Emirates Dubai 7s 2025 – SVNS Division 1 Team Guide
rugbyasia247
Posted On November 28, 2025
From 29-30 November 2025, the HSBC SVNS Series 2025-2026 gets underway with another new format this season at The Sevens Stadium for the Emirates Dubai 7s 2025, and we take a look at the squads for the SVNS Division 1 teams.
The South African Blitzboks have won six tournament victories out of eight in Dubai (even though they did lose the title last year as Fiji beat Spain in the Cup Final), while the Australian women, dubbed ‘Queens of the Desert’, have won there five times in a row, beating New Zealand in the Cup Final in 2024.
Feature Photo – Women’s and men’s team captains pose with Brett Robinson, World Rugby Chair, and Alain Gilpin, World Rugby Chief Executive for a photo prior to the 2025 Emirates Dubai 7s at The Sevens Stadium on November 26, 2025 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Alex Ho / World Rugby)
Emirates Dubai 7s Festival Director (and former England player) Mathew Tait said: “With so many Women’s Rugby World Cup stars returning to the HSBC SVNS stage, this year’s Emirates Dubai 7s will be a showcase of world-class talent. Dubai sets the tone for the global series, and fans can expect thrilling matches, incredible music, and an electric atmosphere.”
There are more than 40 players who could make their HSBC SVNS debut this weekend.
The SA men and the NZ Women are the Series defending champions. You can follow the results and fixtures of the SVNS Division 1 on the official SVNS Series website.
HSBC SVNS Core Teams 2025 – Emirates Dubai 7s 2025 Squads
Women’s Specific Rugby Ball to be Trialled?
Also, we should note, there is (at the time of publishing) a cryptic photo of a “Women’s specific ball” listed by World Rugby – and we assume a 4.5-sized ball is going to be trialled at the Dubai 7s – every report we have previously seen, and players spoken to didn’t want a different-sized ball?
You can see more from the media announcement from World Rugby here.
World Rugby listed a ‘Women’s specific ball’ – do female players want this?
Women’s 7s Teams
Australia Women
Rugby Australia said, “The Tim Walsh-coached side comes into the series opener with arguably one of the strongest sides the program has ever assembled, with key stars returning from injury in Madison Ashby and Kaitlin Shave.”
Maddison Ashby completes her return from injury, having been sidelined since 2024’s Singapore Sevens and has been appointed co-captain of the Australian women’s 7s side.
Ashby said of Emirates Dubai 7s 2025, “Dubai is probably one of the main tournaments that we always strive for, especially through pre-season. We pride ourselves on working hard and having a huge work ethic. We’ve had a good pre-season prep, and I feel ready leading into Dubai.”
The other co-captain, Isabella Nasser, added, “We go into every tournament process based, we go to every tournament to win…We love Dubai, we love the heat, we love how fast the games are. If I’m completely honest, we haven’t really mentioned it too much, the six-peat.”
Faith Nathan was the Shawn Mackay Award winner for Women’s Sevens Player of the Year last season and is in the squad alongside stars Madison Levi and Teagan Levi. Charlotte Caslick is absent due to personal reasons.
- Amahli Hala – 2 events
- Faith Nathan – 32 events
- Mackenzie Davis – 6 events
- Teagan Levi – 25 events
- Madison Ashby (c) – 25 events
- Kaitlin Shave – 8 events
- Tia Hinds – 20 events
- Isabella Nasser (c) – 17 events
- Maddison Levi – 26 events
- Heidi Dennis – 6 events
- Bienne Terita – 16 events
- Ruby Nicholas – 10 events
- Sariah Paki – 36 events
New Zealand Women
For the first time in a very long time, it’s a Black Ferns 7s team without Sarah Hirini or Michaela Brake (both announced their pregnancies), or Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, who retired from 7s after the Paris Olympics.
It’s still a team that packs a punch with Risi Pouri-Lane captaining the Black Ferns Sevens, and SVNS Series Women’s Player of the Year Jorja Miller appointed vice-captain for the first time.
Other regulars are: Stacey Waaka, Mahina Paul, Theresa Setefano, Maia Davis, Alena Saili, Jazmin Felix-Hotham, Jaymie Kolose, Kelsey Teneti and Katelyn Vahaakolo. Olie Watherston is the team’s travelling reserve.
