David Brits is making his Hong Kong Sevens debut after missing the previous two tournaments through injury, and while he rates the Cape Town leg above all others, he's keeping an open mind about what's widely considered the sport's most iconic sevens event. His excitement is tempered by pragmatism — the Blitzboks arrive as 2026 SVNS Series champions with their Series future already secured, but Brits is clear that past success means nothing heading into the first of three World Championship qualifiers. The squad's settled look — no debutants in the opening training session for the first time this season — points to a group that's hit its stride.
The piece also spotlights Jayden Nell, the only other Blitzbok without Hong Kong caps, who impressed on debut in New York after a slow-burn introduction as 13th man against the All Blacks. Both players frame their roles in forwards terms: generating momentum, contributing at the lineout, and staying within the game-by-game mindset that's driven the Blitzboks' dominant run. With Uruguay, Spain, and Argentina in the pool, and every rival playing for Series survival, the edge won't be hard to find — but the Blitzboks will need to match that urgency from the first whistle.