Stars of HSBC SVNS 2026 celebrated in Bordeaux

The leading lights of international rugby sevens were honoured at the end of the thrilling finale to the HSBC SVNS World Championship Series in Bordeaux.

New Zealand’s Jorja Miller has been named Women’s SVNS Player of the Year for the second year in a row, while South Africa’s Tristan Leyds has been honoured with the Men’s SVNS Player of the Year award.

Following breakthrough seasons, New Zealand’s Kele Lasaqa and France’s Anaick Konyi claimed the SVNS Rookie of the Year awards.

World Rugby Chief executive Alan Gilpin said: “Congratulations to all of our HSBC SVNS Awards winners and nominees. These awards recognise the outstanding players who have inspired fans around the world with their talent, dedication and performances throughout an exceptional year of rugby sevens.

“The HSBC SVNS 2026 season has once again showcased the speed, skill and excitement that make our sport so special, with memorable moments and outstanding achievements across every event.

“As we conclude another thrilling campaign in Bordeaux, it is fitting that we celebrate the individuals who have consistently set the standard on and off the field and made such a significant contribution to the success of the global series.”

HSBC SVNS Women’s Player of the Year in partnership with HSBC – Jorja Miller

Jorja Miller of New Zealand wins Women’s SVNS Player of the Year in Partnership with HSBC at the HSBC SVNS Awards 2026 presentation at the conclusion of the HSBC SVNS World Championship Series on June 7, 2026 in Bordeaux, France. (Photo by Alex Ho / World Rugby)

Now two-time HSBC SVNS Women’s Player of the Year and third-time nominee, Miller has been in game-redefining form again, after rejoining New Zealand’s sevens set-up following a successful Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.

The 22-year-old cracked the 100-try barrier in Vancouver, reached 50 for the season on day one in Bordeaux, and was a lynchpin in the Black Ferns Sevens’ unbroken run of HSBC SVNS Series titles, which started in Perth and ran unbroken until they lost in the semi-final at the weekend in Valladolid.

Miller said of the award: “[It’s] an absolute honour to be named that once, but to get it for a second time, I’m stoked. But, honestly, all the credit goes to the girls around me. And I know it sounds a cliche, but without these girls, I wouldn’t be here and I wouldn’t be able to succeed on the world stage. So this is a team award and I’m just proud of the team.”

She added that there was no real secret sauce to her success. “Other than KFC, I’d say, I’m just really driven to be better, to be the best in the world. That motivates me every day. Being surrounded by people that want to be the best versions of themselves on and off the field drives that as well. I know I’m nowhere near where I want to be and there’s so much more to go. So I’m excited for what that looks like.”

In claiming her second Player of the Year Award, Miller held off the deserving challenges of Australia’s Maddison Levi and USA’s Ariana Ramsey.

HSBC SVNS Men’s Player of the Year in partnership with HSBC – Tristan Leyds

Tristan Leyds of South Africa wins Men’s SVNS Player of the Year in Partnership with HSBC at the HSBC SVNS Awards 2026 presentation at the conclusion of the HSBC SVNS World Championship Series on June 7, 2026 in Bordeaux, France. (Photo by Alex Ho / World Rugby)

Playmaker and finisher Leyds has pulled strings, scored vital points, and pried open defences all season, from Dubai to Bordeaux.

He has been arguably the most important figure in South Africa’s march to five titles across the HSBC SVNS Series this season so far, including four in a row between the Perth, in February, and their first-ever Hong Kong title, in the first round of the World Championship Series in April.

On receiving the award, Leyds wanted to recognise the team around him. “Credit to my squad for pushing me week in, week out in camps, even in off season and pre-season.

“When I first started out at the Sevens, I set a goal for me to be the best 10 in our system. It was quite tough to chase with the guys that started before me. But I managed to do that – and, the next season, coach Phillip came to me and said, just before the season started, ‘I hope that your goal for this season isn’t to be the best 10 in the system, but to be the best 10 in the world’.

“In that moment when he was talking to me, I said, ‘Coach, it’s my second year – I don’t know if I can reach those heights.

