Dubai champs BlitzBoks face Aussies in HSBC SVNS opener

NEWS: The pool and match schedule for the new 2025 HSBC SVNS Series, set to get underway in a matter of weeks, has been announced for the opening Dubai 7s.

Dubai’s The Sevens Stadium will host the 12 best women’s and men’s teams from November 30 to December 1, to be held during the UAE National Day weekend, since the record-breaking tournaments took place at the Paris Olympic Games.

Last December the Springbok Sevens side started their 2024 HSBC SVNS campaign by winning the opening tournament of the new look series, beating Argentina 12-7 in a pulsating final.

Since then the BlitzBoks have a new head coach when Springbok Sevens captain Phillip Snyman was appointed after taking care of the team in an acting capacity for the last few months.

Snyman took over as interim coach in March this year following a series of poor results in the HSBC SVNS, and under his guidance, the Blitzboks won the Rugby Sevens Repechage tournament in Monaco to gain entry to the Olympic Games in Paris, where they walked away with the bronze medal.

Defending champions South Africa will begin their title defence against Australia followed by fan favourites Kenya, which returns to top-flight competition when they take on the Blitzboks.

The first day will see New Zealand take on the USA, Fiji face Spain, 2024 SVNS Series League Winners Argentina will open their season against South American rivals Uruguay and Ireland will take on familiar foe Great Britain.

The closing games on the first day will be New Zealand taking on Fiji, Argentina facing Ireland, and Olympic champions France looking to rain on South Africa’s Dubai Sevens parade.

“Drawing the fixtures we have for the first round of HSBC SVNS 2025 will undoubtedly deliver a lot of excitement for sports fans around the world,” Mathew Tait, Festival director of Dubai 7s, said in a statement.

“This will be the first time that teams have played at this level since the Paris Olympics in the summer, and with so many stars of the sevens to watch, it’s going to be another action-packed weekend!”

*Find the full schedule HERE

WOMEN’S POOLS

POOL A: Australia, Ireland, Fiji, China

POOL B: France, USA, Great Britain, Spain

POOL C: New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Brazil

MEN’S POOLS

POOL A: France, South Africa, Australia, Kenya

Pool B: Argentina, Ireland, Great Britain, Uruguay

POOL C: Fiji, New Zealand, USA, Spain