Blitzboks reset 'back to zero' after securing World Championship title

South Africa may have locked up the 2026 HSBC SVNS World Championship title with one day left in the season, but there’s still another trophy to be won in Bordeaux. The Blitzboks secured the top prize by qualifying for the semi-finals, where they’ll take on hosts France. 

Gregoire Arfeuil scored two tries as Les Bleus Sevens ran away with a 26-nil blitz against SVNS Valladolid winners Australia. The Aussies won their first SVNS title in more than 1,300 days last time weekend in southwestern Spain but will fight for fifth in the season finale. 

The All Blacks Sevens punched their ticket to the final four with a 24-5 win over Great Britain, who can no longer secure a top eight spot. GB will be left to fight their way back up from SVNS 2 next season, along with another three World Championship teams. 

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New Zealand are one win away from the big dance at Stade Atlantique but they have a tough task coming up against Spain at 1:36 pm on Sunday. Spain qualified for the quarters as one of the best third-place teams, before overcoming the USA in the Cup eliminator. 

Of all these teams, South Africa face perhaps the most unique challenge. Shilton van Wyk revealed the team will make sure to celebrate winning the SVNS World Championship but will need to come back down to zero as they set their sights on the Bordeaux title. 

“We just said to ourselves, we’re going to celebrate now in the changeroom but once we get back to the hotel, we must get back to zero, stay humble again because tomorrow there’s another two games left for us,” van Wyk told RugbyPass in Bordeaux. 

“We want to come out on top. This weekend, want to lift the trophy, that’s our main goal. 

“But for now, we’re going to celebrate and then once we get back, get back to zero and be humble.” 

The USA and Kenya have it all to play for on the final day of the season, as they fight for the last spot in the top eight on the overall standings. Kenya were beaten 7-5 by Germany in a ninth-place semi-final, meaning they’re chasing a best-possible finish of 11th.

If Kenya win that match against Uruguay, the Shujaa will move up to 16 competition points on the standings. That means the USA need to beat Fiji in the fifth-place playoff to guarantee their spot on the HSBC SVNS Series for the 2027 season.

There are a series of tiebreaks that will be used to separate the teams if needed, starting with match points differential. The USA have a points difference that’s about 70 better than Kenya heading into the final day.

France secured core status in the 2027 HSBC SVNS Series by making the semi-finals at their home event. Les Bleus Sevens had lost to the All Blacks Sevens on day one but bounced back with two pool stage victories, securing their place in the first division next season  

HSBC SVNS Bordeaux men’s results: day two  

Pool A 

Great Britain 14–5 Kenya 

Fiji 15–12 South Africa 

Pool B 

USA 43–7 Uruguay 

Australia 12–10 Spain 

Pool C 

New Zealand 24–21 Argentina 

France 14–7 Germany 

Cup Quarter-finals 

France 26–0 Australia 

South Africa 14–12 Fiji 

New Zealand 24–5 Great Britain 

Spain 17–5 USA 

9th Place Semi-finals 

Germany 7-5 Kenya

Argentina 26-17 Uruguay