“Obviously the second year didn’t go the best. Now, I’m in my third year, receiving the Men’s Player of the Year award. The effort the team has put into me and the management, credit to them for creating this amazing player.”

Australia’s Henry Hutchison, and Fiji’s Vuiviawa Naduvalo were also nominated for the prestigious award.

Women’s SVNS Rookie of the Year – Anaick Konyi

Anaick Konyi of France wins Women’s SVNS Rookie of the Year at the HSBC SVNS Awards 2026 presentation at the conclusion of the HSBC SVNS World Championship Series on June 7, 2026 in Bordeaux, France. (Photo by Alex Ho / World Rugby)

France have finished on the podium three times on the road to Bordeaux – in Cape Town, Perth and Hong Kong – and La Rochelle’s New Caledonian teenage flier Anaick Konyi has been a key figure in all of their success, after being called up to the national set-up in time for the HSBC SVNS Series tournament in Singapore. It took her no time to settle and find the tryline. By the end of the tournament in Valladolid, she had crossed no fewer than 18 times.

Men’s SVNS Rookie of the Year – Kele Lasaqa

Kele Lasaqa of New Zealand wins Men’s SVNS Rookie of the Year at the HSBC SVNS Awards 2026 presentation at the conclusion of the HSBC SVNS World Championship Series on June 7, 2026 in Bordeaux, France. (Photo by Alex Ho / World Rugby)

Modestly, 19-year-old Kele Lasaqa recently told Rugbypass that he ‘just wanted to nail down his role’ in the New Zealand Sevens squad. This was after he had helped the All Blacks Sevens to the Dubai title, following a winless 2024/25 season; after he had scored the late try to beat Argentina in Singapore; after touching down to beat France in Perth. There are more experienced players in the New Zealand squad. But few could have had more impact.

Women’s SVNS Top Try Scorer in Partnership with Gilbert

Maddison Levi of Australia wins Women’s SVNS Top Try Scorer of the Year in Partnership with Gilbert at the HSBC SVNS Awards 2026 presentation at the conclusion of the HSBC SVNS World Championship Series on June 7, 2026 in Bordeaux, France. (Photo by Alex Ho / World Rugby)

Maddison Levi won the award after touching down 64 times during the HSBC SVNS Series.

Men’s SVSN Top Try Scorer in Partnership with Gilbert

Marcos Moneta of Argentina wins Men’s SVNS Top Try Scorer of the Year in Partnership with Gilbert at the HSBC SVNS Awards 2026 presentation at the conclusion of the HSBC SVNS World Championship Series on June 7, 2026 in Bordeaux, France. (Photo by Alex Ho / World Rugby)

Marcos Moneta, who broke the 200-try mark in international sevens in Bordeaux was named Top Try Scorer, with 47 touchdowns across the season.

Women’s SVNS Dream Team of the Year in Partnership with HSBC

Jorja Miller (NZL)

Risi Pouri-Lane (NZL)

Maddison Levi (AUS)

Isabella Nasser (AUS)

Ariana Ramsey (USA)

Alycia Christiaens (FRA)

Reapi Ulunisau (FIJ)

Men’s SVNS Dream Team of the Year in Partnership with HSBC

Vuiviwa Naduvalo (Fiji), Tristan Leyds (South Africa), Henry Hutchison (Australia), Luciano Gonzalez (Argentina), Terio Veilawa (Fiji), Jeremy Trevithick (Spain), Shilton van Wyk (South Africa) win the Men’s SVNS Dream Team of the Year in Partnership with HSBC award at the HSBC SVNS Awards 2026 presentation at the conclusion of the HSBC SVNS World Championship Series on June 7, 2026 in Bordeaux, France. (Photo by Alex Ho / World Rugby)

Tristan Leyds (RSA)

Shilton van Wyk (RSA)

Jeremy Trevithick (ESP)

Henry Hutchison (AUS)

Vuiviwa Naduvalo (FIJ)

Terio Veilawa (FIJ)

Luciano Gonzalez (ARG)

The awards bring down the curtain on another captivating season of HSBC SVNS rugby, which has seen some of the greatest athletes on the planet entertain and enthral fans across the world with their exploits on the pitch, and with their vibrant personalities engaging viewers off it.