mens
Sevens
The rugby sevens world is now starting to move towards preparations for the 2026-27 HSBC SVNS series, with competitions around the world seeing players complete XV commitments or get critical time on the park before heading into camp.
With Super Rugby AUS over and the national provincial finals now in New Zealand, by contrast, the Northern Hemisphere sees sevens in abundance in competitions in the United Kingdom and France.
RugbyPass gives a low-down on this weekend’s action in the world sevens, with key players poised to make a splash.
National Provincial Championship
The Hilux NPC has reached the quarter-finals, with eight teams left to compete for the top prize, with seven stars set to step in straight away from the first clash in Whangarei.
Northland will welcome Rob Rush and Brady Rush into the starting sides at flank and left wing to take on Tasman, with the visitors fielding Maloni Kunawave at fullback and former Tongan sevens star Kyren Taumoefolau at right wing.
Sam Clarke and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens retained their flyhalf and fullback positions respectively Taranaki while traveling to North Harbour Stadium on Saturday, with the home team bringing on Sofai Notoa-Tipo from the bench.
Wallaby and sevens star Darby Lancaster will also retain his starting spot for the Magpies on the wing, using his good form as he counters Otago this week in Dunedin on Saturday afternoon; with Samoan former seven Neria Fomai coming off the bench.
The New Zealand Southern men, meanwhile, will look to employ seven former students Jonu Nareki at outside centre, freeing up several Highlanders Super Rugby players and similar Tongan representative Patrick Pellegrini from the bench.
The final clash in Christchurch between Canterbury and Waikato will see All black people Sevens veteran Andrew Knewstubb implemented from the bench for the hosts, while the visitors introduced former member Tepae Cook-Savage on the left wing to try and win the Waikato region their first title since 2021.
PREM Rugby
Week 3 of PREM Rugby will begin this weekend in England, with over 15 current and former stars plying their trade in the 2026-27 season.
Kicking off at Welford Road, the Tigers will be looking to secure their second win of the season, implementing England Alumni of the week Ollie Hassell-Collins off the bench in last week’s win over Newcastle.
Northampton will deploy Tommy Freeman, an exciting full-back option who has been involved in development programs for weeks before arriving at Saints, scoring a hat-trick in his season opener against Newcastle.
At Barton-upon-Irwill, Sale Sharks will be looking for their second win of the season, boasting the likes of two Fijian dual internationals in Ponepati Loganimasa and Elia Canakaivata, who were implemented off the bench in last week’s win over Saracens.
Finally, at Sandy Park in Exeter, Newcastle Red Bulls will be chasing their first win of the season against Exeter Chiefs, with former student Christian Wade impressing on the right wing while Cougars 7s star Simon Benítez Cruz and GB 7s alumni Zack Henry showed great promise from the bench.
Top 14
The Top 14 heads into round six this weekend and is set for a colossal week of action with over 40 sevens entered from 14 sides.
Among the key names to be involved in a busy weekend of action, Bayonne will travel to face top of the table Toulouse and names Argentina international Mateo Carreras and Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Fijian Sireli Maqala in the back line.
They will face a Toulouse a team that, despite missing Antoine Dupont, Nelson Épée and Pierre-Louis Barassi in the opening weekends, still sits at the top of the table with those key players set to return.
Second place Pau will welcome Castres south of France this weekend, names French 2024 Olympic gold medalist Aaron Grandidier-Nkangan on the left wing.
They will face a Castres side with plenty of experience in the week in their starting jersey for former All Blacks star Jack Goodhue to partner Fijian Vilimoni Botitu in the centres, while former Scotland star of the week Hamish Watson will start at number eight.
in the end, Bordeaux The Begles will also remain in the hunt when they travel to take on Clermont, naming Fiji’s internationals and New Zealand Sevens star Salesi Rayasi on the left wing for the clash.
However, the hosts will have a former All Blacks star of the week in their ranks, with Etene Nanai-Seturo starting on the right wing as Clermont look to climb into the top half of the table.
