Canadian women miss out on semifinals at Cape Town 7s
Australia continued their dominant form in the HSBC SVNS series, securing a spot in the semifinals after defeating Canada 26-10 in pool play at the Cape Town Sevens. This victory comes on the heels of their fifth consecutive title in Dubai, solidifying their status as a powerhouse in the world of women’s rugby sevens.
The Australian women, who remain undefeated in the tournament, will now face off against the United States in one semifinal, while New Zealand will take on France in the other. On the men’s side, Fiji, the reigning Dubai champions, will go head-to-head with France in a highly anticipated rematch of the Paris Olympic final. Hosts South Africa will clash with Spain, the runner-up in Dubai, in the other men’s semifinal.
The Cape Town Sevens marks the second stop on the 2025 HSBC SVNS season, with Australia looking to replicate their success from the previous event in Dubai. In a thrilling showdown, Pam Buisa and Asia Hogan-Rochester scored tries for Canada, who famously upset Australia in the Paris Olympic semifinal on their way to claiming the silver medal.
Despite a valiant effort from Canada, Australia’s stout defense and clinical finishing proved to be the difference. Tia Hinds and Sariah Paki both made significant contributions, with Hinds scoring a crucial converted try while Australia were down to five players. Heidi Dennis and Mackenzie Davis also found the try line late in the game, sealing the victory for Australia.
Canada’s record against Australia in HSBC SVNS play now stands at 25-14-1, highlighting the competitive nature of their rivalry. The revamped format of the South Africa event, featuring 12 teams divided into four pools of three, has added an extra layer of excitement and intensity to the competition.
World Rugby’s decision to implement this format change was driven by a focus on player welfare, providing teams with an additional day of recovery and preparation between back-to-back events. This revised format will also be utilized in future events, including Singapore which follows hot on the heels of Hong Kong.
Looking ahead, Australia will be aiming to build on their success in Madrid, where they clinched the HSBC SVNS championship by defeating New Zealand in the semifinals and France in the final. Canada, on the other hand, will be looking to improve on their fourth-place finish in Madrid and fifth-place standing in the overall season standings.
With the HSBC SVNS series showcasing some of the best talent in the world of rugby sevens, fans can expect more exhilarating matches and unforgettable moments as the season progresses. Stay tuned for more action-packed rugby sevens as the teams compete for glory and ultimate bragging rights on the global stage.