RWC 2025 breakout star Braxton Sorensen-McGee will make her debut on the HSBC SVNS Series, though, and considering the teams she carved up when facing 15 players, she will be one to watch when only facing 7s players! She is the World Rugby Breakthrough Player XV award winner.
Experienced Head Coach Cory Sweeey has also selected Blues player Danii Mafoe as the second debutant in the group, looking to topple the Australians from the Dubai perch.
Neither Manaia Nuku nor Le-Oxeayn Maiu’u were available.
- Jorja Miller (VC)
- Stacey Waaka
- Mahina Paul
- Risaleaana Pouri-Lane (C)
- Theresa Setefano
- Maia Davis
- Alena Saili
- Jazmin Felix-Hotham
- Braxton Sorensen-McGee*
- Danii Mafoe*
- Jaymie Kolose
- Olive Watherston (Travelling reserve)
- Kelsey Teneti
- Katelyn Vahaakolo
*Denotes potential Black Ferns Sevens debut
Canada Women
Head Coach of Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team, Jocelyn Barrieau, has selected Canada’s travelling 14-player squad. She said, “All the players and staff are excited to begin the sevens season this week in Dubai. Since we assembled for camp earlier this month, there has been a lot of work put in to make sure we start the season strong.
Last year was about solidifying our foundations and showing the world that we are one of the top teams in the series. Now we must continue to build on our successes and learn from the challenges we face as we frame our 2025-2026 season.”
The Emirates Dubai 7s 2025 squad includes 7 players from the team that won the bronze medal at last season’s HSBC SVNS World Championship: Breanne Nicholas, Carissa Norsten, Carmen Izyk, Savannah Bauder, Asia Hogan-Rochester, Charity Williams and Larah Wright. Hogan-Rochester is the only player in the squad who also helped Canada capture a silver medal at the Rugby World Cup 2025.
Ivy Poetker and Kennedi Stevenson could make their debut in Dubai.
Carissa Norsten is selected to captain the side. Barrieau said, “She is the perfect fit to be a captain and leads by example. I am so happy to be working with her and this group moving forward to see how far and how high we can reach.”
- Breanne Nicholas (Blenheim, ON) – Kent Havoc RFC
- Savannah Bauder (North Vancouver, BC) – University of British Columbia / Capilano RFC
- Charity Williams (Toronto, ON) – Markham Irish / University of British Columbia
- Carmen Izyk (High River, AB) – Foothills Lions / Queen’s University / RCTPM
- Krissy Scurfield (Canmore, AB) – University of Victoria
- Eden Kilgour (Barrie, ON) – Westshore RFC / University of Victoria
- Carissa Norsten (Waldheim, SK) – Kirin RWC / University of Victoria
- Adia Pye (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers / University of British Columbia
- Asia Hogan-Rochester (Toronto, ON) – Toronto Nomads / Westshore RFC
- Kennedi Stevenson (Georgetown, ON) – Brantford Harlequins
- Larah Wright (Calgary, AB) – University of Victoria
- Monique Coffey (Dauphin, MB) – Scion Sirens
- Ivy Poetker (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Rams
- Pamphinette Buisa (Gatineau, QC) – Ottawa Irish
USA Women
The USA Women’s Head Coach remains Emilie Bydwell, and she said, “As we enter the ‘framing year’ of our LA Olympic quad, our focus is clear: execute an effective, adaptive, and innovative game model that maximises our unique strengths and positions us to win the future game.
The 2025 season gave us a deeper understanding of the player group we’ll take to LA, along with valuable insight into how the global game continues to evolve.”
Bydwel added that in 2026, there is additional financial support from the Michelle Kang donation, which has allowed them to bolster their staff. Tony Roques joins as Assistant Coach after most recently serving as Head Coach of the GB Men’s program, Charlie Purdon joins as Technical & Individual Development Plan Skills Coach, while USA Eagle and Rio 2016 Olympian Ben Pinkelman joins as Support Coach
The team is captained by Kristi Kirshe, and experienced players include Spiff Sedrick, Ariana Ramsey, and Sarah Levy. Ashley Cowdrey (made her debut at last season’s LA SVNS) and returning from injury is Kaylen Thomas.
