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Argentina make another statement with big win over Fiji at Hong Kong Sevens

By Finn Morton at Kai Tak Stadium, Hong Kong

29 days ago

Fiji's Alusio Vakadranu (L) tackled by Argentina's Santiago Alvarez in their men's Pool A match on the second day of the 2025 Rugby Sevens Hong Kong tournament at the Kai Tak sports stadium on March 29, 2025. (Photo by Peter PARKS / AFP) (Photo by PETER PARKS/AFP via Getty Images)

Argentina charged into the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens quarter-finals with a stunning 35-7 demolition of fan favourites Fiji on Saturday, which capped off a practically perfect run in pool play for coach Santi Gomez Cora’s team.

After a one-sided 35-7 win over Ireland to open their campaign and an emphatic 52-5 triumph over the USA later on Friday, Los Pumas Sevens turned their focus to a blockbuster rugby sevens bout between two heavyweight contenders on day two.

Argentina’s “dream” on the HSBC SVNS Series is to take out the top prize at the winner-takes-all World Championship in Los Angeles, but for now, they’re taking each games as it comes, which included a pool stage blockbuster against the Fijians.

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The Hong Kong Sevens can be seen as a home event of sorts for Fiji, with a large contingent of fans bringing the noise at the all-new Kai Tak Stadium. But Argentina made a statement just about one month out from the World Championship with a masterclass in this match.

Matteo Graziano scored a double, while Luciano Gonzalez, Santiago Mare and Santino Zangara also crossed for five-pointers during the 28-point rout. Fiji scored their sole try through Joji Nasova in the 11^th minute but the match was all but over by that stage already.

“Really difficult to explain what the sensation is,” Argentina’s Santiago Alvarez told RugbyPass when asked what it’s like to beat Fiji in Hong Kong China. “I’m very, very proud of this team.

“Really, really happy. Just now, turn over the page and start thinking on the quarter-finals.”

Some interesting choices here. No judgement 🫣
Catch the full episode of #HSBCLifeOnTour available for free by downloading the RugbyPass App 📱#HSBCSVNS | @OfficialHK7s pic.twitter.com/HMnSyzExR0
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) March 28, 2025

Argentina fell painfully short of the SVNS Seres’ overall title last season. After making history in Singapore by winning the league title, Los Pumas Sevens met Antoine Dupont’s France in the World Championship decider in Madrid, with Les Bleus Sevens winning that one.

The Argentinians have since reemerged as the team to beat in men’s sevens. Following a third-place finish at the season opener in Dubai, Argentina later took out Cup titles at Perth’s HBF Park and Vancouver’s BC Place.

What’s their secret?

“I don’t know. Really, I don’t know,” Alvarez insisted with a smile.

“We try to give our best each day, each moment. We give it all for this team.

“We left things in Argentina, we stopped doing things because of this team and we enjoy being in this team.

“There is nothing I can tell you to [pinpoint] but I’m trying to enjoy this moment now and trying to be better.”

Argentina are currently in the box seat to repeat last season’s heroics in the regular season. With only two events left in the round-robin, including this weekend’s leg in Hong Kong China, Argentina are on the cusp of greatness as the first-place side on the men’s standings.

Spain have been incredibly consistent this season are occupy second with 64 points, while Fiji and South Africa share third with 62 points. At the other end of the top eight, Great Britain and New Zealand are looking to climb up the ladder by season’s end.

Los Angeles’s Dignity Health Sports Park will host the World Championship on May 3-4, and while winning that event is certainly the goal for Argentina, Alvarez insisted there’s a lot of work that needs to be done between now and then.

“We’re trying not to think about LA.

“Of course it’s our dream, our objective is winning LA… but we’re going step by step and trying to be better.”

LA’s Dignity Health Sports Park will host the World Championship and SVNS Series playoffs on May 3-4. Don’t miss out – buy your tickets HERE.

Comments

1 Comment

Rodrigo N 29 days ago

Stay focused and keep the pace, LA title will come. You are a fantastic group of people representing the best of us. Dedication, hard work, sacrifice... things will never come easy for us.

Back home we are so proud of you... so many people setting their alarms to wake 3am just to see you play.

Vamos Pumas!!!.💗🐆🇦🇷

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History is littered with instances where the money has been used and abused to get advantage, and your silly statement of ‘just pay them more’ when Aus/NZ do not have access to a wide viewer market defies reason.

If it is only a reprieve in the current French club system, which has been going on since the 70’’s, then it is worth it. To open the gates to all countries to get whatever they can afford could be disastrous for the RWC in 20 years.

