Japan’s Sakura Sevens Reach New Heights At HSBC SVNS Vancouver 2025 – NZ Women and Argentina Men Win Titles

The 2025 HSBC SVNS Vancouver delivered some shocks over the weekend, notably, Brazil women beating Australia, and  Japan’s Sakura Sevens achieved their first-ever Cup quarter-final win and bets-finish but it was the Argentina men and New Zealand women who were crowned champions at BC Place once again.

Feature Photo – VANCOUVER, BC – February 23: New Zealand women and Argentina men celebrate their Cup victory at the 2025 HSBC SVNS Vancouver at BC Place on February 23, 2025 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Jordan Jones / World Rugby)

The tenth anniversary of HSBC SVNS Vancouver saw the NZ Black Ferns lift the title for a third consecutive year, while the Argentina men claimed a 4th  title at BC Place, and both captains saidthe tournament was akin to being a second home.

Women’s Results

For the women, the Sakura Sevens beat the USA in golden point extra time 22-17 victory to reach their first-ever semi-final, and Marin Kajiki said “I’m really excited to be in the last four teams. Playing two matches on the final day of the tournament is a first for Japan.” They lost both the semifinal to Fiji and the bronze game to Australia, but in the latter, they pushed the second-placed team on the log all the way to still finish a best-ever-fourth on the SVNS Series.

Photo Credit – World Rugby – Sakura 7s finished 4th in Vancouver

Australia had lost to NZ in their semifinal as Stacey Waaka secured a hat trick to seal their place in their fourth consecutive final this Series and their 50th overall in her comeback tournament – her first since winning gold in Paris. NZ comfortably beat Fiji in the final and they have never been defeated at BC Place.

New Zealand’s Captain Sarah Hirini commented after the win “It’s amazing, we love coming here, we love the Canadian people and we’re really proud to get another win here. We played well as a team, we were pushed in some games but I think we just stuck to what we know and stuck to our plan. I’m just really proud of the efforts of the girls.”

France for the first time this season did not reach the semifinals, while China once again failed to make the top 8 and settled for 10th overall when they lost to the French in the 9th place final. With Fiji making their first final this season, the Chinese are now second-bottom overall in the women’s standings.

Photo Credit – World Rugby – China women finished 10th

Men’s Results

On the men’s side, Argentina, Fiji, New Zealand and South Africa made the semifinals – Spain again with a powerhouse weekend – they have reached the semifinals at every leg this season and knocked out New Zealand in the quarters and beat Fiji to claim br0nze.  The Blitzboks fell short of winning the Vancouver title, as Argentina continued their amazing winning streak to win in Canada to earn a fourth title with their 19-12 win in the final.

VANCOUVER, BC – February 23: South Africa edged Fiji 12–10 in a men’s Cup Semifinal match at the 2025 HSBC SVNS Vancouver at BC Place on February 23, 2025 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Zach Franzen / World Rugby)

Winning Argentina captain Santiago Mare said, “We are very happy and really proud of the team for all the effort they put in. To be here, to be in a position to be in another final and win in a very tough game again against a great rival like South Africa, we are very happy and very proud. We did the small things well, we have a very good defence and that was what we did well on the field and it was our difference. Our pressure and our patience showed we trusted in our system.”

Springbok Sevens coach Philip Snyman said that Argentina deserved the win, “Credit to Argentina, who were the better team in that game. They were more clinical than us, especially in that first half, and scored the points when it mattered. We came back well, but just could not get the win.”

All of the weekend’s results can be seen here.

Japan Results – Vancouver SVNS 2025

• Japan 19-14 Fiji
• Japan 19-14 GB
• Japan 12-31 France
• Quarterfinal – Japan 22-17 USA
• Semifinal – Japan 7-28 Fiji
• Bronze Match –  Japan 12-26 Australia

China Results – Vancouver SVNS 2025

• China 10-21 USA
• China 7-38 NZ
• China 29-0 Ireland
• 9th place SF – China 15-7 Ireland
• 9th Place Final – China 12-26 France

Japan Mens SDS 7s – Invitational Tournament

• Japan Men 26-19 Trinidad & Tobago
• Canada 33-12 Japan Men
• Japan Men 31-15 Trinidad & Tobago
• Canada 51-12 Japan Men

The HSBC SVNS Series moves to Asia with back-to-back tournaments in Hong Kong (28-30 March) and Singapore (5-6 April).

HSBC SVNS News 2025

• Japan Men To Play 2025 HSBC SVNS Vancouver Invitational Sevens Tournament.
• World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025 Details Announced.
• Melrose Claymores Teams For Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2025 Announced.
• Hong Kong China Rugby CEO James Farndon – “Hugely Exciting Times Ahead”.