Dubai SVNS - Round One
PREVIEW: The HSBC SVNS kicks off this weekend with a bold new format, ushering in a fresh era for the sport.
Dubai is one of six iconic stops on the global sevens circuit, where the world’s best teams will go head-to-head in a fast-paced, two-day tournament that showcases rugby at its most dynamic.
The men’s BlitzBoks will face stiff competition from Argentina, Australia, Fiji, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, and Spain, while the women’s tournament features Australia, Canada, Fiji, France, Great Britain, Japan, New Zealand, and the USA.
For Impi Visser, it will be his umpteenth trip to the Emirates Dubai Sevens – but his first as South Africa Sevens captain.
Visser is ready to lead the charge. “It will be a ‘no excuses’ weekend for us,” he said.
“We came prepared and have an experienced squad. We just need to go out and make things happen. We want to lay down a marker early and keep improving. We arrived here as the top-ranked team and we intend to prove it.”
The BlitzBoks are the most experienced team in Dubai, with a combined 339 tournament caps. They are followed by Argentina, with 331, and Spain, on 328, and Visser believes this will benefit the South Africans.
“It certainly helps to have heaps of experience, especially knowing how fast this game is and at what intensity it is played,” said the BlitzBok forward, who has scored 45 tries in his 46 HSBC SVNS tournaments so far.
“We should not be surprised by anything from our opponents or the tournament itself.”
A good start is important due to the changed format of the series, but Visser reckons there is more.
“Every match is crucial, and slip-ups will be punished, so we need to keep our standards high from the start. There are other benefits too from doing well in Dubai.
“Knowing that coach [Philip Snyman] wants to bring in some players during the season to build some depth also encourages us to do well here, as that will assist him in that aim. We are all as strong as the system, and if we support making it stronger, we will be strong as well.”
The focus is on France in their opening match on Saturday, but Visser is not oblivious to another factor that will come into play with a good performance this weekend.
“Another bonus for us, by doing well here, is that it will hopefully encourage more people to come to the Cape Town tournament next weekend,” he said.
“We would love nothing more than a stadium full of support when we get there next week, but for that to happen, we need to do our part in Dubai on Saturday and Sunday.”
This is rugby let loose. This is #HSBCSVNS 🙌 pic.twitter.com/UvmpKBRWT1
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) November 26, 2025
Day One Schedule
(Kick-off is Dubai time – GMT + four hours)
Women’s Teams
New Zealand v France (10.58)
USA v Fiji (11.20)
Australia (11.42)
Canada v Great Britain (12.04)
Fiji v France (13.59)
New Zealand v USA (14.21)
Great Britain v Japan (14.43)
Australia v Canada (15.05)
USA v France (17.05)
New Zealand v Fiji (17.27)
Canada v Japan (17.49)
Australia v Great Britain (18.11)
Men’s Teams:
New Zealand v Great Britain (12.26)
Spain v Australia (12.48)
Argentina v Fiji (13.10)
South Africa v France (13.32)
Spain v Great Britain (15.32)
New Zealand v Australia (15.54)
South Africa v Fiji (16.16)
Argentina v France (16.38)
Spain v New Zealand (19.28)
Australia v Great Britain (19.50)
France v Fiji (20.12)
South Africa v Argentina (20.34)
