Manu Samoa will have to wait longer to become part of the top-tier competition after failing at the Play-Off Championship at the Los Angeles Sevens.

It will be even harder to climb to the top tier after changes to the competition formation which now sees three divisions. The top competition has been reduced from 12 to just eight teams, with a division two added. This means that Manu Samoa will have to play in the Oceania Championship and then qualify for the Challenger Series, the third division.

Samoa will have to get promoted to the division two and have to finish in the top end to make the top-tier once again. If Manu Samoa remains on top, this will take two years to happen.

Samoa started their first match with promise after beating Kenya 19-12. The team dropped their second match 25-19 to the USA. They recovered with a 21-12 win over Portugal, setting up a must win match against Germany. The Germans proved to be more determined beating Manu Samoa 31-0.

Lakapi Samoa chief Seamanu Douglas Ngau Chun said the efforts of Manu Samoa 7s players, coaching and management staff during the recent World Championship Playoffs in Los Angeles was acknowledged.

“Entering the tournament as the eighth-ranked team, we were proud to finish second in our pool, with strong performances on Day 1 — defeating core teams like Kenya and pushing hosts USA right to the final whistle,” he said.

“On Day 2, we continued our momentum with a solid win over Portugal, and while we’re disappointed we didn’t front up in the crucial match against Germany, the one that mattered most, we give full credit to our players and management for their courage and commitment throughout the campaign.

“We also sincerely acknowledge SIFA and our family of sponsors for their continued support, which makes it possible for our teams to compete on the world stage. The journey doesn’t end here — we have another opportunity as early as next year to compete against the world’s best in 7s rugby, and our focus now shifts to reviewing this campaign and preparing for what lies ahead.

“A special fa’afetai tele lava to the wives, partners, and families of our players and management — your sacrifices, support, and love from afar are the backbone of this team’s strength and spirit. We know the time away isn’t easy, and we honour your role in this journey.”

The HSBC SVNS Play Off competition saw the teams ranked ninth to twelfth in HSBC SVNS 2025 vying with the top four ranked teams from the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger for four qualification spots to HSBC SVNS Division two in 2026.

The pool winners secured their SVNS division two status automatically with Brazil and China women and USA and Uruguay men securing their spots thanks to a hat-trick of pool wins.

Meanwhile the teams who finished second and third in their pools faced a winner-takes all Play Off final match on Sunday for a place in SVNS division two.

Both Kenya’s teams were successful, with the men beating Canada 24-5 and the women overcoming South Africa 17-14, to delight their large contingent of fans inside the stadium.

Germany produced perhaps the outstanding performance to thrash Samoa 31-0 and claim the last remaining men’s spot, while Spain’s women saw off Argentina 28-0 to secure their place.

The unsuccessful Play Off teams will begin the 2026 season in their respective regional competitions from which they have the opportunity to qualify for a standalone SVNS division three event, where they can reach SVNS division two by finishing in the top two. From there teams will have the opportunity to progress all the way through to the three HSBC SVNS World Championships Series events in the same season.

World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson who was in attendance in Los Angeles said: “LA delivered a finale to savour in what has been a season to remember. The HSBC SVNS World Championship demonstrated sport at its enthralling, brilliant and emotional best with teams and fans experiencing the highs and lows of play-off rugby. Congratulations to our worthy champions New Zealand and South Africa, and to all the teams, match officials and event teams who have made this season so special.

“We now look ahead to a new era for Sevens and a new competition model that provides certainty and opportunity on the road to what promises to be a spectacular LA 2028 Olympic Games.”