Winning the HSBC SVNS World Championship back to back – on top of the HSBC SVNS Series title – were goals that the Springbok Sevens set for themselves, so Tristan Leyds was already emotional when they achieved that on Saturday evening, but when the Blitzbok playmaker was told he was voted the world's best sevens player, more tears of relief and unexpected joy rolled down his face.
Leyds said he was overwhelmed when SA coach Philip Snyman broke the news to him in a private moment on Saturday and having his wife, parents and brother Dillyn and his family in the crowd, made the official announcement on Sunday an even bigger highlight.
“That made it all the more special,” said Leyds.
“The daily support I get from my wife often gets me going when the body is tired, while my parents have always been there supporting me.
“And what can I say about Dillyn. He always calls me ‘the better Leyds’ on his social media posts and that means a lot. I mean, he is a Springbok, he won the Champions Cup twice with La Rochelle, and was named Player of the Final, so yes, maybe I did step a bit out of his shadow by winning Player of the Year.
“A management member who came to congratulate me actually told me I am now shining my own light with this award.”
Leyds thanked his teammates and especially Snyman and Blitzbok assistant coach Renfred Dazel for their influence on his career and making him a better player.
“I came here three years ago and from the start, coach Phil backed me,” he said.
“At the start of this season I told him I want to be the best 10 on the circuit. He asked me why not the best player in the world, something that really got me thinking.
“Coach Renfred is always there with his experience and technical inputs, and I am continuously learning from him as well. It really has been a remarkable journey.”
SETTING NEW STANDARDS
Being part of the squad that won the Hong Kong tournament for the first time was a season highlight, as well as winning back-to-back titles in Cape Town: “One of the things you want to try and do is to set new standards and with this team, the standard is already so high with everything they have achieved.
“Doing the Cape Town double and winning in Hong Kong were special and has not been done before, and to be part of that was another of many boxes I ticked since I joined the squad.”
Leyds was adamant that the Blitzboks can notch up another first in a few years’ time: winning the gold medal at the Olympic Games in 2028.
“I got that bronze with the team in Paris and realised how big it could be for us in 2028,” he said. “We have not set that goal and hopefully I can still be around when that squad is selected.”