The Blitzboks ended a nine-year drought by claiming victory at the Cape Town Sevens, defeating France 26-14 in a gripping Cup final on Sunday evening. The triumph marked South Africa’s first title in the World Rugby Sevens Series (SVNS) for the 2024/25 season, propelling them to the top of the standings.
South Africa’s victory came at a time when France, the reigning Olympic champions, was adjusting to the absence of Antoine Dupont, who has returned to 15s rugby and recently led Toulouse to a dominant win over Ulster in the Investec Champions Cup. Without Dupont’s influence, France struggled to maintain their sevens dominance, allowing the Blitzboks to shine under head coach Phillip Snyman. This was South Africa’s first title since Snyman’s full-time appointment.
In a thrilling men’s final, both teams exchanged tries in an intense first half that ended 14-14. France opened the scoring through Celian Pouzelgues, but South Africa quickly responded with tries from Donavan Don and Zain Davids. France leveled the match before halftime with a corner try from Varian Pasquet. The second half saw Shilton van Wyk winning a sprint to set up David Brits, who scored the decisive try to secure South Africa’s first home SVNS title since 2015.
In the women’s final, New Zealand overcame a two-try deficit to defeat the USA 26-12. This victory allowed New Zealand to take an early lead in the HSBC SVNS standings, bouncing back from their recent disappointment in the Dubai final. The win also positions them strongly ahead of the next round in Perth in January.
Springboks captain Siya Kolisi was among those enthusiastically supporting the Blitzboks during their final. South Africa’s co-captains Zain Davids and Impey Visser celebrated the victory, highlighting the team’s determination and the contributions of new players. Davids praised the team’s heart and unity, while Visser described the win as a monumental moment for the players and fans, breaking a nine-year “curse” at their home competition.
South Africa reached the final after a challenging 19-12 victory over Spain, while France advanced by edging out Fiji 19-17 in a rematch of their Olympic gold medal clash.