SOUTH Africa have been crowned the 2025/2026 HSBC SVNS Series champions after a hard-fought 10-7 victory over the Fiji Airways Fiji men’s sevens team in the New York series final, held yesterday morning at the Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey.
The New York series finale was an epic clash between the Fijian flair and the Blitzboks’ exceptional structured rugby approach.
In a game decided by inches and opportunities, South Africa’s physical and suffocating defensive strategy effectively curtailed Fiji’s attacking prowess.
Gino Cupido opened the scoring for South Africa in the second minute, following a turnover by captain Impi Visser, who was playing in his 50th tournament.
Visser won possession by ripping the ball from Fijian playmaker Terio Veilawa, who was slow to pass after securing the ball from an attacking Fijian ruck.
Cupido, running a perfectly timed supporting line, received an inside pass and sprinted unchallenged to the Fijian tryline.
With a 5-0 lead, South Africa maintained their relentless defensive pressure, disrupting the Fijian rucks and halting any attacking breaks, leaving Fiji unable to mount a comeback before the interval.
In the second half, Tristan Leyds extended South Africa’s lead with a well-worked try, capitalising on a miraculous pass from Donavan Don, who had taken on the Fijian defence to give the Blitzboks a comfortable 10-0 advantage.
Determined not to be outdone, Fiji raised their physicality and finally breached the stubborn South African defence in the 12th minute.
A powerful run from robust forward Kevekini Tanivanuakula exploited a gap in the Blitzboks’ line.
His silky offload to Veilwa, who sprinted past the cover defence, resulted in a try under the uprights. The successful conversion meant Fiji needed only a try to win the tournament and the series.
However, the Blitzboks’ resolute defence held firm. Their rapid defensive line kept Fiji on the back foot for most of the remainder of the match.
Fiji’s most promising attacking opportunity in the final minute was thwarted after Tanivanuakula’s knock-on on the opposition’s five-metre line sealed the game for South Africa.
The victory marked South Africa’s seventh cup win on American soil and their fifth overall HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series title.
South Africa’s Selvyn Davids was named Player of the Final, his influence as half-back in both attack and defence proving crucial in the Blitzboks’ triumph.
