If you went to HSBC SVNS Dubai expecting polite handshakes and gentle running in the sun, you brought the wrong sunscreen. Dubai served up the sort of rugby sevens weekend where leads evaporate, yellow cards arrive like bad room service, and the trophy presentation feels less like ceremony and more like survival. When the sand settled, South Africa’s women and Canada’s men left as champions—both heading into the HSBC SVNS 2 series with shiny medals, heavier legs, and the kind of confidence you can’t buy at Duty Free.

Argentina and Belgium, beaten finalists but hardly broken spirits, will also pack their bags for Nairobi next month. Qualification to the next stage of this season’s global sevens competition is a handy consolation prize—though it probably doesn’t soothe the sting of finishing second in a place that prides itself on first-class everything.

South Africa’s women finish unbeaten and finish on top

Women’s final: South Africa take the crown in the desert

With promotion already secured, South Africa still managed to play the final as if someone had hidden the team bus behind the posts. They came from behind to beat Argentina 12–5 in an intense contest that had all the bite of a dessert menu with no water.

Argentina struck first through Maria Taladrid, cashing in early while South Africa gathered themselves. The first half also featured a moment you don’t often see written into coaching manuals: Talia Rodich shown a yellow card for an unintentional hair-pull. Sevens moves quickly—sometimes too quickly for hair to survive unscathed.

South Africa, though, don’t do panic. Soon after the restart Zintle Mpupha levelled, and then a second Argentina yellow followed, shown to Antonella Reding for a deliberate knock-on. In sevens, a deliberate knock-on isn’t just a penalty—it’s the sporting equivalent of stepping on a rake. South Africa made the extra space count, and Patience Mokone crossed late to seal it.

Earlier, South Africa had booked their final place with a commanding 36–5 win over Poland. Argentina, meanwhile, had to earn their way in, fighting back from an early deficit to beat Czechia 22–12, led by a Marianela Escalante double, to confirm promotion. No gifts, no shortcuts—just hard metres and sharper finishing.

Podium and play-offs bring the chaos (and the charm)

Third-place final: Doležilová at the double for Czechia

Czechia took third with a lively 24–14 win over Poland, and they did it with the sort of verve that makes neutral fans feel clever for showing up early. Julie Dolezilova scored twice, while Kristyna Riegertova and Kristyna Plevova also crossed. If you like your sevens brisk, bold, and slightly unpredictable, this was the one.

Play-off places: Sotos star as Colombia claim fifth

Colombia claimed fifth with a 17–0 victory over Thailand, built on three unanswered tries and the kind of defensive steel that doesn’t always get the headline it deserves. Juliana and Leidy Soto were the try-scoring stars, and Karina Michelle Bagui Prado touched down for their third.

Thailand’s finals-day energy had arrived earlier, though, with a 31–10 win over Samoa in the fifth-place semi-final—Dion Akwaja scoring two of their five tries. Colombia, however, had the sharper edge when it mattered, pushing through to finish the job.

Mexico, who had failed to register a try on day one in Dubai, found some rhythm later—scoring two in the second half of their semi-final against Colombia—but Jocelin Ruco ran in two of her own to bag a 26–10 win for the South American side.

Samoa, stung by defeats but not subdued, finished with a flourish: Lutia Col Aumua scored two of Samoa’s five tries as they claimed seventh place with a 29–0 win over Mexico. Sometimes the final word matters, even when the podium is out of reach.

Canada’s men win the final, and win the hard way

Men’s Final: Canada survive semi-final scare to claim Dubai title

The men’s final had a little bit of everything: nerves, momentum swings, and one of those early yellow cards that makes a coach stare into the middle distance and re-evaluate their life choices. Belgium’s Vincent Hart went to the bin early, and Canada pounced immediately through Lachlan Kratz.

Belgium weren’t interested in a script, though. They responded quickly via Gaspard Lalli, only for Kratz to restore Canada’s lead. Then Lalli struck again in added time to keep the contest alive at the break, ensuring the second half didn’t start as a formality.

Canada, however, came out after the restart with the composure of a team that had already stared into the abyss the day before. Jack Shaw and Ethan Turner crossed, Kratz converted three times, and the title was effectively sealed—efficient, clinical, and just ruthless enough to keep Belgium at arm’s length.

And about that semi-final: Canada had edged Hong Kong China 24–19 in a dramatic encounter that felt like a short film with too many plot twists. Thomas Isherwood scored the golden-point try after denying Adam Doane at the end of normal time. That is the emotional whiplash sevens does best—one moment you’re celebrating, the next you’re staring at a scoreboard like it’s written in a foreign language.

Samoa bounce back; Madagascar light up the bracket

Third-place final: Samoa too strong for Hong Kong China

Samoa’s promotion hopes may have taken a hit earlier, but they finished the weekend in the manner of a team determined to leave a bruise. Against Hong Kong China, they combined power and pace for a comfortable 25–5 win. Warren Solomona scored two of Samoa’s four tries, and Matthew Rickard got the consolation score for Hong Kong China.

Play-off places: Madagascar style their way to fifth

If you wanted entertainment, Madagascar delivered it by the bucket. They beat Italy 31–22 in an enthralling nine-try encounter, the sort of match that makes defenders question whether the concept of “tackling” is merely a suggestion.

Italy, to be fair, had already been through their own thriller. In the fifth-place semi-final against Tonga—who had a chance to qualify for the Cup semi-final in Saturday’s final match—the Azzurri roared back in the second half. From 26–14 down shortly after the break, they ran in three unanswered scores to claim a 28–26 win. That’s not a comeback; that’s a jailbreak.

Madagascar ensured their place in the fifth-place final with a comfortable 26–10 win over a determined and proud Colombia. And discipline cost Tonga in the seventh-place play-off against a disciplined and controlled Colombia. Two penalty tries were the difference as the South Americans won 26–21—a reminder that in sevens, you can lose a match in the time it takes to argue with a referee.

What HSBC SVNS Dubai sets up next

The scoreboard says champions crowned, but HSBC SVNS Dubai also served as a springboard. South Africa’s women proved they can absorb pressure, chase a game, and still finish with authority. Canada’s men showed they can win ugly before they win pretty—surviving a semi-final scare, then taking control when the final tightened.

Next stop is Nairobi, where Argentina and Belgium will try to turn “nearly” into “now,” and where the rest of the field will arrive with fresh video clips, fresh bruises, and the same old question: how do you stop a team that’s already learned how to win in the desert?

If Dubai is where legs get heavy, Nairobi is where ambitions get real.