Nominees revealed for HSBC SVNS Awards 2025

Following an action-packed international series, World Rugby has revealed the shortlist for three categories of the HSBC SVNS Awards 2025: Rookie of the Year, Try of the Year, and Player of the Year, with the winners set to be presented at the final showdown in Los Angeles on Sunday, 4 May.

Stars of sevens have been shortlisted in three categories

Fans can now vote for the men’s and women’s sevens Try of the Year until Thursday, 1 May at world.rugby/awards/toty

Awards to be presented on Sunday, 4 May in Los Angeles

After seven blockbuster rounds played across seven months, the esteemed World Rugby panels have selected nominees in three categories with the eventual winners to be announced at the winner-takes-all SVNS World Championships and SVNS Series Playoffs taking place at in Dignity Health Sports Park is Los Angeles, which is also set to host the Olympic Rugby Sevens at LA 2028.

Fans can secure their place at the final weekend of action at lasevensrugby.com/2025-tickets.

This 2025 series culminated with Women’s Olympic Champions New Zealand women and reigning men’s HSBC SVNS league title holders Argentina men crowned HSBC SVNS 2025 League Winners in Singapore.

World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin said: “These awards celebrate the extraordinary talent, passion, and dedication that define our game. After a thrilling global series, we are proud to recognise the players and moments that have captured the spirit of rugby sevens and lit up the world stage.

“We look forward to honouring our nominees and crowning the winners at what promises to be an unforgettable finale in Los Angeles.”

HSBC SVNS NOMINEES 2025

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

Luciano Gonzalez – Argentina

Luciano Gonzalez delivered a standout performance in the series, emerging as the top carrier with 137 carries across the tournament, the highest of any player as well as achieving an impressive 150th try in Vancouver. At 28 years old, the Argentine powerhouse continues to be a central figure in the team’s success across the series sitting third for line breaks. Gonzalez has contributed more offloads, tackles, and steals than any other Argentine and has been named Player of the Final in three of his last nine HSBC SVNS tournaments.

Marcos Moneta – Argentina

Second nomination for the Los Pumas sevens is 25-year-old Marcos Moneta who reaffirmed his status as Argentina’s wonder boy of rugby sevens with a standout campaign having also scooped the Player of Year accolade in 2021. Returning from injury after securing his place in the Paris 2024 Olympics, Moneta wasted no time reclaiming top form. He crossed the line for 23 tries, finishing among the series’ top scorers and amassing a total of 117 points — which included eight successful conversions. Known for his blistering speed, Moneta was a constant threat, combining agility and finishing prowess to devastating effect. His return added a dynamic edge to Argentina’s attack, playing a stand-out role in their title-winning season.

Pol Pla – Spain

At 32, Pol Pla led from the front in Spain’s historic 2024/25 campaign, helping the team to a best-ever third-place finish overall. The veteran winger became the first Spaniard to reach 100 career tries, hitting the milestone during a sensational run to the final in Dubai. With podium finishes and standout performances across the season, Pla’s speed, consistency, and leadership as Captain were key to Spain’s rise as a sevens contender.

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

Thalia Costa – Brazil

27-year-old Brazilian speedster Thalia Costa had a standout series for As Yaras including becoming the third highest try scorer in the tournament, getting the ball over the line 29 times. A lightning-fast trailblazer, she made sevens history in Perth by becoming Brazil’s first player to reach 100 career tries on the Sevens circuit. Throughout the season, Costa has been a consistent presence, participating in every tournament from Dubai to Singapore. Costa’s speed and agility have been key assets for Brazil, earning her recognition as a pioneer in the series.

Maddison Levi – Australia

Levi continued to redefine greatness on the sevens stage after scooping the top accolade in 2024. Having overcome a thumb injury in Perth, Levi went on to make history in Singapore by becoming the first Australian to surpass 200 career tries, making her the all-time leading try-scorer for her country. Known for her viral tries and a game-saving tackle against New Zealand’s Teneti in Singapore that lit up social media and showcased her relentless determination. Impressively, Levi also scored over a third of Australia’s tries across the whole season.

Jorja Miller – New Zealand

The 21-year-old New Zealand sensation, has been a true phenomenon on the circuit. A key force behind the Black Ferns Sevens’ consistent success, medaling at every leg of the series and cementing their series win in Singapore. This is Miller’s second nomination for the category having also been nominated in 2024, a year that also saw her receive New Zealand Rugby’s highest individual honour, the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year—at the ASB Rugby Awards. Miller shows no sign of slowing down in 2025 as she is set to switch to 15s with her sights set on the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

HSBC SVNS Men’s Rookie of the Year

Enahemo Artaud – France

Dynamic blindside flanker, Artaud made his first appearances for France in Dubai, quickly showcasing his athleticism and composure. In just his second tournament in Cape Town, he played a pivotal role in France’s dramatic semi-final victory over Fiji, nailing a difficult conversion from out wide in the final moments to seal the win. His early performances went on to mark him as a rising force in the French sevens setup.

George Bose – Fiji

Rising star Bose has made a big impact in the 2024/25 season with his Fijian flare. After spending the previous season in the extended squad, he earned his international debut in Dubai. Bose has since cemented his place, ranking among the top 12 tacklers in the series. Bose finished the series on a high in Singapore having a big impact in the crucial semi-final against Argentina that booked their place in the final that they went on to win against Kenya.

Aden Ekanayake – Australia

Aden Ekanayake made an immediate impact in his debut for Australia in Dubai, scoring crucial tries against France and Great Britain. He continued to impress in subsequent tournaments, including Cape Town, Perth, and Vancouver. A standout moment of his career came in Perth, where he scored a dramatic injury-time try in the semi-final against South Africa, securing a thrilling victory for the hosts.

HSBC SVNS Women’s Rookie of the Year

Kahli Henwood – Australia

Following her Olympic debut, Henwood made her official World Series debut in Dubai in November and became a staple of the team. A highlight of the season came at Vancouver where she scored a crucial try in the quarter-final against Great Britain, contributing to Australia’s 28-14 victory and securing their thirteenth consecutive quarter-final win.

Vika Nakacia – Fiji

Fiji’s Vika Nakacia burst onto the international stage at 26-years-old, making her debut in Dubai with her trademark speed, slick footwork, and fearless style. She lit up the Singapore SVNS with a stunning hat-trick against Great Britain and dominated the season with a massive 116 carries, the most of any player in 2024/25.

Nia Toliver – USA

Toliver started as she meant to go on, showcasing her power and blistering pace. She made her SVNS debut in Dubai, scoring a try in USA’s opening match against Great Britain and finishing the tournament with six tries, ranking among the top scorers. Toliver truly made her mark in Cape Town, driving the Eagles to a thrilling victory over Australia to reach the final against New Zealand. Across her first two tournaments, she racked up an incredible 13 tries, announcing herself as a major force on the series.

HSBC SVNS Men’s Try of the Year

Simon Désert France v Fiji (Cape Town)
Anton Legorburu Spain v New Zealand (Vancouver)
Marcos Moneta Argentina v Australia (Hong Kong)
Vuiviwa Naduvalo Fiji v France (Dubai)

HSBC SVNS Women’s Try of the Year

Michaela Brake New Zealand v Ireland (Vancouver)
Heidi Dennis Australia v New Zealand (Perth)
Minako Taniyama Japan v USA (Vancouver)
Nia Toliver USA v Australia (Cape Town)

The winners of the men’s and women’s top tries will be determined by fan vote. Voting closes on Thursday, May 1. You can vote at world.rugby/awards/toty