Argentina crowned 2024 SVNS League winners
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The regular HSBC SVNS season concluded in Singapore as Argentina were crowned SVNS League Winners 2024 and New Zealand edged Ireland 17-14 to clinch the Singapore title.
Los Pumas Sevens scrapped their way to a 14-10 win over South Africa in the fifth-place playoff, coming back from 0-10 down at the break to secure their first-ever series win.
As Argentina’s celebrations began, it was the All Blacks Sevens who clinched the title in Singapore, defending their trophy from last year and taking their second consecutive series gold.
The race for the last Grand Final spot was eventually won by Great Britain after a 26-5 victory over Australia in the bronze medal match. The USA had held off a French fightback to win 19-17 in the seventh-place playoff, but GB’s win saw them snatch the eighth seeding away.
Argentina crowned League Winners
It was an emotional moment when Argentina finally confirmed themselves as this season’s League Winners, a last-minute winner from Tobias Wade under the posts confirming the title that looked so firmly in their grasp after three wins in the first four tournaments of the season, but became less certain after slip-ups in Los Angeles and Hong Kong.
“It’s been such a long time. So many moments, good and bad moments,” reflected Argentina’s Gaston Revol, who debuted for his country back in 2009, on winning the SVNS title.
“The journey was really difficult. We kept on trying, kept on training, kept on believing in this team and I think we have the prize that we deserve.
“It’s incredible to be here at this moment. Here and in every other tournament at my age, I’m 37 years old and I’m still here with these guys, these great players.”
Trailing South Africa at the break, Revol spoke of what it took for his team to come back for the victory.
“This is our team – this is us,” he said. “In the difficult moments we get together and do things like winning the match.
“(At half-time) one of the guys said in the (huddle) that we could, that we have to trust, and we did that,” he added. “We started to believe.”
New Zealand edge Ireland
Two first-half tries from Leroy Carter and Fehi Fineanganofo took New Zealand into a 12-0 lead before Ireland had their first threatening attack, but the men in green managed to cross for one of their own just before the break through Gavin Mullin for a 12-7 halftime score.
A tense second half was eventually broken by Dylan Collier sniping at the ruck for New Zealand’s third, but Harry McNulty, who missed his tackle on Collier to concede a minute earlier, made amends with a score at the other end to make it a three-point game.
A Cody Vai knock-on gave Ireland one final chance, but Ireland were left bridesmaids in a final for a third time as Tone Ng Shiu came up with the crucial turnover at the breakdown.