Romane Ménager's SVNS détour and why it helped her return from injury

At 28 years old and with 66 caps to her name, few expected France’s back-row Romane Ménager to suddenly show up on the HSBC SVNS circuit.

Then again, people said the same about Antoine Dupont—28 years old and 59 caps—when he surprised everyone by switching codes to clear his head after a disappointing 2023 Rugby World Cup.

In Ménager’s case, the circumstances were a bit different. Coming back from a concussion, Sevens was a way to ease back into action.

“I actually came back about a month and a half ago,” she told on an exclusive interview to RugbyPass. “But since it was right in the middle of the Six Nations (training camp), it was tricky to jump straight back into that. I hadn’t had much game time, no real match rhythm, so I was lacking that edge.

“So, I spoke with Christophe (Reigt, head of women’s rugby) and the XVs and 7s staff, and we figured it would be a good idea for me to go to Capbreton with the Sevens group for a camp, to get back into rhythm, to find that intensity again.

“And since it all went really well—the training load suited me, I felt good physically, everything clicked—they asked me to join the team for the Hong Kong SVNS. The idea was to get some serious game time in a high-intensity competition and to challenge myself in that environment.”

It was no easy task for a player who hadn’t properly played Sevens in more than five years—and never at this level.

“I’d played with the France Uni team, France Development… and I also did a post-Covid season with the Sevens squad, but there weren’t any World Rugby tournaments at the time. I’d done a few training camps here and there, but never a proper World Series tournament,” she confirmed.

Six matches in three days, including a 22-minute battle against Ireland—it was anything but a soft return from a concussion.

“I wasn’t really sure how I’d handle it, but I trusted how I was feeling. Since it was a concussion, my physical condition wasn’t the issue—I’d been training hard for weeks. What I was missing was that rugby feeling.

“So when we talked it through, it made sense. Physically I was in a good place. What I needed most was to find myself on a pitch again, to play, to get back in the groove. And Sevens was perfect for that. Honestly, everything fell into place.

“We’ve played in big stadiums before, but SVNS is something else. The vibe is completely different. The crowd is just there to have fun and go wild. It’s honestly unique. You warm up in the in-goal area and right next to you there’s a full-on concert going on… it’s just wild. It’s a whole other atmosphere.

“And for me, coming back from injury, needing to ease in with some enjoyment—that was exactly what I needed. You’ve got this amazing, joyful vibe off the pitch, and a full-on challenge on it. It was the perfect way to restart.”

Last minute magic from Romane Menager! 😮‍💨@FranceRugby keeping us on edge until the final moments 🇫🇷#HSBCSVNSHKG | #HSBCSVNS pic.twitter.com/6DkUBfCpsP

— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) March 29, 2025

And that epic match against Ireland? The last one in the pool stage that would decide France’s spot in the quarter-finals. It went to Golden point after a draw in regulation time—and lasted almost a full extra half before Ménager delivered the winning try.

“I think what really made the difference was how calm we stayed from start to finish,” she said. “Even though it dragged on and at one point we didn’t know how it was going to end, we stayed connected. And that cohesion is what helped us hang on, not lose it, and go get that Golden point in the end.

“It was the team spirit, the connection between us, that meant we weren’t totally drained—we managed to push all the way through and finish the game like that.”

France then beat Japan in the quarter-finals (34–0), lost to Australia in the semis (28–5), and fell to Canada in the third-place match (21–17).

“There’s definitely a bit of disappointment, a bit of frustration,” Ménager admitted. “Because you can feel this team is capable of a lot more. It’s a very young squad, with huge potential. It’s frustrating to say, but it’s also part of the learning curve.

“And with the mindset they have, the way they work, I have no doubt they’ll keep improving. In Sevens, it’s often the small details that make the difference—and we saw that again here. But I think those details will be fixed pretty quickly.

“The whole group is already focused on what’s next. They’re hungry to do better in the next tournament—and it’s coming up fast.

They were straight into analysing what needs to improve, working hard to keep being sharp in what they already do well. Honestly, I was super impressed by this group. I had such a great time being part of it, even for a short stretch.”

The next tournament is indeed around the corner—in Singapore this weekend—but it will be without Ménager, who flew back to France to rejoin the 15s side to participate in the second half of the Women's Six Nations.

Could this Sevens adventure make her want more down the line? Say, a little Olympic detour in Los Angeles in 2028, Dupont-style?

“Honestly, right now, it’s hard to say,” she admitted. “This is a huge year for XVs, and the World Cup is very much on my mind.

“But yeah, having had this kind of experience, in a group I fitted into so well, where I had a blast both on and off the field… of course it makes you think. It definitely plants a seed. But for now, I’m fully focused on XVs—and we’ll see what the future holds.”