Africa’s representatives now know the task ahead after the official pool draw for HSBC SVNS 3, set for 17–18 January 2026 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, was confirmed.
Madagascar will carry the continent’s hopes in the men’s competition, having been drawn in Pool B alongside former core series side Canada, as well as Belgium and Italy. It is a challenging group that offers the Malagasy outfit an early opportunity to test themselves against experienced opposition on the global sevens stage.
In the women’s competition, African champions South Africa headline Pool A, where they will face Czechia, Mexico, and Thailand as they begin their promotion campaign.
The stakes in Dubai are significant. The top two teams in both the men’s and women’s competitions will earn promotion to HSBC SVNS 2, which begins in Nairobi, Kenya, in February 2026, before moving on to Montevideo, Uruguay, and São Paulo, Brazil, in **March.
Performance across the HSBC SVNS 2 circuit will determine who advances further, with the top four men’s and women’s teams securing promotion to the elite HSBC SVNS World Championship Series. The winner-takes-all championship will feature 24 teams—12 men’s and 12 women’s—competing at iconic destinations including Hong Kong, Valladolid, and Bordeaux.
HSBC SVNS 3 Pools
Women’s Pools
Pool A: Czechia, Mexico, South Africa, Thailand
Pool B: Argentina, Colombia, Poland, Samoa
Men’s Pools
Pool A: Colombia, Hong Kong China, Samoa, Tonga
Pool B: Belgium, Canada, Italy, Madagascar
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