Spain stun SVNS giants Blitzboks with dominant Hong Kong Sevens upset

Spain have shaken up Pool A at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens with a massive upset over regular season champions South Africa, running away with a dominant 31-12 win on the opening day of the new-look World Championship Series.

South Africa won four of six events during the SVNS 1 campaign, which included a run of three consecutive crowns to round out the regular season. The Blitzboks emerged as the team to beat in the top flight by claiming silverware in Cape Town, Perth, Vancouver and New York.

But the new-look World Championship has effectively reset the ladder, with four sides from the second division qualifying for the three-event series as well. Spain finished the 2025/26 season in second but were unable to replicate those heroics in SVNS 1 this time.

Spain finished the 2025/26 SVNS Series in seventh place on the ladder, having made the semi-finals on just one occasion during the competitive campaign. But the World Championship presents new opportunities, and it’s already delivered a significant upset.

The Blitzboks held on for a hard-fought 12-7 win over SVNS 2 qualifiers Uruguay to open their account at the Hong Kong Sevens, which is and event they’re yet to win. In the other Pool A fixture, defending champions Argentina piled on the points in a 38-14 victory against Spain.

That made the second-round of pool fixtures a must-win for Spain, who were looking to a snap a streak of six consecutive defeats to South Africa. Spain dominated the possession and territory battles during the first term, leading to a 14-0 half-time lead.

Tobias Sainz-Trapaga was first to strike in the second minute, before Eduardo Lopez powered through the defensive line to extend Spain’s advantage just before the break. It was a similar story in the second term, with those two completing doubles.

In-form Blitzboks flyer Shilton van Wyk raced away to score a crucial five-points in the 10^th minute, but the efforts of Sainz-Trapaga and Lopez saw Spain lead 24-7 late in the piece. Spain weren’t done there eight, with try-scoring machine Jeremy Trevithick capping off a famous upset.

“We’ve been waiting all day for an upset, well, we just got a big, big one,” commentator Rupert Cox said on the broadcast, which you can watch on RugbyPass TV.

“Really puts [Spain] in contention in Pool A… that’s a massive performance. They conceded over 30 points in their opening game against Argentina earlier today, but they have well and truly bounced back against the regular season champions, South Africa.”

Argentina secured their place in the quarter-finals with a 40-19 demolition of Uruguay. Luciano Gonzalez was prolific, with another four players making their mark with tries. Marcos Moneta ran in the team’s final score, as Los Pumas Sevens take a wealth of confidence into day two.

It makes things very interesting in Men’s Pool A, with Spain currently ranked ahead of South Africa in second on points difference. Spain will face Uruguay on Saturday morning for a spot in the next stage, while South Africa face defending champions Argentina in a blockbuster.