The Australian Sevens teams enter 2026 full of confidence after a brilliant finish to the season.
The Women's team ended 2025 as the Cape Town champions, making it back-to-back Final appearances.
Watch every second of the SVNS World Series live and on demand via Stan Sport.
Meanwhile, the Men showed their talent in Dubai, stunning the competition on their way to the Final.
Rugby.com.au breaks down the five key talking points for the teams in 2026.
The rivalry between the Australian and Kiwi Women’s Sevens teams is eternal, continuing to kick into another gear in 2026.
The teams shape as a class above everyone else on the SVNS World Series at the current stage, splitting the opening two events of the series.
Both sides are set to get big names back, only adding to the quality they will put out on the field.
It means their heated matches between the teams will continue, with February’s Perth event a critical stop for both teams.
The jury is still out on where the Men stand compared to the rest of the World Series.
Dubai was a perfect display of Liam Barry’s side at its best, while Cape Town was a prime example of how fine the margins are on the circuit.
It’s the nature of having such a young side, with a host of talented young guns either in their first or second years of action.
If they are to compete for a title, they need to find that consistency.
2025 has unearthed a new wave of exciting Sevens talent in both Australian sides.
Mackenzie Davis leads the way from the Women’s perspective, carving out an essential role in a championship team.
Meanwhile, Will Cartwright has been the pick of the debutants throughout the first two rounds of the World Series, while Wallace Charlie has genuine X-Factor.
It’ll be interesting to see not only how their roles develop but who else gets the nod, with the likes of Rhani Hagan, Waiaria Ellis, and Cooper Watters waiting in the wings.
Injuries have always been an issue for the Men’s side, with the end of 2025 no different.
Co-captain Henry Paterson (knee) is out for the year, while Michael Icely and James Turner are yet to feature. Maurice Longbottom’s hamstring injury is also a concern, looking in significant pain after scoring a try during Dubai.
The return of Dietrich Roache has offset their absence, picking up from where he left off.
But it leaves the likes of Henry Hutchsion, James Turner, and Ben Dowling to pick up the load leadership-wise in an inexperienced squad.
The SVNS World Series ventures into new ground in 2026 with the introduction of a three-leg Grand Final.
Starting in Hong Kong, it sees the competition venture into new locations in Valladolid and Bordeaux to finish the season.
The Aussies have had mixed success with the one-leg shootout of past seasons, famously beating New Zealand after the siren in Madrid on their way to the 2024 title.
However, the new format will mean both teams need to find consistency and form at the right time if they are to claim the overall crowns.
