‘Bloody nervous’: Darcy Graham inspires GB to stunning upset over Blitzboks

Scotland and British & Irish Lions flyer Darcy Graham has made an immediate impact at the HSBC SVNS World Championship finale in Bordeaux, producing some moments of brilliance as Great Britain stunned South Africa 19-14. 

Graham played for Scotland on what is now known as the HSBC SVNS Series from 2016 to 2018 and was part of the squad that went to the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. But after making the switch to 15s, the winger reached record-breaking heights. 

The 55-Test international became the all-time leading try-scorer for Scotland during the 2026 Six Nations, going clear of the tally achieved by teammate Duhan van der Merwe. Ahead of Nations Championship Tests in July, Graham was presented with an opportunity to play sevens again. 

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Great Britain Sevens captain Charlton Kerr spoke with RugbyPass this week about the lift Graham had already given the side before the season finale in Bordeaux. That carried into the team’s opening match of the three-day event, taking on World Championship leaders South Africa. 

Graham scored and made a crucial try-saving tackle, with GB going on to secure a nail-biting five-point win in extra-time. The 28-year-old played the full match as the side ranked last on the overall standings claimed a win that could shake up the World Championship race. 

“I was bloody nervous coming into this game. I wasn’t expecting to go the full 14 minutes then plus extra-time. The lungs are going, the legs are heavy,” Graham told RugbyPass in Bordeaux. 

“I thought the bloke had done me on the outside and I felt like I was stuck in mud and it was just that last dip diving to get him. It was a big moment. 

“For me it’s just about having fun. It’s been kind of almost a frustrating season at Edinburgh, not probably have as much ball,” he said. 

“I’ve just tried to do this for myself more than anything. I love playing sevens, I love getting the ball, running with it and just getting the ball in hand. Honestly, I’m doing it for myself. 

“These boys here have welcomed me with open arms and it’s been easy just sliding right in and they’ve made it so easy for me.” 

Maurce Kershaw and Graham touched down for a try each as GB raced out to a 14-0 lead over the Blitzboks. But the World Championship front-runners hit back through Ricardo Duarttee, who scored a double, before a yellow card in extra-time changed the game. 

Duarttee was told to sit down for two minutes, and Great Britain made the most of their one-man advantage. Finley Lloyd-Gilmour raced away for the match-winner three minutes into golden point at Stade Atlantique, completing the famous result. 

Great Britain have claimed some big wins this season, including a seven-point upset over the All Blacks Sevens in Perth. But heading into the final event of the season, GB sit in last place on the World Championship standings, with it all to play for in Bordeaux. 

GB can still mathematically finish as high as seventh, with the top eight earning core status for the 2026/27 SVNS 1 campaign. The bottom four sides will be relegated, left to fight their way back up from the second tier. 

“That was massive. We spoke all week, we’re not far off,” Graham explained. 

“They’ve just been getting beat by those fine margins; tries, conversions.  

“Then to go to extra-time, we just had to hold the ball, go deep and we just backed ourselves… we’re under the pump, there’s a bit of pressure on us down at the bottom so it’s good to come here, do something special this weekend.”