VANCOUVER — The World Rugby Sevens Series witnessed two nations reinforcing their championship credentials with commanding performances in Vancouver this weekend. South Africa’s men’s team delivered a masterclass in sevens rugby, overpowering Spain 38-12 in Sunday’s final to claim their 47th World Series tournament title. The victory propelled the Springboks into a tie with Fiji atop the season standings.
Tournament MVP Tristan Leyds orchestrated South Africa’s dominant first-half performance with a series of precision assists that dismantled Spain’s defense. His creative playmaking led to tries by Sebastian Jobb and Shilton van Wyk, establishing an insurmountable 17-0 halftime advantage. Despite a resilient effort from Spain that included scores from Jeremy Trevithick and Anton Legorburu Impi, South Africa’s physical superiority proved decisive throughout the championship match.
In the women’s division, New Zealand extended their Vancouver dominance with a hard-fought 24-17 victory over Australia—their fifth consecutive title at this venue. The Black Ferns’ triumph marked their third tournament win this season and was spearheaded by the exceptional two-way performance of Jorja Miller, whose defensive pressure and offensive creativity proved instrumental.
The match developed into a classic trans-Tasman rivalry showdown, with Australia mounting a spectacular second-half comeback from a 17-5 deficit to level the score at 17-17. However, New Zealand demonstrated championship composure in the closing moments, with Alena Saili scoring the match-winning try following precise setup work from Portia Waaka and captain Risi Pouri Lane.
With one tournament remaining in New York before the season finals, New Zealand maintains a six-point standings advantage over Australia. The rivalry has dominated the women’s circuit this season, with these two nations contesting all five tournament finals to date.
Spain’s surprising run to the men’s final included impressive victories over New Zealand in pool play and two-time Olympic champion Fiji in the semifinals, signaling their emergence as a rising force in international sevens.