Australia snatch SVNS World Championship title as Maddison Levi seals dramatic Bordeaux final

Australia are the 2026 HSBC SVNS World Championship winners after defeating New Zealand 26-19 in the Cup Final at Stade Atlantique in Bordeaux, completing back-to-back SVNS event titles for the first time since December 2023. Maddison Levi was named Player of the Final after a decisive individual display that included a try-saving tackle and the match-clinching score.

Both sides arrived at the final with the overall circuit title on the line, Australia entering as the top-ranked team in the standings but New Zealand capable of overhauling them with a win. The Black Ferns Sevens had earlier survived a dramatic semi-final against Canada, with Jorja Miller touching down with the final play to secure their place in the decider. Australia booked their spot with a clinical win over the USA.

The final itself lived up to its billing. Heidi Dennis broke the deadlock in the fourth minute, beating Manaia Nuku with a fend before racing more than half the length of the field to score and convert for a 7-0 lead. Nuku responded with a dummy-pass try of her own to level at 7-7, before co-captain Isabella Nasser set up Maddison Levi with a clever offload to give Australia a seven-point advantage at the break.

New Zealand refused to fold in the second half. Katelyn Vahaakolo dived over with four minutes remaining to cut the deficit to two points, setting up a frantic finish. Australia responded immediately: Kahli Henwood took the restart, beat two defenders, and found Faith Nathan out wide, whose pace proved too much for the New Zealand cover.

Vahaakolo threatened again with a long break, but Maddison Levi tracked back to make a try-saving stop before turning defence into attack, racing clear moments later to seal the championship. Levi was subsequently named to the Women’s SVNS Dream Team of the Year.