The Black Ferns Sevens have now won the Canada Sevens more than any other SVNS event, recording 56 victories in their last 59 matches in “Hollywood North.”
Australia was outscored 65–12 in the Singapore and Perth finals, and early on it appeared that trend would continue.
Jorja Miller made three tackles and forced a turnover in the opening sequence, pushing Australia onto the defensive.
Jaymie Kolose broke through early and was stopped by Maddison Levi just short of the line. Australia then mishandled a clearance from a five-metre scrum, allowing Kolose to capitalise on a loose pass in the in-goal area.
Another ruck turnover and charge down by Miller secured territory, and she later ghosted through from 25 metres to score.
At last, Sariah Paki and Heidi Dennis made some headway for Australia, and Levi was unstoppable out wide. New Zealand led 12–5 at halftime.
Kahli Henwood performed her best Miller impersonation for Australia in the second half, but it wasn’t quite enough. Henwood chased Miller down after a 50-metre burst in the eighth minute but couldn’t close the space that opened for Katelyn Vahaakolo.
A Henwood turnover and bust allowed Levi to score her second try. Previously, the prolific Levi had scored only once in her previous five matches against the Black Ferns Sevens.
Henwood then stole a kickoff, setting up a try for Mackenzie Davis under the posts and levelling the score at 17–17.
Miller resurfaced with a teasing charge and drew a high tackle. From the penalty, the Black Ferns Sevens spread rapidly to the right wing. Risi Pouri-Lane stepped past her opposite and released Stacey Waaka, who dashed 40 metres towards the corner flag before delivering a brazen pass that positioned Alena Sail closer to the posts.
Australia’s last salvo started with a lineout secured ten metres from halfway and was snuffed out by a clattering Mahina Paul tackle and a tomahawk cleanout from the final’s MVP, Miller.
In an unconvincing 19–12 semi-final victory over the USA, Miller scored two tries and created another to withstand a brave challenge from the plucky Americans.
After day one pool play, Waaka remarked, “We were pretty average.” Despite this, the Black Ferns Sevens outscored their opponents 116–22 and improved their combined record against Great Britain, Japan and France to 79–4.
Great Britain has now lost a record 26 consecutive matches (Papua New Guinea lost 25). The Black Ferns’ first-half performance was their weakest of the season, with even Miller throwing two forward passes. Sorensen-McGee opened the scoring after four minutes and Heather Cowell replied for Great Britain just before halftime to make it 7–5.
Urgency and precision increased in the second spell. Teneti contributed her trademark power on the edge and crossed for her 50th SVNS try.
The match against Japan was more fluid, resulting in a 43–5 win. Miller set up two tries, providing the final pass for Vahaakolo and a kick for Waaka. She also reached a significant milestone through her support play and trademark elusiveness. (More Below)
France was determined. Nineteen-year-old Anaick Konyi took a kickoff and scorched 60 metres untouched. Alycia Christiaens’ second 50-metre sprint resulted in a try.
However, France struggled at the breakdown, with Miller and Pouri-Lane imperious. Kolose was effective on the flanks, scoring twice. Waaka broke free from congestion near halfway and Pouri-Lane capitalised on a midfield turnover.
The Black Ferns Sevens have now won 46 of the 58 SVNS finals in which they’ve played and 25 of 35 against Australia. They lead Australia by six points in the 2025/26 league standings. Since their return to international play in April 2022 following COVID lockdowns, their match record across all competitions stands at: played 177, won 162, lost 14, drawn 1.
Black Ferns Sevens Scoring
Black Ferns Sevens: 35 (Sorensen-McGee, Paul, Teneti 2, Felix-Hotham tries; Sorensen-McGee con, Pouri-Lane 4 cons)
Great Britain: 5 (Heather Cowell try)
Black Ferns Sevens: 43 (Vahaakolo, Waaka 2, Miller 2, Felix-Hotham, Saili tries; Pouri-Lane 5 cons)
Japan: 5 (Hazuki Ouchida try)
Black Ferns Sevens: 38 (Vahaakolo, Kolose 2, Waaka, Pouri-Lane, Teneti tries)
France: 17 (Anaick Konyi, Lou Noel, Alycia Christiaens tries; Lilou Graciet con)
Black Ferns Sevens: 19 (Miller 2, Paul tries; Pouri-Lane 2 cons)
USA: 12 (Kaylen Thomas, Sarah Levy tries; Ariana Cowdrey con)
Black Ferns Sevens: 24 (Kolose, Miller, Saili tries; Pouri-Lane 2 cons)
Australia: 17 (Maddison Levi 2, Mackenzie Davis tries; Tia Hinds con)
Century For Miller
Jorja Miller scored two tries for the Black Ferns Sevens in their 43–5 pool play win over Japan, becoming the 21st woman to reach 100 tries. She brought up her century in emphatic fashion, bowling through two Japanese defenders and surging 50 metres. She told the official broadcast afterwards that “it’s an awesome achievement.”
