Philip Snyman has credited the depth and culture of the Springbok Sevens programme after the Blitzboks secured a remarkable double in the 2026 season — winning both the HSBC SVNS Series and successfully defending the HSBC SVNS World Championship title in Bordeaux.
The Blitzboks reached six finals from nine tournaments, won five, and accumulated 37 match wins across the season — more than any other team. Their World Championship defence was effectively sealed on Saturday, with Sunday's results ultimately immaterial to the title outcome, even as they fell to France in the semifinal and Spain in the bronze-medal match. Injury attrition played a role on the final day, with the squad starting their semifinal with only 10 fit players and losing captain Impi Visser before the bronze-medal contest.
"To win both the World Series and the World Championship is a special feat indeed," said Snyman. "The fact that we won the Hong Kong tournament for the first time ever was probably the highlight of the World Championship, and along with playing in the final last weekend, that laid the foundation for us to retain our World Championship status."
Snyman was candid about their Bordeaux weekend: "We did not always play our best rugby, but our effort could never be faulted. At times we were our own worst enemies, but the hard work done earlier in the championship race laid the foundation."
Tristan Leyds claimed the Men's Player of the Year award, becoming the fourth Blitzboks player to win the honour after Cecil Afrika, Werner Kok and Seabelo Senatla — all three of whom Snyman played alongside. "He joined us over two years ago and has quickly grown into a senior player. He is right up there with the best," said Snyman.
Shilton van Wyk, the season's leading try-scorer, was named in the Dream Team alongside Leyds — the only two players from any one nation in the seven-man selection.
Looking ahead, Snyman confirmed the programme introduced six or seven players to World Series rugby this season and that most of the squad are contracted through to 2028. "We are looking at bringing in a couple more talented players as we build towards the next Olympics," he said. "We are not there yet, but we are going in the right direction."