The Springbok Sevens team produced a dominant display to bury the Hong Kong Sevens hoodoo once and for all, smashing Argentina 35-7 in the final to win the tournament for the first time in history.
The significance of the victory cannot be underestimated. While the Blitzboks have won World Sevens Series and Commonwealth Games tournaments, as well as a World Games tournament in Cali, Colombia during their illustrious history, they have never tasted success in Hong Kong.
𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍! 🤩🏆
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) April 19, 2026
The Blitzboks win their first-ever #HSBCSVNS in Hong Kong 🇿🇦#HSBCSVNSHKG | #SSRugby pic.twitter.com/p1qsnR1IFO
This was their fifth final in the tournament - considered the crown jewel of Sevens rugby worldwide - and the first time that they could get across the line.
The 50th anniversary version of the Sevens will go down as one of the most important wins for Springbok Sevens - especially when you think of some of the legendary players that have graced the field in the past.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HONG KONG 🇿🇦🏆
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) April 19, 2026
The Blitzboks are champions 👏👏#HSBCSVNSHKG | #HSBCSVNS pic.twitter.com/bBnv2wfoRZ
FIFTH FINAL
This team - which last month won the HSBC World SVNS Series in style in the final tournament in New York - almost didn’t make it into the Cup quarterfinals of this tournament after a horror start on day one, but showed grit and determination to take the fight on the days it mattered.
They surpassed the legendary 1997 team, who lost an epic World Cup final in Hong Kong to Fiji, with the likes of Joost van der Westhuizen, Andre Joubert and Chester Williams in their ranks and now stand proudly in the lead of the World Championship after the first of three tournaments.
The win in Hong Kong makes it four tournaments in a row for the Blitzboks, after their SVNS Series wins in Perth, Vancouver and New York and sets them on a course to finally be crowned World Champions in June.
But this wasn’t a fluke, or luck that drove them to the title. This was meticulous planning and determination from coach Philip Snyman that turned them around from the disastrous season they had two years ago.
COACH SNYMAN THE FORCE BEHIND THE WIN
Snyman took over the side and in less than 24 months has taken them to an Olympic Bronze medal, the 2024/5 World Championship in Los Angeles and this season’s World SVNS Series.
And now this victory in Hong Kong.
And the win is a tale of its own, of the rollercoaster that took this side from the brink of disaster to the title. They rode their luck at times, but one thing was always true - this is a Blitzbok side that never gives up.
They made a nervous start on Friday, narrowly beating Uruguay 12-7 before their shocker - a 31-12 drubbing at the hands of Spain. It wasn’t just the defeat that stung. It was how it went down. That game was possibly the worst performance in two years under Snyman, and as bad as it was, it was always going to demand a response.
The Blitzboks gave that response in the early hours of Saturday morning when they thumped Argentina 38-0 to not only qualify, but top their pool.
It was a stunning turnaround and the response that was needed.
NEEDED LUCK TO BEAT KENYA
But then they almost faltered in the quarterfinals, as Kenya produced a powerfully physical performance to lead 22-14 with less than two minutes to go. Replacements Quewin Nortje and veteran Shakes Soyizwapi - who made his debut in Hong Kong 10 long years ago - scored to take the Blitzboks through.
Their semifinal was a controlled display of power and pace as they dismantled the All Black Sevens 26-14 to book their place in the final.
And throughout the lead up, there was a sense that history beckons. They may have beaten Argentina in pool play, but Los Pumas were the defending Hong Kong champions and were upf for the game.
It didn’t matter. The Blitzboks were so in tune, their defence so solid, that the first turnover led to a try. Tristan Leyds, the player of the final, saw space behind the defence and booted downfield, trusting his speed to see him collect a bouncing ball and score.
Santino Zagara replied two minutes later for Argentina, finding a hole on the outside when the Blitzboks were stretched. It seemed this was going to be closer than the Blitzboks would have hoped.
But then another breakout from the 22 - this time started by Selvyn Davids with a kick pass to the near touchline for Leyds, who surged, then jinked inside twice, finding Davids with the telling pass for the playmaker to score under the posts.
CRUCIAL MISTAKE IN FINAL FROM PUMAS
The crucial moment came early in the second half as Argentina were chasing the game. A dropped ball fell between three Pumas players and Shilton van Wyk snapped it up, sprinting downfield, only to be desperately stopped by Marcos Moneta.
The supporting cast was quickly at hand, and the ball popped up to Ryan Oosthuizen, who won a crucial turnover at the end of the first half to stop Argentina minutes before, to walk over the line and score.
It seemed it would be enough but Van Wyk made it certain as Leyds exploited the space again and chipped over the defence for the speedster to collect and score.
In terms of tactical play it was a masterclass.
Davids finished it off with the fifth try of the final, and the celebrations began.
What had eluded so many Blitzbok sides of the past, was now a reality. The Hong Kong hoodoo, or curse, whatever you want to call it, is dead and buried.
And this exceptional team that has won so much, added another bit of legend to their status in the shortened game.