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HSBC 2025 SVNS Vancouver Day 3 – Recap & Photos
Fans at BC Place witnessed two electrifying and hard-fought men’s semi-finals. In the first matchup, Argentina narrowly defeated Spain in a tense battle, with Marcos Moneta scoring the game’s only try in the ninth minute. Spain, reduced to six players, struggled to recover, allowing Argentina to secure their place in Sunday’s final.
South Africa clinched their spot in the final after a thrilling contest against Fiji, packed with non-stop action. Fiji looked to have sealed the victory with a full-length team effort grounded by Jeremaia Matana. However, despite being a player down, the Blitzboks staged a dramatic comeback with a last-minute try from Selvyn Davids, earning them a place in the final showdown against Argentina.
Having reached numerous finals before, Argentina and South Africa took to the field for their last duel of the tournament, with referee Tevita Rokovereni officiating his first final. Argentina started strong, with Luciano Gonzalez scoring twice in quick succession and Tobias Wade adding a third try. Though South Africa responded with two tries of their own, it wasn’t enough to turn the tide. Argentina held their defensive line, securing their second consecutive gold of the Series and their fourth overall in Vancouver.
Winning Captain Santiago Mare shared his thoughts after the celebrations: “We are very happy and really proud of the team for all the effort they put in. To be here, to be in a position to be in another final and win in a very tough game again against a great rival like South Africa, we are very happy and very proud.”
“We did the small things well, we have a very good defence and that was what we did well on the field and it was our difference. Our pressure and our patience showed we trusted in our system.”
Read the Day 3 Women’s Report.
The women’s semi-finals delivered unforgettable moments, including Japan’s historic first-ever Cup semi-final appearance against Fiji. Though they couldn’t advance further, the Sakura Sevens put up a brave fight against the dominant Fijians, who scored four tries to book their third Cup final spot.
Meanwhile, the Black Ferns Sevens and Australia faced off once again, with New Zealand emerging victorious in a six-try spectacle. Stacey Waaka’s hat trick helped secure their fourth consecutive final appearance in this Series and their 50th overall.
The grand finale saw Fiji take on New Zealand, marking their first-ever encounter in a Cup final on the SVNS Series. Chasing their first win against the Black Ferns Sevens—who have never lost at BC Place—Fiji faced a formidable challenge.
New Zealand wasted no time, as Risi Pouri-Lane scored the opening try in the first minute. By halftime, the Olympic Champions had surged ahead 22-0. Fiji responded in the eleventh minute with a try from Sesenieli Donu, but New Zealand maintained their dominance, closing out the match 41-7 and claiming their 39th title.
New Zealand’s Captain Sarah Hirini reflected on their achievement: “It’s amazing, we love coming here, we love the Canadian people and we’re really proud to get another win here.
“We played well as a team, we were pushed in some games but I think we just stuck to what we know and stuck to our plan. I’m just really proud of the efforts of the girls.”
Elsewhere, Spain’s men secured their second consecutive bronze medal in the Series with a 22-7 victory over Fiji, while Australia’s women ended Japan’s historic run with a 26-12 triumph.
BC Place kept the energy alive throughout the weekend. Though Canada couldn’t claim the title, they ended on a high note with a victory over the USA, backed by the roar of the home crowd. Reflecting on the weekend, Canada’s Olivia Apps shared: “It was a really fun weekend. We were disappointed we couldn’t get the result that we wanted but I think that that last game showcased a lot of this group’s talent and really what we’re capable of.
“We’re looking forward to building to Hong Kong and Singapore and we really hope we can come back and win Vancouver next year!”
Check out our favourite photos of the day below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
