When the World Rugby Sevens World Series for the eight tier one countries resumes in Singapore on January 31, 2026, it will be interesting to see how the men’s category shapes up after a surreal second leg in Cape Town, South Africa.

Three countries namely South Africa, Fiji and New Zealand are all ties on 32 points with the chasing pack France (28), Australia (26) and Argentina (24) within striking distance. The women’s category is developing in a two-horse race between the leading pack Australia and New Zealand who have 38 points each. Japan, the surprise package, are third with 28 points while USA (26), France (22), Fiji (22) and Canada (20) remain in contention.

The men’s draw for Singapore has South Africa – winners of the second and home leg – in Pool A with Fiji, Great Britain and Spain while Pool B will be a tussle between Argentina – runners up in Cape Town – France, New Zealand and Australia. This could be a much tougher pool with each team capable of progressing after the opening day.

Opening Tournaments

This is because of how teams performed in the opening two tournaments especially in Cape Town where South Africa won despite finishing fifth in Dubai and Argentina ascending the podium after finishing eighth. New Zealand, winners in Dubai dropped to the fifth position and Australia finished seventh from second in Dubai. 

When Argentina finished eighth in Dubai, their coach Santiago Gomez Cora, who included five debutants, offered no excuses. Instead, he challenged his charges to climb out of a hole they had dug in the next tournament in Cape Town, South Africa. He had tough words especially after they were placed in Pool B with Australia, France, and Spain.

Although the team had five new players, Cora admitted:  “It’s a nice challenge for rebuilding the team. We have three years to build. It is a place we don’t want to be. We shall work hard to turn this around. We have several tournaments ahead, one this weekend and four others. We are hurt by the results but we have the desire to work.”

Unfamiliar Path

He observed this was an unfamiliar path and explained it was necessary to bring in new players. “The truth is we knew we were coming into this competition which was going to be tough because in the past we have included one or two new players. We are not looking for excuses but facing realities. Nothing was built overnight and from these places we have renounced and become strong,” Cora concluded.

The response was immediate in Cape Town. Argentina kept a clean sheet against Australia winning 36-0 before narrowly beating France 24-19 but fell 26-31 to Spain. In the semi-final, they edged out Fiji 29-21 before a close 19-21 loss to the hosts in the final. What was more important was the cumulative points collected.

His opposite number,  Philip Snyman who replaced Neil Powell as coach of South Africa  admitted there was a need to chart a new path. “One of the main aims for this season is to expand our selection base with the eye on the 2028 Olympics. Our squad is ageing and we need to adapt to that,” he told SA Rugby Magazine.

Bumpy Start

The bumpy start inspired South Africa to the podium emerging from a tough Pool A where they edged out Fiji 24-21, New Zealand 19-14 before blanking Great Britain 41-7. In the cup semi-finals, South Africa overcame France 22-17 to book a date with Argentina. It will be interesting to see if Argentina and South Africa can maintain their winning streak in Singapore.

In the women’s category, a rivalry between Australia and New Zealand continues after both teams won one of the two tournaments. Only a difference in points separates the teams ahead of the third leg in Singapore with the chasing pack of Japan, USA, France, Fiji, and Canada ready for any slip up. 

Singapore Sevens Draw

Men

Pool A: South Africa, Fiji, Great Britain, Spain.

Pool B: Argentina, France, New Zealand, Australia. 

Women

Pool A: Australia, USA. Japan, Fiji. 

Pool B: New Zealand, France, Canada, Great Britain.

Cape Town Results

Women

Pool A: Fiji 7 USA 15, New Zealand 38 Great Britain 10, Fiji 40 Great Britain 0, New Zealand 38 USA 12, USA 31 Great Britain 17, New Zealand 31 Fiji 19. 

Pool B: Japan 26 Canada 19, Australia 41 France 0, Japan 19 France 29, Australia 26 Canada 19, Canada 12 France 31, Australia 36 Japan 5. 

Cup Semi Finals: New Zealand 19 France 7, Australia 34 USA 7; Play-off: France 15 USA 12; Final: New Zealand 12 Australia 26.

Fifth Place Semi Final: Fiji 14 Canada 33, Japan 25 Great Britain 7; Play-off: Canada 10 Japan 12..

Seventh Place Play-Off: Fiji 43 Great Britain 7.

Overall standings: Australia 38, New Zealand 38, Japan 28, USA 26, FRance 24, Fiji 22, Canada 20, Great Britain 12.

Men

Pool A: New Zealand 29 Great Britain 12, Fiji 21 South Africa 24, Fiji 21 Great Britain 17, New Zealand 14 South Africa 19, New Zealand 5 Fiji 35, South Africa 41 Great Britain 7.

Pool B: France 19 Spain 14, Australia 0 Argentina 36, France 19 Argentina 24, Australia 17 Spain 19, Spain 31 Argentina 26, Australia 10 France 29. 

Cup Semi Finals: South Africa 22 France 17, Argentina 29 Fiji 21; Play-off: France 19 Fiji 26; Final: South Africa 21 Argentina 19.

Fifth Place Semi Final: New Zealand 28 Australia 21, Spain 10 Great Britain 29; Play-off: New Zealand 27 Great Britain 12.

Seventh Place Play-Off: Australia 24 Spain 17.

Overall standings: South Africa 32, Fiji 32, New Zealand 32, France 28, Australia 26, Argentina 24, Great Britain 18, Spain 16.