Anna 
The USA men’s and women’s rugby sevens teams are set to compete in the upcoming HSBC SVNS Series events in Hong Kong and Singapore. These tournaments will complete the round-robin stages leading up to the World Championship in Los Angeles.
This season’s prestigious Hong Kong Sevens, which runs from March 28-30, will take place at the new Kai Tak Sports Park. This marks the beginning of a new era for the highly anticipated event. After Hong Kong, the tournament circuit moves to Singapore the following week.
For the USA Men’s Eagles Sevens, this competition presents another chance to show improvement after a challenging season. The team is currently ranked second-to-last in the overall standings, having finished ninth in Vancouver during the previous stop.
One highlight for the Eagles is the debut of Uluamu Niutupuivaha, who has been praised by coach Simon Amor for his potential to excel in sevens. Niutupuivaha, who has played for the USA Junior National Team and had a season in Major League Rugby, will look to make his mark on the international stage.
The Eagles will be led by 62-tournament veteran Stephen Tomasin, alongside vice-captains Faitala Talapusi and Lucas Lacamp. They face a tough challenge, being drawn in a difficult pool with Fiji, Ireland, and Argentina.
Amor noted that back-to-back tournaments bring both physical and emotional challenges, but the team is growing stronger with each experience. “The guys are pushing themselves and realizing what it takes,” Amor said, acknowledging their progress despite tough competition.
On the women’s side, the team is looking to bounce back from a disappointing eighth-place finish in Vancouver, where they were defeated by Canada in the seventh-place playoff. This week’s event offers an opportunity for redemption.
Olympian Sammy Sullivan and powerful ball-carrier Nia Toliver return to the squad, which also features co-captains Kristie Kirshe and Alex ‘Spiff’ Sedrick, who scored the match-winner in the Olympic bronze final last year. The team also includes seven players with fewer than five tournament caps, including Alyssa Porter, Hann Humphreys, Sariah Ibarra, Su Adegoke, Autumn LoCicero, and Rachel Strasdas.
The USA women’s team will face Brazil in their opening match, following a standout performance by the Brazilians in Vancouver, including a surprising win over Australia. The Eagles will also take on New Zealand and China.
Coach Emillie Bydwell reflected on the team’s Vancouver performance, admitting they did not fully reach their potential. “While results are secondary at this stage, it’s critical that we continue to show progress,” Bydwell said. “We are excited for the opportunity in Hong Kong to test this growth and take a significant step forward.”
With both teams focused on progress and improvement, the upcoming tournaments will provide key opportunities for development as they prepare for the World Championship in Los Angeles.
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