Blitzboks: A tale of triumph and tenacity
· The South African
Despite certainly not coming into this season as overwhelming favourites, the Blitzboks secured a unique double in the 2026 sevens campaign when they followed up their SVNS Series triumph by successfully defending their World Championship title.
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The Blitzboks played in six finals out of nine tournaments, won five and on Sunday, retained the SVNS World Championship title they won in Los Angeles last year.
The South Africans also won 37 matches, more than any other team this season, consistently overcoming injury setbacks and a taxing schedule to ultimately prove how far guts and gumption can take you.
Blitzboks provide cause for celebration
For coach Philip Snyman, the two title successes were the rewarded for hard work, a positive team ethos and a buy-in of a shared culture of competitive excellence and honesty.
“I am so very, very proud on this team, and to win both the World Series and the World Championship is a special feat indeed,” said Snyman.
“The fact that we won the Hong Kong tournament for the first time ever was probably the highlight of the World Championship, and along with playing in the final last weekend, that laid the foundation for us to retain our World Championship status.
“We did not make it easy for ourselves this weekend – we didn’t play our best rugby here in France and at times we were our own worst enemies, but the hard work done earlier in the championship race laid the foundation. I am so happy and proud to be associated with this team and system.”
Snyman said everyone involved with the Springbok Sevens system can rightfully feel proud, despite a weekend where they did not sustain their winning momentum.
“I am humbled and proud to be part of this squad,” he said. “We did not always play our best rugby, but our effort could never be faulted.”
Snyman said Tristan Leyds was a worthy winner of the Men’s Player of the Year award: “He joined us over two years ago and has quickly grown into a senior player, someone who worked really hard to upskill himself to the demands of sevens rugby, while also remained a positive squad member.
“He is a worthy winner. I played with all three previous winners, Cecil Afrika, Werner Kok, and Seabelo Senatla, and coached Tristan. He is right up there with the best.”
Credit where it’s due
Snyman also applauded leading try-scorer for the season, Shilton van Wyk, who also made the season’s Dream Team: “I am very happy for Shilton too, named alongside Tristan in the Dream Team. If I had my way, the seven players would all be from the Blitzboks, but then, I am biased after all,” Snyman smiled.
“Our aims and goals for the season are well known. We wanted to grow our depth, make every semi-final and start the momentum to make us the best system in the world.
“Fair to say we are not there yet, but we are going in the right direction and for that I am very grateful. We introduced six or seven players to the world series and that will benefit is for the next season or two.
“It is great to have the backing of SA Rugby and the support we receive from South Africans are amazing. Most of our squad are contracted until 2028 and we are looking at bringing in a couple more talented players as we build towards the next Olympics.”
On Sunday, however, the Blitzboks failed to add to their winning tally on the final day of the HSBC SVNS World Championship in Bordeaux, and although they will be disappointed, they claimed the big prize by defending their World Championship title.
They achieved that goal on Saturday already and, with the job done, Impi Visser and his men can be excused for not setting the same standards on the final day, where they suffered a semi-final defeat to France and lost to Spain for the bronze medal.