Los Pumas 7s eliminated from title contention at Bordeaux Sevens

A crucial knock-on in the final minute dashed the hopes of Los Pumas 7s, eliminating them from contention for the Bordeaux Sevens title and ending their 2025/26 SVNS World Championship season campaign. The team suffered a 24-21 defeat against New Zealand in their final pool match, failing to advance to the quarterfinals.

The stakes were high for the Argentine team, as a victory would have placed them on the brink of clinching the season title for the first time in their history. Earlier, Fiji's dramatic 15-12 win over South Africa had relegated the Pumas 7s to third place in their pool. A win against New Zealand would have not only secured their progression but also eliminated South Africa as the worst third-placed team.

Ultimately, the loss to New Zealand, compounded by an earlier defeat to France, relegated the Argentine squad to competing for 9th place. The team had entered the final stage as leaders, holding a four-point advantage over Argentina. To secure the title, Argentina needed to finish at least three positions ahead of South Africa and no more than three below Australia.

Against New Zealand, the team coached by Santiago Gómez Cora struggled, exhibiting a performance below their recent standards. They faltered on kickoffs, lacked defensive solidity in tackles, and conceded possession at the breakdown. Despite trailing 19-7 with four minutes remaining, a brilliant run by Marcos Moneta, who had already scored their first try, led to a penalty try and a yellow card for New Zealand. However, a numerical disadvantage did not deter New Zealand, who scored again to seal the victory. A late try by Martiniano Arrieta offered a glimmer of hope, but Luciano González's inability to secure the ensuing kickoff extinguished the dream. The dejected Argentine players collapsed on the field.