Perth 7s Recap: A Tale of Resilience and Close Calls
February 10, 2026
The British rugby sevens teams embarked on a thrilling journey to Australia, showcasing their skills and determination in the HSBC SVNS series. The men's team, led by their unwavering spirit, secured a hard-fought victory against New Zealand and narrowly missed a win against Australia, falling just three points short.
The women's squad, undeterred by their initial challenges, faced Australia, Canada, and France in their pool fixtures. Despite a valiant effort, they lost to Japan in the 5th-place semi-final, setting the stage for a crucial 7th-place play-off against Fiji. Unfortunately, they couldn't secure the win, finishing in 8th place.
The men's team, determined to prove their mettle, faced France in their pool opener, enduring a tough defeat. They then turned their focus to New Zealand, currently ranked third in the overall standings. In a display of resilience, they emerged victorious with a 19-26 score, a testament to their improved performance. The next challenge awaited against Australia, where a tight 21-24 loss left them just short of a win. A disappointing 7th-place play-off loss to France on Sunday meant the men also finished in 8th place.
Great Britain Sevens Director of Rugby, Ciaran Beattie, offered insightful commentary: "The women's results were tough, but we're gathering valuable insights about our players. We're making progress and aiming to build upon these steps. For the men's squad, the win against New Zealand was remarkable, but we need to address our performance in the first half of our first game against France. The men's competition is fiercely competitive, with New Zealand and Great Britain both winning one game and placing 4th and 8th, respectively. This highlights the high caliber of the series. We recognize our areas for improvement, but the team's confidence remains strong as we focus on our next destination, Vancouver."
The World Series in Singapore, held on January 31, 2026, presented a different challenge. The men's team faced a series of setbacks, with France dominating them 36-10, New Zealand narrowly defeating them 19-26, and Australia emerging victorious with a 24-21 score. The women's squad encountered a formidable opponent in Australia, losing 54-5. They then faced Canada and France, suffering defeats of 45-7 and 42-10, respectively.
Day 2 of the Singapore tournament brought more intense action. The women's team, determined to secure 5th place, faced Japan in a semi-final, but their efforts fell short as they lost 29-7. The men's team, in a bid to secure 5th place, faced Spain, but their determination was met with a 28-19 defeat. The women's 7th-place play-off against Fiji ended in a disappointing 5-41 loss, while the men's 7th-place play-off against France resulted in a 17-24 defeat, concluding their tournament in 8th place.
This recap highlights the teams' resilience, close calls, and the intense competition within the HSBC SVNS series. As the teams continue their journey, they carry valuable lessons and a renewed sense of purpose, ready to tackle the challenges ahead.
