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Associated Press

New Zealand won the men’s and women’s finals at the season-opening HSBC SVNS Series tournament in Dubai, beating Australia in both finals on Sunday.
The men’s team weathered an Australian fightback to win 26-22, while the women’s team had a much easier time, winning 29-14.
This is not the first time New Zealand have won the double; they achieved the feat in Singapore in 2024.
New Zealand, the most successful men’s team in world series history, finished seventh last season, did not reach any finals, and there were question marks about their form ahead of the Dubai Sevens.
However, they proved any doubters wrong, going unbeaten for a first Dubai title since 2018, including knocking out defending champions Fiji 24-21 in the semi-finals.

In the final, Australia’s start was good and bad. Key playmaker Maurice Longbottom was injured in scoring the opening try and had to leave the field.
New Zealand then struck twice in one minute through Dylan Collier and Akuila Rokolisoa from a break by Tone Ng Shiu, but were still lucky to be ahead 12-5 at half-time, after the referee stopped play to review a possible foul that came to nothing just as Australia were about to score a comeback try.
Straight after half-time, Sione Molia took the ball 50 metres down the pitch to put his side 19-5 up.
Tries by William Cartwright, a Harry Wilson brace and Jayden Keelan closed Australia to within four points again but time ran out on winning their first title since Hong Kong in 2023.
Brady Rush, who was the player of the match, said: “[I’m] pretty stoked with that. It’s obviously been a while, but I’m pretty happy to get it done for our captain Tone [Ng Shiu] in his 50th tourney.
“It shows all the hard work we’ve put up in pre-season, so we’re looking forward to the rest of the season.”
Captain Ng Shiu was feeling confident about his team’s chances for the rest of the series. “It’s a great start. But, just from here, if we can be consistent with the little things, it’ll make a great difference in the big picture,” he said.
In the women’s final, New Zealand and Australia picked up where they left off last season. The teams met in five finals last season, with New Zealand only losing in Dubai.
Dropped Australia passes set up New Zealand’s first two tries for Stacey Waaka and Kelsey Teneti in the first four minutes. World sevens player of the year Jorja Miller added a converted try for a 17-0 half-time lead.
In the second half, another loose Australia pass was gathered up by New Zealand’s Risi Pouri-Lane, who made it 22-0.
Australia’s Heidi Dennis scored the first try of her brace while New Zealand’s Jazmin Felix-Hotham was sin-binned.
But the Black Ferns pulled away when Katelyn Vaha’akolo smashed Mackenzie Davis, jolted the ball loose, and Miller scored her seventh try of the tournament, tied with Australia’s Maddison Levi.
Miller, the player of the match, said: “Dubai is probably the favourite stop of the series, so to get the win over a strong Australia side, I’m so proud of the girls.
“We knew we had to [come out fast]. We knew that if we let them get an inch, they’d take it.”
The next round of the SVNS Series starts in Cape Town on Friday.


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HSBC Sevens World Series

The New Zealand men’s team weathered an Australian fightback to win 26-22. Photo: AFP

In the women’s final, New Zealand beat Australia 29-14. Photo: AFP

Sham Shui Po edge South China in Hong Kong Division 1 as players, fans back call to play on

Sham Shui Po’s players observe a minute’s silence before their Division 1 match against South China at Po Kong Village Road Sports Centre. Photo: Jonathan Wong

South China’s Rikuto Kuroda (left) tussles with Sham Shui Po’s Oscar Benavides. Photo: Jonathan Wong

About 200 fans turned up for the match between South China and Sham Shui Po. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Milan Olympic Winter Games: no backup ice hockey arena as construction goes down to wire

A view in late October of the Santagiulia Arena in Milan, where the main matches of the ice hockey tournament of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in February will take place. Photo: AP

China’s players gather around before a game at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Photo: AP

Sport

Rugby

Men and women’s teams also won the double in Singapore in 2024, tournament moves to Cape Town on Friday


Men and women’s teams also won the double in Singapore in 2024, tournament moves to Cape Town on Friday.
