After an intense and emotionally charged weekend in Valladolid, both the Blitzboks and Springbok Women’s Sevens teams now turn their attention to Bordeaux, where the final chapter of the 2026 HSBC SVNS World Championship season will unfold from 5 to 7 June at Stade Atlantique.
With world title ambitions, final standings and valuable ranking points all still on the line, Bordeaux promises to deliver one of the biggest weekends of the international sevens season.
For the Blitzboks, the final tournament arrives with genuine opportunity still within reach.
South Africa remain firmly among the leading contenders after their historic Hong Kong Sevens triumph earlier this year and another competitive performance in Valladolid, where they once again showed their ability to challenge the very best teams on the circuit.
The South Africans will know that consistency across the final weekend could prove decisive as the HSBC SVNS World Championship race reaches its conclusion.
Meanwhile, the Springbok Women’s Sevens side head into Bordeaux determined to continue building momentum after showing encouraging signs of growth in Spain.
Despite facing several difficult challenges throughout the Valladolid tournament, the South Africans produced strong passages of rugby and finished the weekend with confidence after securing back-to-back victories to close out their campaign.
For a squad continuing to gain valuable experience against elite international opposition, Bordeaux presents another important opportunity to measure progress against some of the strongest teams in world rugby.
Springbok Women’s Sevens fixtures
South Africa’s women will face a demanding pool stage in Bordeaux as they continue their push for a strong finish to the HSBC SVNS World Championship season.
Pool fixtures:
- South Africa vs Australia
- South Africa vs USA
- South Africa vs Fiji
Australia arrive as the form side after claiming the Valladolid title, while USA and Fiji have both shown their ability to trouble any team on the circuit.
For captain Zintle Mpupha and her squad, the focus will be on carrying the intensity, physicality and attacking confidence they displayed during key moments in Spain.
Blitzboks fixtures
The Blitzboks also face a challenging route through the Bordeaux pool stages, with several dangerous opponents standing between South Africa and another deep tournament run.
Pool fixtures:
- South Africa vs Spain
- South Africa vs USA
- South Africa vs Uruguay
Spain continue to be one of the fastest-rising teams in world sevens and pushed South Africa all the way in Valladolid, while USA and Uruguay remain highly competitive and capable of producing major upsets on their day.
The South Africans will likely take confidence from the resilience they showed during their dramatic victory over Spain last weekend, a result that once again highlighted the composure and defensive grit that have become trademarks of the Blitzboks programme.
One final push before the season ends
Beyond the fixtures themselves, Bordeaux carries added significance as the final event of the HSBC SVNS World Championship season.
The tournament will ultimately determine who walks away as world champions, who secures critical final standings positions, and which teams leave Europe carrying momentum into the next phase of international rugby sevens.
For South Africa, there is still plenty to play for.
The Blitzboks remain firmly in the championship conversation, while the Springbok Women continue building a programme that is showing increasing signs of growth, depth and competitiveness against the world’s best.
Now, with one final European weekend remaining, both South African sides head to Bordeaux knowing that the season’s biggest moments may still be waiting.
