Philip Snyman has credited the Springbok Sevens system and the players' collective buy-in after the Blitzboks secured a rare 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 across nine tournaments, won five, and accumulated 37 match wins across the season — more than any other team. The World Championship title was secured on Saturday, with Sunday's results ultimately immaterial to the overall outcome.
The final day in Bordeaux was a difficult one, however. Operating with only 10 fit players at the start of the day and losing captain Impi Visser before their last match, the Blitzboks fell to France in the semi-finals and then to Spain in the bronze medal match. Tristan Leyds scored a long-range try, converted from wide by Ricardo Duarttee, to level at 7-7 against France before the hosts pulled away.
"We did not make it easy for ourselves this weekend — we didn't play our best rugby here in France and at times we were our own worst enemies, but the hard work done earlier in the championship race laid the foundation," Snyman said.
Snyman was quick to highlight the Hong Kong tournament victory as a defining moment: "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."
Leyds was named Men's Player of the Year, becoming only the fourth Blitzbok to win the award after Cecil Afrika, Werner Kok and Seabelo Senatla. Snyman, who played alongside the first three, described Leyds as "right up there with the best" and noted his rapid development since joining the squad more than two years ago.
Shilton van Wyk, the season's leading try-scorer, was named in the Dream Team alongside Leyds — an honour Snyman was equally enthusiastic about.
Looking ahead, Snyman confirmed that the squad's focus now shifts to building depth and momentum towards the next Olympics. Six or seven players were introduced to the World Series this season, and with most of the squad contracted until 2028, SA Rugby is looking to add further talent to the programme.