The 22-year-old World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year warned: “I haven’t reached my best yet.”
Most SVNS Tries For Black Ferns Sevens
Michaela Brake – 287
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe – 256
Stacey Waaka – 130
Sarah Hirini – 106
Jorja Miller – 103
Kelly Brazier – 101
Most SVNS Cup Final Tries
Brake – 38
Woodman-Wickliffe – 34
Maddison Levi (Australia) – 18
Miller – 17
Waaka – 14
Most SVNS Tries
Michaela Brake – 287 (Black Ferns Sevens)
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe – 256 (Black Ferns Sevens)
Maddison Levi – 246 (Australia)
Amee-Leigh Costigan – 203 (Ireland)
Charlotte Caslick – 187 (Australia)
All Blacks Sevens Struggle to Seventh
This was one of those tournaments where nothing seemed to go right. The All Blacks Sevens finished seventh, yet still scored 101 points while conceding only 70. Remarkably, in the SVNS this season, 57 of the first 100 matches (up to France v Argentina) have been decided by a converted try or less.
The start against eventual Cup finalists Spain was positive, with a quick 10–0 lead. Kitiona Vai broke away from halfway and Regan Ware followed with another try. But as the match wore on their accuracy slipped. Spain, showing their experience, fought back. With 66 tournaments between them, Manu Moreno and Eduardo Lopez scored tries near the posts, giving Spain their seventh win in 26 matches against New Zealand.
Ware was injured during the warm-up before the match against Great Britain, but there was good news with the return of Roderick Solo from Scots College and Oriental-Rongotai in Wellington. Solo had missed two years because of a serious ACL injury. His last big tournament was in 2023, when he was named Player of the Final in Toulouse after scoring the winning try against Argentina.
In the 29–5 win over Great Britain he scored a try and set up another for Sam Clarke from Paremata-Plimmerton. Captain Tone Ng Shiu was productive with two tries, but a reckless tackle led to a red card and a three-game suspension.
Without their captain, New Zealand succumbed to South Africa 17–12. The Blitzboks raced to a 17–0 lead, getting their third try after frantic play four minutes into first-half extra time. Siviwe Soyizwapi scored his 160th SVNS try. Tristan Leyds, Sebastiaan Jobb and Shilton van Wyk have played a combined 52 tournaments and are world-class.
Akuila Rokolisoa, back from a red card suspension in Perth, created New Zealand’s best try of the event with an exhausting surge and cross-kick to find Frank “The Tank” Vaenuku. Mistakes in passing and at the breakdown hurt the All Blacks Sevens, and a South African ruck turnover ended the match.
New Zealand blew a 14–0 lead and lost a 5 v 8 semi-final to Argentina 24–21. There was initial briskness and connection with Clarke, who unselfishly passed to Collier when over the line to achieve a touchdown closer to the posts.
However, shoddy handling and restart wobbles were soon punished by the Pumas. World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year Luciano Gonzalez scored two tries, his second with dribbling that Messi would be proud of, to close the deficit to two. Captain Santiago Alvarez put Argentina ahead and rookie Sebastian Dubuc finished a sweeping movement on the right wing.
The playoff for seventh, won against Great Britain 29–5, was highlighted by Rokolisoa scoring his 100th SVNS try for the All Blacks Sevens. His first, retrieving his own grubber from the British 22, took him to 99 tries before he supported a Kele Lasaqa breakout. Lasaqa delivered a skilful offload as he stumbled. The recently retired Joe Webber was the last All Blacks Sevens player to reach an SVNS century of tries.
South Africa beat Spain 38–12 in the Cup final to win their fourth title in Vancouver and their third of the current season after triumphs in Cape Town and Perth. South Africa joins Fiji at the top of the SVNS league standings on 86 points. They have won 46 of their 78 Cup finals, the third-best record behind Fiji and the All Blacks Sevens.
Spain has lost all three Cup finals they have contested. New Zealand are third on the SVNS standings with 70 points, two ahead of Australia.
