SOUTH AFRICA have won the world-renowned Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens for the first time, overcoming last year’s winners Argentina 35-7 in a one-sided Cup Final on Sunday evening.
It was the second time the Blitzboks had beaten Los Pumas during the three-day event, having run away with a commanding 38-0 victory in pool play.
That followed South Africa’s shock loss to Spain on the first day of the World Championship Series.
The Blitzboks won four of six regular season events, which included a run of three consecutive crowns to round out SVNS 1.
But with the standing resetting for the next three legs, the quest for World Championship silverware began in Hong Kong China.
After beating traditional rivals the All Blacks Sevens in the semi-finals, the Blitzboks looked to do something they had never done before: win the Hong Kong Sevens title.
Los Pumas Sevens had achieved that feat for the first time themselves only 13 months ago.
South Africa were parked onside their own 22 for the opening 30 seconds, before a monstrous Tristan Leyds clearance kick changed the game.
Leyds was a clear winner in the race for the ball, regathering to score untouched under the posts.
Argentina controlled possession for the next couple of minutes, as they searched for bounce-back points.
Luciano Gonzalez took Ryan Oosthuizen on one-on-one, and the 2025 World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year was involved in the play again almost immediately.
Gonzalez challenged the Blitzboks defence again, before throwing a spectacular flick pass try assist to Santino Zangara.
Santiago Vera Feld levelled the scores with the conversion in the fourth minute, but it didn’t take the Blitzboks long to regain some control.
The Blitzboks again made their way downfield from well inside their own half, which included another kick behind the defensive line.
Selvyn Davids sent the ball across field to Leyds, who ran about 40 metres before passing the ball back to Davids.
Davids placed the ball down behind the uprights and in front of the South Stand.
Leyds made it two successful conversions from as many attempts, with the Blitzboks taking a seven-point lead into half-time.
It was all Argentina to start the second term, having all the ball for the first 50 seconds as they ran out of their own half.
But a wayward pass from Santiago Alverez aw the Blitzboks regain possession, leading to points right away.
Sebastiaan Jobb picked up the loose ball and flew downfield, and the Blitzbok would’ve scored had it not been for a speculator try-saving tackle from Marcos Moneta.
South Africa added to their lead through Oosthuizen in the next phase, who had been running in support.
The Blitzboks were on the cusp of their first-ever title at the Hong Kong Sevens, with that dream becoming even more real when Shilton van Wyk crossed with less than four minutes remaining.
Leyds kicked ahead for the Blitzboks flyer to chase, with the ball sitting up perfectly.
Davids sealed the result with the team’s fifth try of the Cup Final, slicing through the defensive line after receiving the ball just outside the 22.
Ronald Brown maintained South Africa’s 100 per cent conversion accuracy in the decider.
