Black Ferns Sevens captain breaks silence after Australia snatch SVNS title in Bordeaux

New Zealand’s Black Ferns Sevens fell short of the 2026 HSBC SVNS World Championship after losing 26-19 to Australia in the Bordeaux Cup Final, a match that effectively decided the season title on the final day of the circuit. Captain Risi Pouri-Lane has since spoken openly about the pain of the defeat, writing on social media: “The hurt is real.”

The result was a cruel ending to a dominant season. New Zealand won six of nine tournaments on the SVNS circuit, including an unprecedented four-peat at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, and entered Bordeaux sitting second in the overall standings. Had they beaten Australia in the final, they would have claimed the World Championship on match points differential.

At Stade Atlantique, Heidi Dennis broke the deadlock for Australia in the fourth minute before Manaia Nuku levelled for New Zealand. Co-captain Isabella Nasser then sent Maddison Levi over for a first-half try to give Australia the lead at the break. Katelyn Vahaakolo pulled points back for the Black Ferns Sevens early in the second half, but Faith Nathan responded immediately for the Australians, and Levi sealed the championship with her second try.

The defeat followed a difficult finish to the regular season. New Zealand had lost to Australia in the semi-finals at SVNS Valladolid and finished third there, which allowed the Aussies to enter Bordeaux in control of their own destiny.

Despite the loss, Pouri-Lane struck a defiant tone in her reflection. “We fell short of the goal,” she wrote. “But we did not fall apart. 6/9 tournaments. Not every season ends the way you hoped, but every season leaves something behind. This one left us more connected, more certain of who we are and stronger in our understanding of what it means to stand the line.”

Teammates Kelsey Teneti and Mahina Paul also shared messages in the days following the Bordeaux finale. Teneti spoke to the culture within the squad: “People often ask if the sisterhood is really what it looks like. The truth is, it’s more. It’s a legacy passed down through every mana wahine who came before us. It’s being part of something bigger than yourself. It’s knowing that no matter the result, you never stand alone.”

Australia were crowned world champions, with Maddison Levi’s brace the decisive contribution in a season-defining final. For New Zealand, the near-miss will serve as motivation heading into the next campaign, with the squad having demonstrated throughout 2025-26 that they remain the circuit’s most consistent force.