It’s a new season, and although last season we saw record numbers of debuts across the Series, USA sevens debutants lining up for Dubai are Nalu Liufau and Tahna Wilfley (recent Jr Pan Am Games players), Erica Coulibaly (played at Rugby World Cup 2025).
Fijiana 7s
The Fiji Women’s 7s team is under Head Coach Richard Walker, who said, “We had a couple of goals last season, one of them was to finish in the top eight by the end of the World Series. We finished seventh, which was a real achievement for the girls.”
Walker said of the work-ons for this season, “We know Fijians are natural attackers, we’re not taking that away from them. But we need to focus on defence, winning the ball back, and then letting them do what they do best: attack.”
They are one of a number of new teams to bring in new talent and develop their players. “We’ve brought in players like Buna, Milika, Losana, and Farasika. Their work ethic and skills have really impressed us. They’ve returned to the program stronger, and it’s exciting to see their progress.”
Japan Sakura 7s
Japan Women’s Head Coach, heading into her second season after a successful campaign last season in which the team reached their first SVNS Series Cup Semifinal and secured a top-8 finish overall, Yuka KANEMATSU has selected a team full of players we already know and who won the Asian Rugby Sevens Series 2025 without dropping a match.
Some players can count themselves unlucky not to be included, notably Savannah Bodman, who was a breakout on the regional 7s Series.
- Hanako UTSUMI
- Natsuki OUCHIDA
- Mei Ohtani
- Marin KAJIKI
- Chiaki SAEGUSA
- Michiyo SUDA
- Honoka TSUTSUMI
- Hana NAGATA
- Yume HIRANO
- Himawari MATSUDA
- Sakura MIZUTANI
- Sakurako YAZAKI
- Harura YAMADA
- Mayu YOSHINO
France Women
Some of the key players include Carla Neisen, Lou Noël-Rivier, and Valentine Lothoz, but there is new talent in the form of Kelly Arbéy and Aelig Tregouet, said the FFR.
Head Coach Romain Huet said,” We are eager to begin this new cycle in Dubai after several weeks of intense and structured work. This stage kicks off an important season where every match and every step counts in establishing our momentum. I sense an ambitious, young, and determined group, ready to immediately compete at the highest level.”
- Kelly ARBEY (Stade Toulousain / RC Revélois)
- Alycia CHRISTIAENS (Stade Villeneuvois Lille Métropole / RC Roubaix)
- Lili DEZOU (Stade Toulousain Rugby / Grenade Sport)
- Anaïck KONYI (Stade Rochelais / RC Calédonien)
- Lilou GRACIET (Lyon OU Rugby / Gabardan AS)
- Valentine LOTHOZ (Stade Rochelais / Stade Rennais Rugby)
- Carla NEISEN (Blagnac Sporting Club Rugby / Bugue Athletic Club)
- Faustine PISCICELLI (FC Grenoble Amazones / US Beaurepairoise)
- Lou NOËL RIVIER (FC Grenoble Amazones / RC Cruassien)
- Suliana SIVI (Montpellier HR / RC Concarnois)
- Mariama TANDIANG (AC Bobigny 93 Rugby / SCUF)
- Hawa TOUNKARA (AC Bobigny 93 Rugby / SCUF)
- Aelig TREGOUET (Stade Toulousain / US Nérac)
- Léa TROLLIER (Lyon OU / RC Donatien)
Great Britain Women 7s
Only two players in the squad have HSBC SVNS experience. Katie Shillaker and Eloise Hayward.
- Hanna Marshall
- Katie Shillaker
- Abigail Pritchard
- Eva Wood
- Nia Fajeyisan
- Hollie Williamson
- Courtney Greenway
- Ashton Adcock
- Solana Shaw de Leon
- Jorja Aiono
- Joia Bennett
- Ellen Scantlebury
- Eloise Hayward
Men’s 7s Teams – Emirates Dubai 7s 2025
South Africa Men – Blitzboks
Blitzbok head coach Philip Snyman has selected 11 players who were involved in their season-ending HSBC SVNS World Championship victory in Los Angeles for the 2026 HSBC SVNS opener in Dubai
Impi Visser takes over the captaincy from Selvyn Davids, who will share vice-captain responsibilities with Zain Davids in
Snyman said of having Christie Grobbelaar (played for the Sharks in the URC) and Donavan Don (Currie Cup) in the squad, “Playing in the Vodacom URC is a very high level of rugby, so I am happy to have Christie back, and Donavan was just outstanding in the Currie Cup.
