Fiji ends long title drought with cup final win over Spain in HSBC SNVS final

By Priscilla Jepchumba

The Dubai Sevens kicked off the 2025 HSBC SVNS season with an electrifying display of athleticism and skill as Australia and Fiji emerged victorious in their respective finals. The Australian women’s team took on New Zealand in a thrilling game that left fans on the edge of their seats.

Australia, aiming for its fifth title in Dubai, started the game with an explosive performance. Faith Nathan showed her agility by deftly evading defenders and scoring an early try, shortly followed by Teagan Levi’s remarkable try which increased Australia’s lead to 14-0.

However, New Zealand refused to give in. Led by the fierce determination of Jorja Miller and Risi Pouri-Lane, they pulled off a comeback and reduced the score to 21-12 by half-time. In the second half the Black Ferns stormed forward after Theresa Fitzpatrick and Manaia Nuku scored crucial tries and briefly took the lead, which had the crowd cheering.

But Maddison Levi, who was named the best player of the tournament, seized the decisive moment of the game. By intercepting a pass, she got to the try line, not only securing victory for Australia but also scoring her record-breaking 15th try of the tournament.

Captain Isabella Nasser praised her team’s performance and said: “I’m kind of at a loss for words. I’m proud of the girls,” adding, “The best is yet to come.”

Meanwhile, Fiji broke a long title drought in the men’s final, a moment fans had been eagerly awaiting. The team showcased their skills throughout the tournament, defeating strong competitors such as France and Argentina to reach the final against Spain.

Although Spain captain Pol Pla struck first, Fiji responded decisively. Attempts from Filipe Sauturaga, Jeremaia Matana and the electrifying Viwa Naduvalo have turned the tide and demonstrated Fiji’s resilience. Even when yellow cards tested their composure at the end of the game, the team held firm and claimed their first cup final win since 2022 and their first title in Dubai since 2016.

Spain, who caused a stir with their first appearance in the cup final, proved that they have a formidable presence in the sevens scene. Their journey included impressive victories over New Zealand, including a memorable semi-final victory that demonstrated their growing competitiveness. Despite the loss to Fiji, their performance showed them rising quickly in the rankings.

The Dubai Sevens not only marked the start of an exciting season, but also celebrated individual milestones. Australia’s Levi set a new record for most tries in a single tournament, while Faith Nathan reached an impressive career milestone of 100 tries. As a testament to her talent, Ireland’s Aimee-Leigh Murphy Crowe also joined the exclusive club of players with 200 career tries.

With new talent emerging and exciting games ahead, this season opener sets a high bar for the next game on December 7th and 8th in Cape Town, where both Australia and Fiji will look to continue their winning ways. The excitement in the air promises more incredible rugby action as the season progresses.