Jayden Nell looking to finish debut season with historic Bordeaux title

When it comes to hitting the ground running in the HSBC SVNS Series, few players have done so as quickly as Blitzbok Jayden Nell, the youngster having featured in the side ever since his New York debut.

However, the 22-year-old knows that a successful rookie season is only complete if they walk away with the Championship this weekend in Bordeaux, which will likely require them to win their first title on French soil since 2018.

The Blitzboks finished as runners-up in Valladolid thanks to a barnstorming performance from Australia, who handed the regular season premiers their two losses of the weekend during the pool stages and then again in the final.

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Fortunately, the Blitzboks will have a relatively unchanged side for this weekend, the only major change coming in Donavan Don joining the side following the loss of Dewald Human to a knee injury in Spain.

While South Africa will not face Australia again in the pool stages, they will expect plenty of questions from Great Britain, Kenya and Fiji when the tournament gets underway on Friday.

“We know what to do and it all boils down to how we play together as a team,” Nell told The South African on Wednesday.

“We have seen this year that if the guys do that, we are a tough team to beat.

“We know what we have to do, it is just a matter of going out there and do it.”

It has been a promising season for the Blitzboks regardless, with an exciting generation of young players showing they have what it takes to compete and win at the top level, with Nell among that crop of players.

Having joined the Blitzboks in 2023 straight out of school, Nell overcame several injuries with two appearances for the Springbok Sevens ‘A’ side, who played in the Rugby Africa Sevens Cup in Mauritius in 2024 and 2025.

However, making his debut in New York saw far more success, with the youngster scoring his first World Series try against hosts Spain in the quarter-finals, the Blitzboks going on to win the tight clash 14-12.

“Only when we watched the review, I realised, along with most of the other guys, that it was my first try,” Nell laughed.

“So I asked them to please celebrate with me whenever I score my second.”

Nell will have the chance to do so and finish the season in style when his side take on Great Britain in their opening match on Friday night.

The Blazeboks will also be in action that same day, taking on Argentina, France and New Zealand in Pool A as they look to try and force their way into the World Series next year.