The Springbok Sevens team, the Blitzboks, have completed a remarkable 2026 season by securing a historic double, winning both the HSBC SVNS Series title and successfully defending their HSBC SVNS World Championship crown.
Despite suffering defeats on the final day of the World Championship tournament in Bordeaux, the South Africans had already done enough to retain their world title, which they first won in Los Angeles last year.
The Blitzboks enjoyed an outstanding season, reaching six finals in nine tournaments and winning five of them. They also recorded 37 victories during the campaign, more than any other team on the circuit.
Springbok Sevens head coach Philip Snyman praised the players and support staff for their commitment and hard work throughout the season.
โI am so very, very proud of this team, and to win both the World Series and the World Championship is a special feat indeed,โ said Snyman.
He highlighted the team’s historic victory in Hong Kong as one of the season’s defining moments.
โThe fact that we won the Hong Kong tournament for the first time ever was probably the highlight of the World Championship campaign, and along with playing in the final last weekend, that laid the foundation for us to retain our World Championship status,โ he said.
Snyman acknowledged that the team did not produce its best rugby during the finals weekend in France but credited the hard work done throughout the season for their success.
โWe did not always play our best rugby, but our effort could never be faulted,โ he added.
Leyds and Van Wyk Receive Recognition
Snyman also congratulated Tristan Leyds after he was named Men’s Player of the Year.
โHe joined us over two years ago and has quickly grown into a senior player. He worked really hard to adapt to the demands of sevens rugby while remaining a positive influence within the squad,โ said Snyman.
The coach also praised leading try-scorer Shilton van Wyk, who was selected in the season’s Dream Team alongside Leyds.
โI am very happy for Shilton too. If I had my way, the seven players in the Dream Team would all be from the Blitzboks,โ Snyman joked.
Building Towards the Olympics
Snyman said one of the team’s goals was to deepen the squad and create a sustainable winning culture.
โWe introduced six or seven players to the World Series this season, which will benefit us over the next couple of years,โ he said.
Most of the current squad members are contracted until 2028, and the coaching staff are already looking at adding more talent as preparations begin for the next Olympic Games.
โIt is great to have the backing of SA Rugby and the support we receive from South Africans is amazing,โ Snyman said.
Tough Final Day in Bordeaux
The Blitzboks’ final day in Bordeaux proved challenging as injuries reduced the squad to just 10 fit players.
South Africa lost 21-12 to hosts France Men’s National Rugby Sevens Team in the semi-finals before falling 40-14 to Spain Men’s National Rugby Sevens Team in the bronze medal play-off.
Against France, Leyds scored a brilliant length-of-the-field try, while Donavan Don added another score, but the hosts capitalised on South African mistakes to secure victory.
In the third-place play-off, Van Wyk and Ricardo Duarttee gave the Blitzboks an early 14-0 lead against Spain. However, a yellow card to Zain Davids shifted momentum, allowing Spain to stage a strong comeback and claim the bronze medal.
Although the weekend ended with two defeats, the Blitzboks leave France as world champions once again and with their place firmly established among the world’s leading rugby sevens nations.
The successful defence of their World Championship title, coupled with their HSBC SVNS Series triumph, marks one of the most successful seasons in South African sevens rugby history.
Source: SA Rugby
