Argentina and New Zealand crowned Hong Kong Sevens champions

New Zealand women and Argentina men claimed the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens titles to back up their victories in Vancouver last month and extend their leads in the HSBC SVNS 2025 standings after five rounds.

New Zealand beat rivals Australia 26-19 in another epic encounter as Jorja Miller produced two moments of magic to make it three Hong Kong titles in a row for the Black Ferns Sevens. Although she had her team-mates to thank for not only surviving but scoring during her time in the sin bin for a tip tackle.

 “We knew we had to come out for finals footie and I’m so proud of the group. We love Hong Kong and the history of it. The crowd and the atmosphere here, it gets us going, it brings out the best rugby.”HSBC Player of the Final Miller said.

Argentina added a third successive title win of the SVNS season with a 12-7 victory over France. Los Pumas Sevens made it 16 games unbeaten as they edged out Olympic champions France to win their maiden Hong Kong Sevens crown and extend their lead at the top of the series table to 12 points, ahead of Fiji.

HSBC Player of the final Marcos Moneta scored the crucial second try in the final and said: 'It’s amazing to win here, it means so much to us as Hong Kong is a really historic tournament. I got my debut here and last year I broke my fibula here before the Olympic Games, so it was a mixture of emotions. My parents decided to be here with me. These are the things I was thinking about at the anthem. It is the perfect day."

Canada claimed the women’s bronze with a 21-17 win over France while Australia beat Fiji 22-21 with a last gasp try from 19-year-old Sidney Harvey to take the men’s bronze.

The results in Hong Kong mean that all eight of the men’s teams and six of the women’s teams have already secured their places in the World Championship. The men’s teams are Argentina, Fiji, Spain, South Africa, France, New Zealand, Australia and Great Britain. The six confirmed women’s teams are New Zealand, Australia, France, USA, Canada and Japan.

New Zealand women and Argentina men continue to lead the current SVNS standings after five rounds, going in to the final regular season round in Singapore on 5-6 April. New Zealand head to the Singapore tournament with an eight-point lead over Australia while Argentina are 12 points ahead of Fiji and in pole position to become HSBC SVNS 2025 league winners.

The pools for HSBC SVNS Singapore were allocated following the Hong Kong final and produced some mouthwatering match-ups. The competition format involves four pools of three teams each, replicating the format used in Cape Town during the second round of HSBC SVNS 2025.

Olympic champions and SVNS leaders New Zealand are in women’s Pool A with Brazil and China. Reigning SVNS champions Australia will face Japan and Spain in Pool B. Pool C sees Olympic medallists Canada and the USA together with Great Britain. France, Fiji and Ireland compete in Pool D.

Men’s SVNS title favourites Argentina are in Pool A with Great Britain and South Africa. Olympic champions France will play Ireland and Kenya in Pool B. Australia, Spain and Uruguay will battle it out in Pool C. While Fiji, New Zealand and the USA are in Pool D.

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Raging wildfires in the Argentine Patagonia have blazed through nearly 12,000 hectares of scrubland and planted and native forests, threatening local communities, according to firefighting authorities in a report published Sunday.

The fires started almost a week ago in the Andean region of the Argentine province of Chubut and are putting a power plant and a school at risk as well as affecting rural properties.

The causes of the fires have not yet been established, but Chubut Gov. Ignacio Torres told journalists on Thursday there are indications that one of the biggest active fires was deliberately set.

“The wretches who started the fire are going to end up in jail,” Torres said, while announcing a reward of 50 million pesos (approximately $34,000) for anyone who provides information about the incident.

Volunteer firefighter Jorge Aranea in El Hoyo was battling to control the flames on Friday.

“It’s sad to see everything burning. And sometimes you do what you can and it’s not enough. What’s happening is terrible,” he said.

Saturday on X, Chilean President Gabriel Boric offered to help the Argentine government combat the active fire fronts.

Chief-of-staff and spokesperson for the Argentine executive branch Manuel Adorni said on Sunday that 295 firefighters have been deployed for the firefighting operation, which includes 15 aerial resources, fire engines and logistical support from the Armed Forces.

In addition to the fire in Chubut, there are active wildfires in the Patagonian province of Neuquen, according to the Federal Emergency Agency. Santa Cruz and Rio Negro have said their fires have been contained, although they remain under emergency status.

The wildfires come a year after the worst blazes in decades devastated tens of thousands of hectares in the Patagonia region, destroying dozens of homes and leaving one person dead.

Firefighting efforts have been hampered by drought conditions and strong winds, while massive columns of smoke have reduced visibility for responders.

Wildfires are common during the austral summer season due to the combination of high temperatures, strong winds and drought that prevail between December and March.

Maxi Jonas in El Hoyo contributed to this report.

Firefighters battle flames as wildfires blaze in El Hoyo, Patagonia, Argentina, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Maxi Jonas)

Firefighters battle flames as wildfires blaze in El Hoyo, Patagonia, Argentina, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Maxi Jonas)

People walk on a road as a wildfire blazes in El Hoyo, Patagonia, Argentina, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Maxi Jonas)

A firefighter walks on a road as wildfires blaze in El Hoyo, Patagonia, Argentina, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Maxi Jonas)

Firefighters stand on a truck as wildfires blaze in El Hoyo, Patagonia, Argentina, late Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Maxi Jonas)