealand's Black Ferns demonstrated their dominance against the United States, winning 34-7 in the semifinals, while Australia managed to advance after a convincing 33-7 victory against Canada.
- Despite Argentina's success in the World Sevens Series, with wins in Perth, Vancouver, and Hong Kong, they were unable to repeat their success at the Olympic games rehearsal, losing to Spain in the men's semifinals.
- The HSBC SVNS Player of the Year award for the men's category was given to Argentina's Luciano González, while Jorja Miller from New Zealand was honored with the women's award.
- The United States received a 7-34 defeat from the New Zealand Black Ferns in the women's semifinals of the 2028 Olympic games rehearsal, staged at LA's Dignity Health Sports Park.
