Sevens – or SVNS, as World Rugby renamed it – was revamped in 2023, introducing exciting changes like men’s and women’s teams competing on the same tour, at the same venues throughout the series.

Both teams also received equal participation fees and the series was cut from 11 locations to eight and the number of men’s core teams from 15 to 12. 

While the changes introduced a highly competitive overall series, New Zealand and Australia women entered the final leg in Singapore tied on points, as Argentina men scraped past Ireland men by two points, following seven rounds of action, to finish top of the standings.

There are, however, some growing pains.

Jorja Miller of New Zealand is tackled by Madison Ashby of Australia on day three of the HSBC SVNS Singapore on 5 May 2024. (Photo: Yong Teck Lim / Getty Images)

The eighth and final leg of the series in Madrid, to be held from 31 May to 2 June, is set to be the “winner-takes-all” Grand Final, as announced by World Rugby in 2023:

“Under the new HSBC SVNS 2024 model, seven regular-season events take place – in Dubai, Cape Town, Perth, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Hong Kong – resulting in regular season League Winners being crowned in Singapore before a ‘winner-takes-all’ Grand Final in Madrid on 31 May to 2 June that will determine the HSBC SVNS champions.”

The top eight teams will compete for overall glory in the Grand Final while the teams that finished ninth to 12th will compete for core status in next year’s world series against four other Challenger series teams.

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This means that the Blitzboks, who finished seventh overall for a second consecutive year, will still have a chance at overall glory.

For context, the Springbok Sevens failed to reach the semifinals in all but one leg of the world series – the first one in Dubai in December, which they won.

It would be almost an embarrassment for the Blitzboks to win a one-off tournament and be the overall champions.

Tobias Wade of Argentina is tackled by Gavin Mullin of Ireland in their quarterfinal at the HSBC SVNS Singapore on 4 May 2024. (Photo: Yong Teck Lim / Getty Images)

Tomas Elizalde of Argentina runs with the ball against Kitiona Vai (left) and Dylan Collier of New Zealand in a pool match during the HSBC SVNS Singapore on 3 May 2024. (Photo: Yong Teck Lim / Getty Images)

Winner-takes-some

World Rugby though has seemingly, although belatedly, realised the absurdity of it.

Despite no formal announcement of the introduction of a “league winners title”, one was handed out to and duly celebrated by Argentina men and New Zealand women.

That does, however, take away some of the meaning from the “winner-takes-all” title to be contested in Madrid. The winner of that tournament will at least take some, but the respective men’s and women’s teams that have been strongest throughout the season will deservedly take most.

SVNS League winners Argentina and New Zealand celebrate with their respective trophies at the HSBC SVNS Singapore on 5 May 2024. (Photo: Yong Teck Lim / Getty Images)

Springbok women

The Springbok women, who competed in the world series for the first time in nine seasons, had a tough reintroduction to the circuit – they were the benefactors of the series increasing from 11 teams to 12.

They had a commendable highest-place finish of fifth in Los Angeles, but their inconsistency meant they finished last on three occasions.

Their final league position of 11th means they will be one of the sides competing in the promotion and relegation section at the “Grand Final” in Madrid. DM