Great Britain's 7s Teams Face Highs and Lows in Perth and Singapore

Men's squad secures upset win over New Zealand but falls short against Australia, while women's team struggles to find footing in tough matches.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 6:04pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a rugby sevens match, with overlapping planes of color and shape representing the players, the ball, and the energy of the game.The intense, fast-paced action of rugby sevens is captured in a cubist-inspired illustration, reflecting the sport's dynamic nature and the close-fought battles between Great Britain and their opponents.Vancouver Today

The British rugby sevens teams faced a mixed bag of results in recent HSBC SVNS series tournaments in Perth and Singapore. The men's squad secured a notable victory over New Zealand but narrowly missed out on a win against Australia. Meanwhile, the women's team encountered difficulties, losing to Japan in the 5th-place semi-final in Perth and suffering defeats against Canada and France in Singapore. Both teams finished in 8th place overall in their respective tournaments.

Why it matters

The HSBC SVNS series is a crucial part of the rugby sevens calendar, providing opportunities for national teams to compete against the world's best. Great Britain's performances in these events offer insights into the development of their sevens programs and their ability to compete at the highest level.

The details

In Perth, the men's team defeated New Zealand 19-26 in a display of resilience, but fell just short against Australia, losing 21-24. The women's squad faced tough losses against Australia, Canada, and France, ultimately finishing 8th. In Singapore, the men's team struggled against France, New Zealand, and Australia, while the women's team was outmatched by Australia, Canada, and France. Both teams finished 8th overall in their respective tournaments.

  • The Perth 7s tournament took place on February 10, 2026.
  • The Singapore 7s tournament was held on January 31, 2026.

The players

Ciaran Beattie

Great Britain Sevens Director of Rugby, who provided insights into the teams' performances and areas for improvement.

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What they’re saying

“The women's results were tough, but we're gathering valuable insights about our players. We're making progress and aiming to build upon these steps.”

— Ciaran Beattie, Great Britain Sevens Director of Rugby

“For the men's squad, the win against New Zealand was remarkable, but we need to address our performance in the first half of our first game against France. The men's competition is fiercely competitive, with New Zealand and Great Britain both winning one game and placing 4th and 8th, respectively. This highlights the high caliber of the series. We recognize our areas for improvement, but the team's confidence remains strong as we focus on our next destination, Vancouver.”

— Ciaran Beattie, Great Britain Sevens Director of Rugby

What’s next

The Great Britain sevens teams will next compete in the Vancouver 7s tournament, where they will look to build on their experiences and improve their performances.

The takeaway

The mixed results in Perth and Singapore highlight the highly competitive nature of the HSBC SVNS series, where even the top teams face challenges. Great Britain's sevens programs are working to identify areas for improvement and maintain a positive outlook as they prepare for the next tournament in Vancouver.