South Africa and France charge into Youth Olympics semi-finals unbeaten

South Africa and France are both one win away from the rugby sevens gold medal match at the Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games, having scored more than 100 points each as they flew through the pool stage unbeaten.

17-year-old Dandre Brink starred with five tries on day one, as South Africa secured high-scoring wins over Senegal, Canada and Germany. France topped Pool B after running away with emphatic results against Japan, Uganda and Argentina.

The men’s playoff matches and semi-finals are now set, with Argentina and Canada also in the mix for sevens medals at CID Stadium. Argentina medalled at the previous two editions of sevens at the Youth Games, while the Canadians are looking to break new ground.

USA Rugby Sevens prospect Luisa Moala was one of the Team USA flag bearers at the Opening Ceremony, with 2,700 athletes competing at these Games. Rugby got underway the next morning, with entertaining games setting the tone early.

Canada survived a thriller 17-10 against Germany, before South Africa piled on the points 43-5 against Senegal. France and Argentina both secured shutout wins first up, almost reaching a half-century against Japan and Uganda, respectively.

France made another statement 58-0 over Uganda, while South Africa and Argentina also kept their winning starts alive. It set the stage for a seismic end to day one, with South Africa chasing a first-ever sevens medal at the Youth Games.

Jake Dave crossed for the first points against Germany, touching down with exactly one minute up on the clock. The teenager missed the shot at the uprights. Germany then fought their way back, even taking the lead after a try to No. 9 Felix Grothe.

But a Brink double swung the match South Africa’s way, before James Sale, Dave and Divan Meyer also got over the try line. It had been a five-point ball game at the break, but South Africa ran away with a comfortable 34- 7 victory in the end.

Japan finished day one with a confidence-building 41-7 triumph over Uganda, before Argentina returned to the field to take on France. These two nations have contested the men’s gold medal matches at the last two Youth Olympics sevens tournaments.

Argentina struck first through Federico Kantz in the fourth minute, with Ramon Benedit converting that try. But France hit back before the break through Gaspard Laharrague, with the Simon Laharrague conversion levelling the scores at 7-all going into half-time.

France shot out of the blocks to the start the second term, with Nathanael Senga Kouo and Pablo Garbajosa scoring a try each within two minutes. Matt Lefeuvre added another five points to France’s lead with less than three minutes remaining.

South Africa and Argentina will meet in the first men’s semi-final at 1:42 pm local time on Monday, and France will then face Canada at 2:02 pm. The losers will play for bronze just after 4:30 pm, before the men’s gold medal match rounds out day 2 at Complexe Iba Mar Diop.

The women’s competition gets started on Monday morning as well, with Kenya, the People’s Republic of China, Australia and Senegal in Pool A.  Spain, Czechia, the United States of America and Madagascar are in the other group.

Dakar 2026 day one results (men’s)

Pool A

Canada 17–10 Germany
South Africa 43–5 Senegal
Germany 31–12 Senegal
South Africa 24–17 Canada
Canada 40–0 Senegal
South Africa 34–7 Germany

Pool B

France 48–0 Japan
Argentina 49–0 Uganda
France 58–0 Uganda
Argentina 31–5 Japan
Japan 41–7 Uganda
France 24–7 Argentina