WORLD CHAMPS

THE Blitzboks claimed their fifth Sevens Series title, and first since 2021, by beating Spain 19-5 in the winner-takes-all Los Angeles tournament on Sunday. 

Inspired by player of the match, Selvyn Davids, the Blitzboks finished the top-eight final tournament of the season unbeaten after getting the better of France, Great Britain and Argentina and New Zealand on their path to World Championship glory. 

The Blitzboks finished fourth in the league phase of the tournament, with the top eight then playing in the series decider in LA. 

And after winning that even against the odds, coach Philip Snyman says: “The team never stopped believing. They played five phenomenal games and were unstoppable. This team can go places. I am very proud of them.

“The players deserve so much credit for the way they played here in Los Angeles. We had some good parts and some bad parts to our season, but this weekend we got it all together and that is a very satisfying feeling.

“Any coach will tell you that your plan can only be as good as the buy-in from the players and then their execution thereof. This weekend it all came together... ”

Snyman said the weekend proved that the Blitzboks are back to where they should be: “This performance was proof of the potential of this squad. The players executed their roles so well, there was a common belief in what is possible and how to achieve that and the result is there for them to enjoy now.”

Captain Davids adds: “The guys left everything out there on the field, we gave it our all. That is just an amazing feeling. We fought for each other, and we fought for the badge and knowing that we achieved that was already a win for me.”

The squad will arrive back in Mzansi today.