After falling just short in New York, the Fiji Airways Fijian 7s squad is already shifting focus to the Championship in Hong Kong next month after a narrow 10-7 defeat to South Africa in Sunday’s final at the first-ever New York Sevens. South Africa’s men not only claimed the New York gold but used the victory to seal the overall HSBC SVNS Series title.
The loss denied Fiji a tournament crown on a weekend that proved decisive for the series. The Fijiana side also left New York disappointed, finishing fourth after dropping the third-place playoff to hosts USA. New Zealand’s women produced the other headline result, edging Australia in a dramatic final to lift another stage title in the series.
World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin hailed the New York event as a major success, underlining the significance of staging sevens in a new market. “It’s been amazing,” Gilpin said, describing the tournament in the Big Apple as a vivid demonstration of what is possible for rugby in the United States and noting players were excited to compete in an iconic city. The tournament marked New York’s debut on the SVNS calendar and drew praise from organisers and World Rugby for the occasion.
Fiji enter Hong Kong off mixed momentum. The men’s team arrived in New York with strong form from earlier legs of the season, but the 10-7 loss to South Africa — and the consequent handing of the overall series to the men in green — means the Hong Kong Championship takes on extra importance as an opportunity to reclaim silverware and momentum. The Fijiana’s fourth-place finish will also inform selection and preparation ahead of the next circuit stop.
The outcome in New York reshuffles expectations heading into the Asia leg. For Fiji’s men, who have been contenders across recent SVNS stops, the Hong Kong Championship represents a chance to respond quickly on one of the sport’s most prestigious stages. For the Fijiana, the weekend’s narrow defeats highlight the fine margins in playoff rugby and the need to convert opportunities into podium finishes as the series progresses.
With squads already being juggled and selections considered after the New York weekend, attention now turns to training camps and tactical tune-ups ahead of Hong Kong. The performances in New York — both the high of reaching finals and the sting of near misses — will shape the team talk and preparations as Fiji chases more silverware in the months ahead.
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