The 2025–26 SVNS Season Has Finished. Here's What It Means for 7's Rugby in the US
- Sarah Samaniego
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
The USA Men's Eagles Sevens just completed one of the great turnaround stories in recent sevens history: relegated out of the top tier, they won the entire SVNS 2 series, then beat Fiji 17-14 in a win-or-remain-relegated to SVNS 2 game in Bordeaux. The win punched their way back into the HSBC SVNS World Championship for 2027.
After dropping to the second tier, incoming Head Coach Zack Test and his squad went on the road from Nairobi to Montevideo to São Paulo and topped the SVNS 2 standings outright, qualifying for the World Championship's final three legs in Hong Kong, Valladolid, and Bordeaux.
Following a challenging start in the Hong Kong tournament, USA improved in Valladolid but left themselves an uphill climb in Bordeaux to qualify for Tier I. USA started 3-for-3 in pool play- beating Valladolid champions Australia, plus Spain and Uruguay. Following a tight quarterfinal loss to Spain, the Eagles were jockeying with Kenya for the final spot in Tier I. The team faced Fiji in the 5th-place playoff with promotion on the line. Down 0 - 14 with less than four minutes in the game, West Coast Alumni Lucas Lacamp's late try in the corner sealed it 17-14. Match Highlights here.
The US men's team trains together at the CVEATC in Chula Vista, California- practically in West Coast Sevens' backyard and the result is proof that the American 7's pipeline is producing real depth, not just individual talent.
The 7's pipeline starts here.
Four West Coast Sevens alums were on the USA Eagles roster in this exciting World Championship Series, including Rand Santos who debuted in Valladolid. The next wave of college and high school players chasing this exact path will be on the pitch at West Coast Sevens this fall.
2026 dates are live stay tuned for more details!
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