New Zealand’s Jorja Miller was named Women’s SVNS Player of the Year for the second year in a row, and South Africa’s Tristan Leyds was named Men’s SVNS Player of the Year as part of the HSBC SVNS 2026 Awards following the final event in Bordeaux.
World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin said: “Congratulations to all of our HSBC SVNS Awards winners and nominees. The HSBC SVNS 2026 season has once again showcased the speed, skill and excitement that make our sport so special, with memorable moments and outstanding achievements across every event.”
HSBC Player of the Year 2026
Jorja Miller is now a two-time HSBC SVNS Women’s Player of the Year and three-time nominee. The 22-year-old cracked 100 career tries this season and reached 50 for the season on day one in Bordeaux; she also broke the record for a season for the Black Ferns 7s.
Miller said of the award: “[It’s] an absolute honour to be named that once, but to get it for a second time, I’m stoked. But, honestly, all the credit goes to the girls around me. And I know it sounds a cliché, but without these girls, I wouldn’t be here, and I wouldn’t be able to succeed on the world stage. So this is a team award, and I’m just proud of the team.”
Other than KFC, I’d say, I’m just really driven to be better, to be the best in the world. That motivates me every day. Being surrounded by people that want to be the best versions of themselves on and off the field drives that as well. I know I’m nowhere near where I want to be and there’s so much more to go. So I’m excited for what that looks like.”
She beat Australia’s Maddison Levi and USA’s Ariana Ramsey to the award.
Tristan Leyds became the fourth South African to be crowned HSBC SVNS Player of the Year when he edged out Fiji’s Vuiviwa Naduvalo and Henry Hutchison of Australia for the top award.
He said, “When I first started out at the Sevens, I set a goal for me to be the best 10 in our system. It was quite tough to chase with the guys that started before me. But I managed to do that – and, the next season, coach Phillip came to me and said, just before the season started, ‘I hope that your goal for this season isn’t to be the best 10 in the system, but to be the best 10 in the world’.
Leyds scored 124 points (16 tries and 22 conversions) in nine events this season, which was the second highest in the squad.
SA Men’s Head Coach Philip Snyman said, “He joined us over two years ago and has quickly grown into a senior player, someone who worked really hard to upskill himself to the demands of sevens rugby, while also remaining a positive squad member.
He is a worthy winner. I played with all three previous winners, Cecil Afrika, Werner Kok, and Seabelo Senatla, and coached Tristan. He is right up there with the best.”
Mr Mark Alexander, President of SA Rugby, “His ability to ignite the rest of the squad was something to behold, but rugby is a team sport and I’m sure Tristan will be the first to give credit to his team-mates – the Blitzboks had a great season and we can’t wait for the next series to start, with our HSBC SVNS Cape Town one of the first stops in the new season.”
SVNS Rookie of The Year 2026
New Zealand’s Kele Lasaqa and France’s Anaick Konyi won SVNS Rookie of the Year awards.
Konyi comes from La Rochelle’s and has been a key figure for France this season after being called up to the national set-up in Singapore. By the end of the tournament in Valladolid, she had scored 18 times.
19-year-old Kele Lasaqa helped the All Blacks Sevens to the Dubai title, following a winless 2024/25 season and played a key role for the All Blacks 7s this season.
Most Tries – HSBC SVNS Series 2026
For the women, Maddison Levi (Australia) won the award for most tries with 64 during the HSBC SVNS Series and Marcos Moneta (Argentina), who broke the 200-try mark in international sevens in Bordeaux, was named Top Try Scorer, with 47 tries this season.
Women’s SVNS Dream Team of the Year in Partnership with HSBC
- Jorja Miller (NZL)
- Risi Pouri-Lane (NZL)
- Maddison Levi (AUS)
- Isabella Nasser (AUS)
- Ariana Ramsey (USA)
- Alycia Christiaens (FRA)
- Reapi Ulunisau (FIJ)
Men’s SVNS Dream Team of the Year in Partnership with HSBC
- Tristan Leyds (RSA)
- Shilton van Wyk (RSA)
- Jeremy Trevithick (ESP)
- Henry Hutchison (AUS)
- Vuiviwa Naduvalo (FIJ)
- Terio Veilawa (FIJ)
- Luciano Gonzalez (ARG)
Sevens Rugby News 2026
- South Africa Men and Australia Women Crowned HSBC SVNS World Champions 2026.
- Asian International Rugby Tournaments 2026.
- HSBC Rugby Premier League Season 2 Adds Four Women’s Franchises: Squad Previews.
- Ultimate Sevens Confirms Teams.
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