Fiji's Terio Veilawa scores a try during the pool A HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series men's rugby match between New Zealand and Fiji at the DHL stadium in Cape Town on 6 December 2025. Photo: RODGER BOSCH / AFP
Fiji has finished third in the men's competition in in the 2025/2026 HSBC SVNS Series Cape Town 7s leg after beating France 26-19 on Monday morning.
It was the second consecutive week the Fijians had finished third and beaten France, doing that earlier in Dubai last weekend.
Australia claimed the women's title, defeating New Zealand in the final, while South Africa retained the title they won last year in the men's competition.
Fijian heah coach Osea Kolinisau said it was not what they had wanted to achieve but they were still happy with the result.
"Obviously a lot of learning for us moving forward," he said.
"We will go back and work on what we have learned."
The two teams were tied 14-all at halftime, after scoring two tries each in the first seven minutes.
Terio Veilawa and Viwa Naduvalo were the try-scorers in that half for the Fijians while France got tries through Andy Timo and Liam Delamare in that spell.
Veteran Sevuloni Mocenacagi broke the deadlock with a try when play resumed, after he was set up by Veilawa.
Then Manueli Maisamoa teased the French defense and left them for dead as he raced off to score for Fiji, increasing their lead to 26-14.
But Simon Desert hit back with a try for France, with 1 minute to go.
However, it was too little too late as Fiji won 26-19.
France finished third in the women's competition, pipping USA 15-12 after a tough battle.
The top titles were well contested with Australia and New Zealand contesting the women's final, with the Australians winning 26-12 in the end.
Australia led 19-0 at halftime, with tries from Heidi Dennis , Teagan Levi and Isabella Nasser.
It was sweet revenge for the Australians, who lost to the Kiwis in the Dubai final last weekend.
Kelsey Teneti and Stacey Waaka got tries back for the Black Ferns in the second half but time ran out on the Kiwis, who had to concede defeat to their Tasman rivals.
In the men's competition, Argentina led 14-7 at halftime after an intense battle in the first seven minutes, before South Africa won 21-19 in the end.
Luciano Gonzalez and Marcos Moneta were the early try-scorers for the Los Pumas, while the hosts had Donavan Don scoring their only try in the half.
Christie Grobbelaar scored the decisive try and gave the Blitzboks the lead at 21-19 as time ran out.
But a restart on the full gave the Los Pumas another chance, only to be penalised and their hopes sunk into the DHL Stadium mud.
Fijiana finish 7th
The Fijiana women sevens team finished seventh in the competition, following their 43-7 win over Great Britain.
It was a one-sided match in the end, with the Fijians scoring seven tries in the end.
The tries came through Reapi Uluinasau, who scored a hat-trick, Sera Bolatini, Atelaite Ralivanawa, Silika Qalo and Lavena Cavuru.
The Fijians had lost to Canada 33-15 in the fifth place play-off.
The Fijiana side are sixth on the points standing, with a good chance of staying in the top six by the end of the HSBC Sevens Series.
Los Pumas kick Fiji out
Argentina kicked Fiji out of contention for the top prize at the Cape Town 7s tournament on Sunday night, beating the islanders 29-21 in their semifinal clash.
The Los Pumas proved too strong for the Fijians in the second semifinal on the night, and booked their final spot against host South Africa in the process.
South Africa had beaten France 22-17 in the first semifinal.
Fiji's loss meant they were forced to play for third position against France, a repeat of last weekend's Dubai 7s schedule, where the two teams also battled for third spot.
Viwa Naduvalo claimed a double and Manueli Maisamoa got one for the Fijians, a late resurgence that was not enough in the end.
Argentina managed five tries through Santiago Mare and Santiago Alvarez, who scored two each, and Luciano Gonzalez.
Gonzalez spent two minutes on the sideline for a yellow card but returned in time to score his try and lift his side to victory.
The hosts South Africa had the Cape Town crowd cheering with joy when they managed to beat France 22-17 in their semi battle.
The Blitzboks scored tries through Shilton van Wyk, who got two, Tristan Leyds and Ryan Oosthuizen, while France got three through Jordan Sepho and Josselin Bouhier, who registered two tries.
