China Women Fall Short of Qualification Aims For HSBC SVNS World Championship 2026

As the final leg of the HSBC SVNS Division 2 wrapped up in Sao Paolo, the Brazilian women claimed the final qualification spot by winning the home tournament, while the China Women’s 7s had their worst weekend of the three legs to fall short of qualification for the HSBC SVNS World Championship 2026. The Kenyan and Uruguayan men claimed the final men’s spots, with the Belgian men winning the third leg.

Brazil won 4 out of 5 matches and had to defeat rivals Kenya in the closing match of the weekend to secure the home title and the final qualification place, which they did 24-12. Brazil’s Camilla Carvalho scored twice in the first half, and player-of-the-tournament Thalia Costa twice in the second as the Yaras pulled off the unlikely results to earn their ticket to the three legs of the SVNS World Championship, which gets underway in Hong Kong.

South Africa Head Coach Cecil Afrika said, ““We had to dig deep, really deep, and the way our players responded was massive,” said Afrika. “They knew that it was up to them to play for the team, and it was great to see how we came back from that to finish strongly by overhauling China to end the series with a win.

“The SVNS 2 was great and so competitive. We saw last night that the very last game of the third tournament determined the fourth qualifier to go to the World Champs, and that shows how close all the teams were. There is another step up now, but as we responded every time, I’m confident we’ll do so come the next three events.”

Photo Credit – World Rugby – Brazil Women

On the men’s side of the draw, Uruguay and Kenya secured the final qualification spots, and although Belgium won the third leg, they did not advance to the three-leg HSBC SVNS World Championship.

Player of the tournament in Sao Paolo, Belgium’s Ryan Godsmark, told Rugbypass TV. “[I’m] really pleased, firstly with the result for the team and what we’ve achieved. It’s the cherry on top to be identified as the player of the tournament, but there are a lot of individuals who played well and put their hand up – I think I’m just the lucky one to be selected!”

USA Head Coach Zack Test said, “We came into SVNS 2, looking to build on our preseason. Our aim was to finish top 2 and qualify for. World Championships, so mission accomplished. I’m proud of the boys for accomplishing that as the number 1 seed. That was our goal.”

Photo Credit – World Rugby – Uruguay Men

China Women 7s Results – SVNS Division 2 Leg 3 Sao Paolo

China 17-19 Brazil 

Brazil was just behind China in the standings going into this final leg, so this felt like a minifinal. It was tied up 7-7 at halftime. China took the lead before the hosts struck back twice, and despite Gao Xiaoyang completing her hat-trick, they narrowly lost 17-19

Chinese Try Scorers: Gao Xiaoyang (4′, 9′, 15′)

China 7-26 Spain 

The already qualified Spanish beat China to further put a dent in their ambitions of reaching the final four ahead of Brazil. Spain led 12-7 at halftime and saw out the game in the second half, scoring twice more while denying the Chinese any more points.

Chinese Try Scorers: Hu Yu (8′)

Photo Credit – World Rugby

China 12-19 Argentina 

The log leaders, who the Chinese have pushed in every match in this Series to the wire, again came out on top but narrowly. China had the advantage at the break with a 12-5 lead, but the Argentines have a never-say-die attitude and turned it around, scoring the winning points in the final minute of play.

Chinese Try Scorers: Chen Ziying (3′), Gao Xiaoyang (8′)

Photo Credit – World Rugby

China 0-46 Kenya 

The Chinese knew they needed wins and had beaten Kenya in this Series, but the Africans were far too strong, inflicting one of the biggest defeats on China across the three legs. 

Kenya led 24-0 at the break and 46-0 overall, running in 8 tries – Freshia Oduor scored four of those.

Photo Credit – World Rugby

China 10-14 SA 

For the second time this weekend, the Chinese women had a lead over one of the top teams, ahead 10-0 over South Africa at halftime. But the African champions turned the game around in the second half and scored two converted tries and kept China scoreless to make it 5 losses in the final leg.

The South Africans were injury-hit and had only eight players for this final match.

Chinese Try Scorers: Chen Ziying (2′), Hua Beibei (7′)

All of the weekend’s fixtures and results can be seen here.

Final Standings – HSBC SVNS Division 2 2026

Women’s Teams

1. Argentina (Qualified) 54 points
2. Spain (Qualified) 50 points
3. South Africa (Qualified) 46 points
4. Brazil (Qualified) 42 points
5. Kenya 40 points
6. China 38 points

Photo Credit – World Rugby

Men’s Teams

1. USA (Qualified) 52 points
2. Kenya (Qualified) 50 points
3. Germany (Qualified) 48 points
4. Uruguay (Qualified) 44 points
5. Belgium 42 points
6. Canada 34 points

HSBC SVNS World Championship Series 2026

The three-tournament HSBC SVNS World Championship Series kicks off in Hong Kong on 17 April, before moving to Valladolid in May, and finishing up in Bordeaux in June.

HSBC SVNS 2 qualifiers USA, Germany, Kenya and Uruguay will join the eight main HSBC SVNS Series men’s sides – South Africa, Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, France, Argentina, Spain and Great Britain, while in the women’s competition, qualifying sides Argentina, Spain, South Africa and Brazil will line up alongside core sides New Zealand, Australia, USA, France, Canada, Fiji, Japan and Great Britain.

HSBC SVNS Division 2 Rugby News 2026

• HSBC SVNS Division 2 2026 – Leg 3 Sao Paolo Tournament Preview.
• Teams Qualify for HSBC SVNS World Championship Series From SVNS Division 2
• HSBC SVNS Division 2 2026 – Leg 2 Montevideo Tournament Preview
• Argentina Women and German men Win Nairobi Leg of HSBC SVNS Division 2 2026