World Rugby Sevens Series 2023-24: New Zealand men’s and women’s teams triumph in Singapore

New Zealand claimed back-to-back Cup titles in both the men’s and women’s finals coming out on top at the Singapore SVNS on Sunday (5 May).

The men’s team overcame a tenacious Irish team 17-14 with try-scoring machine Michaela Blyde inspiring the women’s side to their fourth consecutive tournament victory after scoring her third straight hat-trick of tries in a final. The women’s side won the league title in the process as the top side at the end of the regular season.

The reigning Olympic women’s champions turned a two-point deficit at half-time into a resounding 31-21 victory over Australia to claim the Singapore title.

The New Zealand women’s team consolidated their lead at the top of the standings moving two points clear of the Australians biting at their heels.

The final was a mouth-watering top-of-the-log clash between current leaders New Zealand and runners-up Australia.

New Zealand came into the clash as favourites following three consecutive tournament victories which saw them move ahead of their Antipodean neighbours on the 2023/24 standings on points difference.

The phenomenal Blyde threw down the gauntlet scoring from the starting whistle as she scythed her way past the Australian defences to put her side in front.

But prolific Australian try scorer Maddison Levi counterpunched to find her way over the line to level matters (7-7). The frantic start to the match continued with the Aussies adding another five-pointer courtesy of an Isabella Nasser try.

Blyde scored a second unconverted try shortly before the half-time break with the New Zealanders trailing the Australians by two points going into the second half.

The 28-year-old Blyde gave her team the advantage (19-14) shortly after the restart for the second half scoring a third consecutive hat-trick in a Cup final.

Portia Woodman-Wickliffe extended New Zealand’s lead crossing the whitewash two minutes later with Stacey Waka scoring their fifth try to give the side a near unassailable lead of 31-14.

Levi scored her brace seconds before the final whistle to give the score line some respectability.