Day one of the HSBC SVNS tournament in Singapore brought electrifying moments, with Argentina’s Los Pumas retaining their League Winners title and Kenya reaching their first semi-final since 2018.
Despite an early setback against South Africa, Argentina bounced back in style, edging out Great Britain 19-12 to top Pool A and secure the League Winners title for the second consecutive year.
Emotional Pumas coach Santiago Gomez Cora expressed pride, saying, “Our goal was to make Argentina powerful, and we did it.” Marcos Moneta played a crucial role, scoring his 150th career try as Argentina triumphed.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s sensational 10-7 victory over Olympic champions France secured their place in the semi-finals, sparking celebrations among fans.
Vincent Onyala’s first-half try and Nygel Amaitsa’s penalty were pivotal in overcoming Les Bleus. Earlier, Kenya displayed dominance with a 17-7 win over Ireland.
France, meanwhile, fell to ninth place and will face Australia on day two.
In another game, Spain showcased their resilience, finishing atop Pool C despite a tough challenge from Uruguay. Eduardo Lopez and Tobias Sainz-Trapaga led their team to victory in a dramatic 21-12 encounter.
Spain’s Pol Pla starred with two tries in a commanding 28-7 win over Australia, setting up a semi-final clash against Kenya.
In Pool D, Fiji stole the spotlight, producing two scintillating performances. Their 38-0 victory over the USA and a dominant 36-5 win against New Zealand highlighted their mastery of offloading and teamwork.
Joji Nasova became the series’ top scorer with 24 tries this season, cementing Fiji’s reputation as a force to be reckoned with.
Looking ahead, Argentina will face Fiji in one semi-final, while Kenya takes on Spain in the other.