They slotted back in very well, so I am expecting them to provide some magic in Dubai.”
The Blitzboks Head Coach added, “We are lucky that we have some serious talent coming through, and my plan is to give several new players opportunities this season. The 2028 Olympics seem a long way off, but the long-term planning for that is already in action. I plan to rotate the players in the opening six tournaments, and once we hit the three tournaments in the World Championship Series, I will look at consolidating the squad.”
Experienced player and former captain Ryan Oosthuizen (56 world series tournaments and 46 tries) said, “The format has changed for this season, and it is going to be a dog fight. With only the best eight teams playing, every match will have the intensity of a final, and one can expect every match, from the first one in the pool, to be very competitive. We will have to be spot on in our execution from the first minute.”
Gino Cupido, Quewin Nortje, Siviwe Soyizwapi and Masande Mtshali were unavailable due to injury.
#1 Christie Grobbelaar – 23 tournaments, 170 points (34 tries)
#2 Ryan Oosthuizen – 56 tournaments, 230 points (46 tries)
#3 Impi Visser (captain) – 46 tournaments, 225 points (45 tries)
#4 Zain Davids – 53 tournaments, 245 points (49 tries)
#5 Ricardo Duarttee – 19 tournaments, 296 points (23 tries, 89 conversions, 1 penalty goal)
#7 Ronald Brown – 20 tournaments, 425 points (43 tries, 105 conversions)
#8 Selvyn Davids – 42 tournaments, 737 points (96 tries, 126 conversions, 1 penalty goal)
#12 Shilton van Wyk – 27 tournaments, 260 points (52 tries)
#13 Mfundo Ndhlovu – 19 tournaments, 125 points (25 tries)
#15 Donavan Don – 9 tournaments, 59 points (11 tries, 2 conversions)
#19 David Brits – 9 tournaments, 40 points (8 tries)
#21 Zander Reynders – 6 tournaments, 15 points (3 tries)
#24 Tristan Leyds – 11 tournaments, 132 points (16 tries, 26 conversions)
New Zealand Men
New Zealand are looking to win the team’s first Emirates Dubai 7s title since 2018, a tournament that the Blitzboks have dominated.
All Blacks Sevens Men’s Head Coach Tomasi Cama has selected three potential debutants for Dubai: Kele Lasaqa, Riley Williams, and Fletcher Morgan.
Veteran Tone Ng Shiu will captain the team, and he is set to make his 50th international sevens tournament appearance. Sione Langi Joseph Molia, and Dylan Collier as vice-captains.
The side includes Brady Rush, Akuila Rokolisoa, Jayden Keelan, Robert Rush, Regan Ware, Frank Vaenuku and Sofai Notoa-Tipo have been named.
They will be without the injured Michael Manson, Ngarohi McGarvey-Black, Roderick Solo and Joey Taumateine.
2 – Brady Rush
3 – Tone Ng Shiu (C)
4 – Akuila Rokolsioa
5 – Dylan Collier (VC)
15 – Jayden Keelan
18 – Sione Langi Joseph Molia (VC)
22 – Robert Rush
41 – Kele Lasaqa *
64 – Regan Ware
75 – Frank Vaenuku
81 – Sofai Notoa-Tipo
89 – Riley Williams *
97 – Fletcher Morgan *
*Denotes potential All Blacks Sevens debut
Australia Men
James Turner won the Shawn Mackay Award for Men’s Sevens Player of the Year last season, while Dietrich Roache, who suffered a season-ending knee injury just before the Dubai Sevens last season, is also in the squad.
They are without co-captain Henry Paterson (out for the season), Michael Icely and James Turner, who all suffered pre-season injuries – the latter two will miss the first four rounds of the campaign.
Three debutants have also been included in a group for the opening leg of the new season: Harry Wilson, Will Cartwright and Ethan McFarland.
Head Coach Liam Barry said, “We are looking forward to the 2025/2026 season and have a new-look squad with three debutants in Dubai.”
