The 2026 HSBC SVNS season kicked off in Singapore with a bang, but for Great Britain’s men’s and women’s sevens teams, it was a weekend of tough lessons and narrow misses. Both squads finished in eighth place, leaving fans and critics alike wondering: Could they have done more? And this is the part most people miss—despite the results, there were moments of brilliance that hint at greater potential. But here’s where it gets controversial: Did the teams truly rise to the occasion, or were they outmatched from the start?
After the festive break, the World Sevens Series resumed with Great Britain facing off against some of the toughest competitors in the sport. The men’s team showed glimpses of their competitive edge, particularly in a narrow defeat to Fiji, but ultimately fell short against powerhouses like South Africa and Spain. Meanwhile, the women’s squad opened their campaign against the formidable New Zealand, setting the tone for a challenging weekend that concluded with losses to Fiji and Japan.
Great Britain Sevens Director of Rugby, Ciaran Beattie, reflected on the weekend, stating, ‘It was a difficult few days for both teams, but there were standout performances from several players, including some new caps who gained invaluable experience.’ He added, ‘There’s promise in what we’ve seen, and our focus now is to convert those performances into points in Perth next week. That’s the beauty of this game—we still have five or six matches to prove ourselves.’
But here’s the bold question: Are Great Britain’s teams truly contenders, or are they still finding their footing in a fiercely competitive landscape?
Let’s dive into the results. On Saturday, 31 January, the men’s team faced Fiji, South Africa, and Spain, losing all three pool fixtures. The women’s team had an even tougher start, suffering heavy defeats to New Zealand, France, and Canada. Day 2 didn’t bring much relief, with both squads falling in their respective 5th and 7th place playoffs.
Men’s Results:
- Fiji 22-19 Great Britain
- South Africa 33-12 Great Britain
- Great Britain 14-29 Spain
- 5th Place Semi Final: Australia 26-19 Great Britain
- 7th Place Play-Off: Argentina 14-10 Great Britain
Women’s Results:
- New Zealand 64-0 Great Britain
- France 32-5 Great Britain
- Canada 52-0 Great Britain
- 5th Place Semi Final: Fiji 36-12 Great Britain
- 7th Place Play-Off: Great Britain 5-41 Japan
The squads featured a mix of seasoned players and new talent. Men’s Squad: Ross McKnight, Finlay Callaghan, Roan Frostwick, Marcus Kershaw, Matt Davidson, Brent Jackson, Fin Lloyd Gilmour, Tom Burton, Callum Woolley, Josh Radcliffe, Charlton Kerr (Captain), Luca Bardelli, and Sunni Jardine. Women’s Squad: Millie Hyett, Jenny Hesketh, Evelyn Clarke, Molly Luthayi, Katie Shillaker (Co-Captain), Abigail Pritchard, Courtney Greenway, Chantelle Miell (Co-Captain), Jojo Vosakiwaiwai, Georgie Lingham, Joia Bennett, Eloise Hayward, and Joy Okechukwu.
As we look ahead to Perth, the question remains: Can Great Britain turn their potential into victory, or will they continue to fall just short? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—are you team GB all the way, or do you think they need a major strategy overhaul? The debate is open!
