SVNS.com — The pools for the HSBC SVNS 2024 Championship have been announced as excitement builds for the winner-takes-all tournaments at the Grand Finals in Madrid. [lead photo: Mike Lee / KLC fotos for World Rugby]
Argentina and New Zealand celebrated becoming men’s and women’s League Winners in Singapore last weekend, but there is no guarantee they will be victorious again when the action heads to Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano between 31 May – 2 June.
That is because the overall HSBC SVNS 2024 Championship crowns will be awarded to the teams that finish on top of the men’s and women’s podiums next month.
It means all 16 qualified teams will travel to the Spanish capital with a shot at the title.
Can anyone stop New Zealand?
The Black Ferns Sevens are the form team on the circuit having won four successive tournaments to pip Australia to the women’s League Winners title and Cory Sweeney’s side will be hopeful they can make it five in a row in Madrid.
New Zealand will take on USA, Canada and Great Britain – who secured the eighth and final spot in the women’s tournament in Singapore – in Pool A.
The Black Ferns Sevens beat both Canada and Great Britain en route to the HSBC SVNS Singapore title, and they have not lost to USA since October 2019.
North American rivals USA and Canada, meanwhile, have met six times this season with the teams enjoying three wins apiece.
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Pool B of the women’s tournament pits regular season runners-up Australia against France, Fiji and Ireland.
Australia beat France in the Singapore Cup semi-finals last weekend, while Les Bleues Sevens – who finished the regular season third – won the bronze final against Fijiana.
France have never won a title on the series, something that Ireland managed in Perth at the end of January.
Ireland beat Fiji and Australia on their way to gold in Western Australia and a repeat in Madrid could provide the springboard to a stunning end to their season.