- Henry Hutchison (c) – 59 events
- Ben Dowling – 21 events
- James McGregor – 2 events
- Dietrich Roache – 28 events
- Josh Turner – 37 events
- Will Cartwright – debut
- Ben Dalton – 9 events
- Maurice Longbottom – 48 events
- Jayden Blake – 6 events
- Aden Ekanayake – 7 events
- Ethan McFarland – debut
- Harry Wilson – debut
- Wallace Charlie – 1 event
Fiji Men
Fiji Head Coach Osea Kolinisau said, “The boys know what is expected. We have to give this opening tournament and the rest of the tournaments our best if we are to continue to set the pace of the sevens game.”
The team includes four players from Malolo who won the Skipper Cup. The Coach said, “These boys have brought in a breath of fresh air; they have speed and skills that will contribute a lot to the whole team and are good for the rest of the squad who will continue to work hard to maintain their place.”
Spain Men’s 7s
Spain’s Head Coach Paco Hernández hoped to build on a very impressive past two seasons. They have mostly an unchanged squad, with only one debutant, Gabriel Rocaries, selected for the opening two rounds.
The captain is Juan Ramos, with the squad including Enrique Bolinches, Roberto Ponce, Jaime Manteca, Paco Cosculluela, Edu López, Antón Legorburu, Jeremy Trevithick, Pol Pla, Tobías Sainz-Trápaga, Ángel Bozal, Josep Serres, and Manu Moreno.
France Men
The French Men’s 7s side has experienced players (Paulin Riva, Stephen Parez-Edo Martin, Jordan Sepho, and Antoine Zegdar as well as emerging talent (Enahemo Artaud, Liam Delamare, Simon Désert, and Luca Mignot)*
*For fans in Asia, one of the players selected for the French Men’s 7s used to play in Singapore for the Centaurs – Luca Mignot.
Head Coach Benoit Baby said via FFR, ” There’s a lot of impatience within the group to finally get started this new season and face the reality of the pitch. Dubai will allow us to validate the initial benchmarks of a highly motivated squad. I’m convinced that this team has the energy and the mindset to lay the foundations for a solid season right from this first step.”
- Enahemo ARTAUD (FFR, Union des Bords de Marne
- )Josselin BOUHIER (Section Paloise / Stade Rochelais)
- Ali DABO (FFR / Stade Français Paris)
- Liam DELAMARE (FFR / RC Arlésien XV)
- Simon DESERT (FFR / RC Alaric)
- Merlin LEFLAMAND (US Montauban / COMN Elbeuvienne Region)
- Luca MIGNOT (RC Massy Essonne / RC St Sulpice la Pointe XV)
- Stephen PAREZ-EDO MARTIN (FFR / Paris UC)
- Célian POUZELGUES (Stade toulousain / Avenir Moissagais)
- Paulin RIVA (FFR – RC Auch / FC Auch Gers)
- Jordan SEPHO (FFR / Étang Sale Rugby Club)
- Andy TIMO (Stade Français Paris / RC Massy Essonne)
- Antoine ZEGHDAR (FFR / Monaco Rugby)
Argentina Men’s 7s
The Argentines come to Dubai with 4 debutants, but also have star quality with the likes of Marcos Moneta.
- Matteo Graziano
- Santiago Vera Feld
- Santino Zangara
- Martiniano Arrieta
- Santiago Alvarez
- Lautaro Bazan Velez
- Eliseo Morales
- Santiago Mare
- Luciano Gonzalez
- Sebastian Dubuc
- Marcos Moneta
- Joaquin Pellandini
- Valentin Maldonado Castro
GB Men’s 7s
With a turbulent time since last season and major budget cuts, the GB squad has 6 players set to make their debut in Dubai. Ethan Waddleton, with 48 tournament appearances, has nearly as many as the rest of the squad combined.
- Roan Frostwick
- Marcus Kershaw
- Matt Davidson
- Damien Hoyland
- Rory McHaffie
- Brent Jackson
- Ethan Waddleton
- Ryan Apps
- Tom Burton
- Oliver Duncan
- Joshua Radcliffe
- Charlton Kerr
- Luca Bardelli
All of the team’s squad members are also available online.
How To Watch The Emirates Dubai 7s 2025?
Depending on your region, the main tournament will be available on RugbyPassTV, while many of the other tournaments will be streamed via the tournament YouTube channels.
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