HSBC SVNS Series Round Two
The HSBC SVNS Series Round Two took place in Cape Town, South Africa, on March 7-8. All twelve teams in round one also played in round two. Round two was a decisive stage for the eight top teams to make it to the next stage of the HSBC SVNS. The host country, South Africa, was still edged in round two games but improved its performance from the first round, finishing third place behind Kenya and Argentina.
Day One Games: March 7
The teams were once again divided into four pools, with each pool containing three teams. The top team from each group advanced to the semifinals, while the second-placed teams competed for fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth places. The remaining teams played for points to improve their rankings in the World Rugby standings.
Thailand 33 – 0 Mexico
Poland 36 – 7 Samoa
Czechia 19 – 24 Hong Kong
Uganda 22 – 7 Belgium
Colombia 42 – 0 Mexico
South Africa 45 – 5 Samoa
Argentina 34 – 7 Hong Kong
Kenya 17 – 5 Belgium
Colombia 21 – 14 Thailand
South Africa 43 – 0 Poland
Argentina 22 – 26 Czech
Kenya 10 – 5 Uganda
Day Two Games: March 8
It was a decisive day for the tournament, with teams scrambling for the best placement and looking to secure their spots in the next stage of the HSBC series.
Ninth Place Semifinal
Hong Kong China 26 – 21 Samoa
Belgium 36 – 0 Mexico
Fifth Place Semifinal
Argentina 29 – 12 Poland
Uganda 7 – 14 Thailand
Semifinals
Kenya 12 – 5 Colombia
Eleventh Place Playoff
Samoa 34 – 10 Mexico
Mexico completed the tournament with no win.
Ninth Place Playoff
Hong Kong China 5 – 29 Belgium
Seventh Place Playoff
Poland 0 – 39 Uganda
Fifth Place Playoff
Argentina 30 – 10 Thailand
Third Place Playoff
Czechia 5 – 35 Colombia
Final
South Africa 0 – 17 Kenya
Czechia significantly improved its performance in the second round, finishing in fourth place after placing seventh in the first round. On the other hand, Argentina finished second in the first round but could not replicate that success in the second round, finishing in fifth place. Nevertheless, they qualified for the following games in April alongside Kenya, South Africa, Czechia, Colombia, Thailand, Uganda, and the host country, Poland, which finished in eighth position.
