They have the HSBC SVNS World Series title in the bag but the Springbok Sevens side are looking to take a step closer to executing their total dominance over the sport as they head to Spain for the second leg of the World Championship at Valladolid this weekend.
Phillip Snyman’s side have hit their form and momentum at the right time, but they know unless they back it up this weekend it is all for nothing.
Their run of form in the Series took them to wins in Cape Town, Perth, Vancouver and New York and they added their first-ever Hong Kong title when the expanded Championship started last month in the former British colony.
But can they do it in the heat of Spain this weekend? And how difficult is it to keep up at this level against a host of sides that are gunning to bring you down?
Not only do they face the top eight sides in the world, but also the four qualifiers who are desperate to try and get themselves a space in the top eight to secure a core team status for next season.
The Blitzboks are the only side - thanks to their Series title - that are guaranteed a spot in next season’s Series. That desperation to finish in the top eight will fuel the other sides and make the jeopardy of this weekend’s game even more dangerous.
One of the greatest Blitzboks seasons ever 🏆🇿🇦
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) May 27, 2026
Valladolid is the next stop as the World Championship continues this weekend 🍿#SSRugby | #HSBCSVNSVLL pic.twitter.com/NPsCtVpAxW
And the pools don’t get easier.
As top seeds, the Blitzboks are ranked first, but they have Australia, Kenya and Great Britain in their pool. Now, the distance between the sides is close and anybody can beat anybody on a particular day. But Blitzboks fans will particularly remember how close Kenya came in Hong Kong to defeating the South Africans and while they should have enough firepower to get through the group, that is only the first part.
The Cup day is moving day and thats where the points are on offer, but you have to be in it to win it, so to speak.
The Blitzboks have lost Ronald Brown before the tournament to injury, but luckily he has been replaced by the feisty Ricardo Duarttee, who was in the winning squads in Cape Town and Perth.
Duarttee said earlier this week his recall came at the right time and he couldn’t wait to give back to the Blitzboks.
“The highs of Perth aside, I was not in a good place then and had to take some personal responsibility to improve on some of the decisions I was making at the time.
“It took a while, but I managed to do that. I had some self-reflection and my change in attitude was for the better. I am very grateful for this belated opportunity, and I hope I can deliver the performances and role in the team that is expected of me,” he added.
Gino Cupido: “There is a target on our backs, and every team wants to beat us, so there will be no time to fool around” - more here: https://t.co/9DuqTXTc7u 🎯#Blitzboks #PoweredByUnity #HSBCSVNS pic.twitter.com/Icde7zwvnF
— Springbok Sevens (@Blitzboks) May 26, 2026
Blitzbok head coach Philip Snyman earlier recalled Gino Cupido and Dewald Human to the travelling squad.
Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that a number of Blitzbok squad members not selected for this trip will be playing in invitational tournaments in Europe in the next two weekends.
Grant de Jager, Siya Ndlozi and Rowan Malgas will play for Shogun in the Amsterdam Sevens on 6-7 June, while Juan Smith and Renaldo Young will be in action for the Titans at the same event. Malgas, Smith and Young will also play for the Titans in the EAAST invitational tournament in Haguenau, France next weekend.
The Springbok Women’s Sevens also are in action, but are in a tough pool with Australia, Fiji and the USA.
South Africa’s fixtures (SA times, all matches live on SuperSport):
Friday 29 May
12h34: Great Britain
17h08: Kenya
Saturday, 30 May
13h23: Australia
Springbok Sevens squad (with HSBC SVNS stats):
#2 Ryan Oosthuizen - 63 tournaments, 285 points (57 tries)
#3 Impi Visser (captain) - 51 tournaments, 240 points (48 tries)
#4 Zain Davids - 58 tournaments, 255 points (51 tries)
#5 Ricardo Duarttee - 23 tournaments, 372 points (25 tries, 121 conversions, 1 penalty goal)
#8 Selvyn Davids - 47 tournaments, 793 points (107 tries, 129 conversions, 1 penalty goal)
#10 Dewald Human - 33 tournaments, 330 points (30 tries, 90 conversions)
#11 Siviwe Soyizwapi - 65 tournaments, 805 points (161 tries)
#12 Shilton van Wyk - 33 tournaments, 370 points (74 tries)
#14 Quewin Nortje - 13 tournaments, 165 points (33 tries)
#16 Sebastiaan Jobb - 9 tournaments, 80 points (16 tries)
#19 David Brits - 16 tournaments, 60 points (12 tries)
#24 Tristan Leyds - 18 tournaments, 236 points (30 tries, 43 conversions)
#31 Jayden Nell – 2 tournaments, 0 points
#35 Gino Cupido – 3 tournaments, 30 points (6 tries)