Rugby
Blitzboks crowned sevens world champions in LA─── MORGAN PIEK 07:48 Mon, 05 May 2025
The Springbok Sevens team signed off their up-and-down season on the perfect note by winning the SVNS World Championship in Los Angeles in the early hours of Monday morning.
In the early hours of this morning, the Blitzboks beat Spain 19-5 in the final to complete a flawless weekend in California.
The Blitzboks went through the entire campaign in the City of Angels unbeaten. In the final, Selvyn Davids, Mfundo Ndhlovu, and Ricardo Duarttee all scored tries, while Ronald Brown and Tristan Leyds each slotted a conversion.
The deadlock in the final was broken in the fifth minute when Davids crossed the whitewash, with Brown adding the extras.
A word from #Blitzboks coach Philip Snyman: "All credit to the players" ??#PoweredByUnity #HSBCSVNS pic.twitter.com/oPmMBzUXSI
— Springbok Sevens (@Blitzboks) May 5, 2025
Spain hit back in the 10th minute when Pol Pla went over for a try, although the conversion attempt was unsuccessful.
With South Africa still narrowly ahead, they shifted gears and extended their lead as Ndhlovu dotted down. Leyds converted, and the score at that point proved to be the defining moment of the match.
On the stroke of full-time, Duarttee sealed the win with South Africa’s third try to cap off a memorable weekend in LA.
Ricardo Duarttee. Photo: World Rugby
Blitzbok coach Philip Snyman praised the players afterwards, saying that their willingness to keep working made the win possible.
“Yes, I'm very happy as a coach – I think the whole team, we worked extremely hard over the last couple of weeks,” said Snyman.
“And to be honest, a coach can lay out a plan, and a coach can give the plan but the buy-in comes from the players and the special moments they created on the field.
“A coach can’t coach that – all credit has to go to the players. I’m really proud of them and they deserve this weekend. They played phenomenal and they were definitely the best team this weekend.”
Blitzboks are back ????
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) May 5, 2025
South Africa win the #HSBCSVNS World Championship in LA ??#HSBCSVNSLAX pic.twitter.com/WGC0VOITs9
The Blitzboks began their campaign with a 19-10 win over France on Friday, followed by a 12-7 victory against Great Britain and a 29-21 win against Argentina.
In the clash against old rivals New Zealand, it was one-way traffic – Shilton van Wyk and Quewin Nortjé each scored a brace as the Blitzboks cruised to a 31-5 win.
Scorers:
Blitzboks: Tries - Selvyn Davids, Mfundo Ndhlovu, Ricardo Duarttee Conv. - Ronald Brown, Tristan Leyds
Spain: Try - Pol Pla