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JW 1 hour ago

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I was actually muling over the idea that if Big Jim isn’t selected for the All Blacks this year I’d love for him to become a cornerstone of the Fijian midfield and get a big contract over in Japan.

Fiji don’t necessarily need another midfielder but I reckon he could be their best anyway.

The problem is CR New Zealand has been a destination for Islanders going back centuries, and it’s teams have built great rapport with them. So it’s automatically like a second home, and a lot of them simply don’t want to leave, and attaining All Black status is the only way you can achieve a reasonable income here.

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I was a bit disappointed reading the article and what they’re actually doing. I thought this was going to involve some advanced bloody analysis with DNA ancestry or something lol.

I’m not sure you’ve understood the change though (or the article has correctly educated me), as there is no change to the Japan team, this is really about participation (incentivizing growth through to the JRLO, and the rest will take care of itself ala SA’s reformation). I think they’re really happy with the fan base as Japan also has a big culture for overseas stars.

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JW 1 hour ago

Japan's proposed anti-diverse 'blood' eligibility law after foreign player influx

That’s natural though no? Was the same with Lydia Ko.

Sure you’re not just misjudge the effects of a large population?

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JW 1 hour ago

Japan's proposed anti-diverse 'blood' eligibility law after foreign player influx

Only if you’re a racist!

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JW 1 hour ago

Japan's proposed anti-diverse 'blood' eligibility law after foreign player influx

There is no confusion Fin, only a lack of understanding.

it isn’t like that at all. Japan aren’t saying you become japanese after 5 years of living there, they are saying that you only became japanese by having japanese “blood”.

Wrong on both counts. Read my post again. WR are saying you’re not Japanese until you’ve had 5 years there and JRFU are saying you can be after 30 tests. Don’t get too confused here, you raised two topics that I’m having to reply to, but theres absolutely no difference in either.

Not sure why you’re bringing up Fiji, a team no one has mentioned because they clearly bear no relation to the topic at hand.

The Drua are identical to Moana.

no it isn’t. A person can call themselves white, but you can’t have a whites only team.

Of course you can. You just can’t make it represent a whole country ala South Africa. I’m sure theres hundres of Scottish or Irish rep teams all over.

At least you got one thing right, a person can call themselves white if they want, or Maori, and be involved in any such like minded group. Just don’t be like the KKK and make it a racial group 😋

While I’m sure you realise you’re wrong about about the picture you tried to paint (and probably new before posting) in your OP, I don’t have faith that you were able to corelate the two examples. Happy to keep replying until you do, again.

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JW 2 hours ago

Japan's proposed anti-diverse 'blood' eligibility law after foreign player influx

They always would have, just not over a team that’s able to give the sport a spotlight in their country.

They think they’re in a position to do both now?

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JW 2 hours ago

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As valiant as GP says the Highlanders were that wasn’t really a test for the Crusaders as one might have though last week. When do they get to find out how much they’ve improved? Could it only be in another game against the Chiefs?

Crusaders arguably only managed to just scrape out ahead of these sides you’re questioning so I’d being having them in the same boat. But maybe now with Reihana back the Saders will have more than the one trick ponies do? Honestly I would also have the Chiefs in that ballpark, with their Dmac/Steveonson combo not producing yet or having the potential flair a Reihana/Jordan combo might have. Both tougher than the Blues/Brumbies/Reds, and i’d still say Canes for sure though.

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GS 2 hours ago

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Whilst I dislike what is occurring with the French clubs, they are not the only parties involved in this activity. You can also look to Ireland and its “Project Player” Scheme, or how Scotland picks players with zero background who have never lived in Scotland.

But market forces will dictate where players will end up.

If RA wants to retain these players, then it should offer them remuneration in line with or better than what the French clubs can. The NZRFU should have offered Aki, Lowe, or Fergus Burke a higher salary than what was offered by the likes of Irish Rugby, Sacarens, etc., if it wanted to retain them.

These kids going to France and the aforementioned Kiwi players are attempting to build a career and financial security in a career that can end with one injury. Think about that—one bad injury, and your career is over, so just like anyone, they have to make the smart, informed decision that is right for them and their families.

If the likes of Oz and NZ can’t or are not prepared to match the $$$, so be it - this is the reality of professional rugby, and whilst it turns the international game into a glorified club comp, I’m not sure if there is any solution.

And let’s remember it’s not all negative. This movement of players from Nth to South gives kids like Blair Murray or Taine Plumtree the ability to earn good $$ and experience international rugby, when let’s face it, they would at best be on the fringes of a Super Rugby squad - so it’s not all bad!

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