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Blitzboks duo reflect on World Championship triumph after Bordeaux scare
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Shilton van Wyk and David Brits have expressed immense gratitude and pride after winning the 2026 HSBC SVNS World Championship, with the Blitzboks surviving a scare in Bordeaux to secure the circuit’s top prize.
New Zealand, South Africa and Fiji each took out one event in the early stages of the regular season before the Blitzboks began to take over. South Africa won another four titles to take out the SVNS Series and carried that dominance into the new-look World Championship.
The Blitzboks won the fan favourite Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens for the first time and made the Cup Final at SVNS Valladolid. They had a four-point lead on the overall standings heading into the final stop of the season at Bordeaux’s Stade Atlantique.
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Great Britain upset the World Championship front-runners on day one, and another defeat to Fiji left South Africa on the brink of elimination. But with the All Blacks Sevens beating Los Pumas Sevens, the Blitzboks qualified for the quarters as one of the best third-placed teams.
South Africa faced Fiji again but this time it was a different result, prevailing 14-12 and that was ultimately enough to secure them the World Championship crown. Players were cheering, crying or both when they talked off the field, before grouping together in a celebratory huddle.
“All glory to God. World champions, 35 Blitzbok caps and honoured to be named in the HSBC SVNS Dream Team,” van Wyk wrote on social media last week.
“A season I’ll always be grateful for. Thankful to God, my teammates, coaches, family and everyone who has been part of the journey.”
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View this post on Instagram
When the Blitzboks lost to Fiji during the group stage, Blitzboks players walked off the field and down the tunnel in silence. They had been in control of their own destiny going into the event but were then in need for other results to go their way.
Van Wyk and Ryan Oosthuizen stood in the tunnel watching the All Blacks Sevens match. It was an uncertain period for the regular season champions, but after receiving a bit of a SVNS lifeline, they made the most of their chance.
Brits spoke with RugbyPass after the Blitzboks locked up the World Championship title, showing emotion and speaking with a powerful sense of pride. The Blitzboks have gone back-to-back as World Championship winners and it clearly meant the world to those involved.
“The best moments in our lives and not the passive, receptive or relaxing times – but the moments when one’s body and mind are stretched to its limits,” Brits wrote on Instagram.
“I try to live a life that’s filled with experiences, relationships, adventure and moments. And this team Blitzboks have continuously contributed to all 4 of those cornerstones of my life.
“Immensely proud to be part of this. Thank you to think team and everyone involved.
“And thank you Jesus – for giving us this platform to express our God given talents for a meaning much greater than us.
“Back-to-back world champions. World Series league champions.”
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