(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Australia Secure Double Gold at Valladolid Sevens
Australia delivered a standout performance at the HSBC SVNS World Championship in Valladolid, winning both the men’s and women’s titles on the final day of the tournament in Spain.
Women’s team claim title after strong comeback
The Australian women’s team bounced back strongly after an earlier setback in the pool stage against the United States. They later faced the same opponents in the final and produced a dominant display to secure the championship.
Australia defeated the USA 27–14 in the final, with key contributions from Faith Nathan and Heidi Dennis, who each scored two tries.
The team had earlier produced a strong semi-final performance against New Zealand, securing a comeback win to reach the final.
Captain Isabella Nasser praised her team’s performance but emphasized the importance of continued improvement ahead of upcoming tournaments.
Men’s team also crowned champions
In the men’s final, Australia overcame South Africa 26–19 after recovering from an early 14–0 deficit.
Australia responded before halftime and carried their momentum into the second half, with tries from James Turner, Ethan McFarland, Ben Dowling, and Henry Hutchison helping secure the victory.
Hutchison said the team is showing clear progress and believes they are moving in the right direction as they continue their season campaign.
New Zealand and other results
New Zealand’s women’s team finished third after a strong 50–14 win over Canada, with Kelsey Teneti scoring five tries.
In the men’s third-place match, Argentina defeated Fiji 28–17 to secure the bronze position.
Tournament overview
The results in Spain ensured strong positions for Australia, the United States, and New Zealand in the overall HSBC SVNS series standings, maintaining their places in next season’s competition.
