BlitzBok star Leyds flies SA flag in World Rugby Awards race
NEWS: Blitzboks star Tristan Leyds has been nominated for the Men’s Sevens Player of the Year Award.
Leyds is the only South African in contention for the prestigious accolade following the BlitzBoks’ tremendous success this season.
The South Africa Sevens won the World Series title, claiming four out of six legs and securing the first piece of silverware of the World Championship in Hong Kong.
The ace faces stiff competition from Australia Henry Hutchison and Fiji’s Vuiviwa Naduvalo.
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In the women’s category, Maddison Levi (Australia), Jorja Miller (New Zealand) and Ariana Ramsey (USA) have been nominated for the Player of the Year award.
In the Men’s Sevens Rookie of the Year category, Kele Lasaqa (New Zealand), Harry Wilson (Australia) and Finley Lloyd-Gilmour (Great Britain) are contenders, while Anaick Konyi (France), Kennedi Stevenson (Canada) and Tahna Wilfley (USA) are the nominees in the women’s category.
In addition to the four voted awards, a number of special honours will also be presented in Bordeaux, including the Women’s SVNS Top Try Scorer and Men’s SVNS Top Try Scorer awards.
The Women’s SVNS Dream Team of the Year and Men’s SVNS Dream Team of the Year will also be unveiled, recognising the players who have consistently delivered world-class performances throughout the season.
The HSBC SVNS Awards 2026 will provide the perfect finale to an action-packed season, celebrating the athletes who have lit up the series and helped make the HSBC SVNS Series another unforgettable showcase of rugby sevens.
“The HSBC SVNS Awards recognise the exceptional talent, commitment and performances that have defined another outstanding year of rugby sevens around the world,” said World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin.
“From season-long standout performers to exciting new players making their mark on the international stage, these nominees represent the very best of our sport.
“Following a thrilling HSBC SVNS Series and World Championship, we look forward to celebrating the achievements of our nominees and announcing the winners in Bordeaux as we bring the 2026 season to a memorable close.”
