South Africa's Blitzboks beat Fiji 10-7 to claim gold at the New York leg of the HSBC SVNS Series, securing the overall series title for the first phase with their fourth tournament victory out of six.
The Blitzboks defeated Fiji 10-7 in the final to win gold at the New York event, marking their fourth victory this season after successes in Cape Town, Perth, and Vancouver. This result gave them 106 log points, edging out Fiji's 104 and clinching the HSBC SVNS Series title for the initial six tournaments of the 2025/2026 season. Fiji finished no lower than third in any event but won only in Singapore. Coach Philip Snyman highlighted the team's defensive effort: “The defensive effort was something else from minute one until the last play. In the final sequence of play, Fiji created an overlap here and there, but the guys never gave up, and they could not get through.” He also praised the integration of new players, supported by seniors, to build squad depth. Star player Selvyn Davids noted: “The season is not over, but we can allow ourselves to enjoy this one, and when we come back we start fresh with the World Championships our focus.” The series now shifts to the SVNS World Championship phase over three events in Hong Kong, Valladolid, and Bordeaux, where performances will determine the overall champion. The format has faced criticism for being convoluted, with recent restructurings expanding to 13 tournaments across divisions. World Rugby states the changes aim to boost competitiveness and financial sustainability, amid challenges like programme cuts by Ireland and Great Britain due to costs.