Sevens
The second round of the Ultimate Sevens is set to hit the shores of Biarritz, with action set to take place on Friday at the Parc des Sports Aguilera.
Judging by a stunning opening weekend in Cardiff, Biarritz will be even more intense: with teams now familiar with the format, how they can score points and win games, and critically, many sides will have points to prove.
Cardiff have also marked a number of key players who have moved quickly into the tournament, players who are likely to take that form into the big weekend in the Biarritzian sun.
RugbyPass breaks down six players to watch ahead of the Ultimate Sevens in France, and who have the potential to blow the tournament wide open.
Nia Toliver (Atlantic Novas)
If there was one player who grabbed the first weekend of the Ultimate Sevens by the horns, it was him USA Eagles star Nia Toliver.
Scoring several critical tries for her side as they raced to their inaugural title win, her danger on the wing proved lethal, leaving several high-class players in her wake.
Expect the star, dubbed “America’s Lomu” for his distinct running style, to stand out once against this weekend.
Selvyn Davids (Clan Taran)
If there is a contender for a try of the weekend in Cardiff, it would probably be Blitzbok Selvyn Davids, part of an individual display of brilliance that saw him run the length of the pitch in the final against Foudre Bleue.
However, the South African was everywhere for Clan Taran, scoring several key tries to help the ‘hosts’ reach the grand final.
With a critical change in the final denying Foudre Bleue victory, expect Davids to pick up where he left off in Biarritz.
Maddison Levi (Pacific Current)
Although Pacific Current did not make the final, they will definitely be a side to watch in the remaining two weeks of action ā thanks in no small part to Maddison Levi.
Ultimate Sevens CEO Barney Pascall called him the best player in the world, and in Cardiff it was easy to see why as Levi broke up matches with ease and caused all sorts of problems for the opposition.
If the Pacific Current make their first final this weekend, expect Levi to play a major role in getting them there.
Josua ÄevaÄeva (Blue Lightning)
A lesser-known name, but one that will attract a lot more attention, Great Britain’s Armed Forces Player of the Week Josua Tsevachev established himself as the player to watch, scoring the first even golden try in the history of the tournament, a try that came in sudden death extra time.
Chosen as the Foudre Bleue academy pick for the men’s side, the team has found a real star on its hands, with ÄevaÄeva recently named player of the tournament at Edinburgh City Sevens.
Thalia Costa (Fierce Sun)
The Brazilian star showed why she was one of the players to watch in SVNS 2 and the SVNS World Championship, scoring some great results as Sol Feroz made it all the way to the finals.
The women in red boast some great players, with Australia’s Ruby Nicholas scoring the first try in the history of the tournament – but even in a stacked line-up, Costa stood out.
Although it was a disappointing end to the final, the form of these players is good if they can back up their promise made in Cardiff.
Tristan Leyds (Albion Athletic)
Albion Athletic had a frustrating start to their time in the Ultimate Sevens, losing in the first round 7-5 to Atlantic Novas, reflecting how close the results were in the men’s competition.
However, a stacked squad suggests they are more than capable of reversing that scenario in Biarritz, not least because they have SVNS Player of the Year 2026, Tristan Leyds.
The Blitzbok scored the team’s only try of the day in Wales, and individually looked close to their best despite his side’s slump ā a potential indicator of a promising weekend ahead.
