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Latest News
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Black Ferns Sevens renew riveting rivalry with Australia on HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia wrapped up the 2022 Series title in Langford, but the Black Ferns Sevens left Canada with plenty to celebrate as they begin a busy period.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 3 May, 2022
4 min read
Madagascar Women's Sevens
3 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: Madagascar latest team to book ticket to Cape Town

Following another intense weekend of qualifying action we now know the identity of 12 women's and 20 men's teams who will compete at RWC Sevens 2022.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Mon 2 May, 2022
3 min read
HSBC Spain Sevens Seville 2022 - Women's
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe keen to drive Ireland onto Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

We spoke to the prolific Ireland star about backing up the team’s success in Seville and plotting their path to Cape Town in September.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 26 April, 2022
4 min read
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
5 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Everything you need to know about Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Your guide to RWC Sevens 2022, which will take place in Cape Town between 9-11 September this year.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Fri 8 April, 2022
5 min read
Dubai Emirates Airline Rugby Sevens 2021 - Men's
3 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Perfection, not silverware, the focus for South Africa and Selvyn Davids

We caught up with the Blitzboks star, who has helped guide his side to the top of the men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series standings as the countdown continues to their home Rugby World Cup Sevens.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 5 April, 2022
3 min read
2018 Highlights
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
08:29 mins

Highlights: New Zealand win big in San Francisco

New Zealand retained their Rugby World Cup Sevens title in San Francisco
Mon 23 July, 2018
08:29 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
07:03 mins

Highlights: New Zealand women's win Rugby World Cup Sevens

Check out all the top action as New Zealand win The Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco
Sun 22 July, 2018
07:03 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
06:30 mins

HIGHLIGHTS: Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two

Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two of action at Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 #RWC7s
Sun 22 July, 2018
06:30 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day One
06:51 mins

Highlights: Men's quarter-finals decided

Men's quarter-finals of Rugby World Cup Sevens decided after incredible first day at AT&T Park
Sat 21 July, 2018
06:51 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
06:26 mins

Highlights: Women's semi-finals confirmed at Rugby World Cup Sevens

Championship semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day one of action
Sat 21 July, 2018
06:26 mins
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series
Tuesday 05 April, 2022
3 min read

Perfection, not silverware, the focus for South Africa and Selvyn Davids

We caught up with the Blitzboks star, who has helped guide his side to the top of the men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series standings as the countdown continues to their home Rugby World Cup Sevens.
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Selvyn Davids acknowledges it is “every team’s dream” to win the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and Rugby World Cup Sevens, but there is no chance in-form South Africa will look any further ahead than this weekend in Singapore.

The Blitzboks lead the current men’s Series standings having won six successive tournaments in 2021 and 2022 to put a disappointing campaign at the Tokyo Olympic Games firmly behind them.

Davids has been a prolific presence in that run, scoring 111 points in four 2022 events, but any suggestion that South Africa could secure silverware on the Series and at their home RWC Sevens is quickly swatted away.

Tokyo Olympic finalists Fiji and New Zealand are scheduled to make their long-awaited Series return in Singapore, and Davids is mindful that the challenge facing the Blitzboks is only going to get tougher.

“There’s a lot of pressure on us at the moment, but we just told ourselves that we can't focus on the winning streak we have,” he told World Rugby.

“Now that New Zealand and Fiji are coming back, we know they're bringing something different through their game than any other team on the circuit.

“So, our focus just has to stay up there and like we always do, we take every game as a final because we know there's no easy game on the circuit, every team is stepping up. Every team has been playing there for a while now.

"He talks to the ball, and it listens"

He makes things happen for the @Blitzboks 🇿🇦 Happy Birthday Selvyn Davids! 🥳 pic.twitter.com/QzXXWkKtO9

— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) March 26, 2022

“Even without Fiji and New Zealand on the circuit the past few tournaments, we just knew we had to stay focused and just focus on ourselves and try to be the best that we can, try to get as close as possible to perfection.”

Guiding young Blitzbok talent

That search for perfection will begin again on Saturday when they take on Canada in Singapore’s National Stadium looking to extend their 34-match winning run on the Series.

South Africa’s form has been aided by the emergence of exciting young stars such as Ronald Brown and Shaun Williams, as Davids has become one of the more experienced players in the squad.

“There’s a lot of talent in the youngsters in the squad,” Davids said.

“The most important role for me is just to keep them calm whenever it's getting tough. So, that's the only thing I try to do, and I've been getting it right for a few tournaments now.

“So, if I can just keep that up… I've done what I'm trying to do.”

South Africa won the last Series that led into a RWC Sevens, in 2018, but had to settle for a bronze medal at the quadrennial tournament after losing to England in the semi-finals in San Francisco.

Davids admits the Blitzboks have “struggled with the one-off tournaments” in recent years but hopes the side has learnt the lessons of those defeats as they continue a busy year that includes the Commonwealth Games as well as RWC Sevens in Cape Town.

“We lost our cool, I think [at RWC Sevens 2018],” Davids said. “We just lost a bit of focus in the World Cup 2018.

“Because we won the World Series, we thought it was going to happen and now... I think we learn from our mistakes and again, we're going to do better, we hope to do better, we plan to do better.”

“Home World Cup is something else”

The focus for Davids and South Africa remains the matches against Canada, Kenya and the USA on day one in Singapore but it is only natural that anticipation is building for RWC Sevens 2022.

South Africa have never won RWC Sevens, losing the final against Fiji in 1997, so to end their wait for the title in front of their own fans would be a special achievement.

“It’s quite exciting, especially that we know that the stadium can be half-full at the moment [due to COVID-19 restrictions]. Hopefully, we can get it full by then,” Davids said.

“But a home World Cup is just something else. I mean, the World Cup alone, whether it's in South Africa or Japan or New Zealand, a World Cup, it's something huge, it's a one-off tournament, it only comes every fourth year.

“So, for us, having it at home, it's something huge. We're excited, but it's not something we focus on right now.

“We have Singapore and then Vancouver after that, so we're only focusing on the next tournament in hand.”

That approach is sensible but is winning the Series-RWC Sevens double a target for the Blitzboks? “It’s every team's dream to win the World Cup and to win the World Series,” Davids admitted.

“That's the goal, but that's not our focus. We just plan to be as perfect as possible, as close to perfect as possible.”

Trending News Show all
2018 Commonwealth Games women's final
3 min read

Commonwealth Games

All the build-up to rugby sevens at the Commonwealth Games 2022

Now that the line-ups are complete in both the men’s and women’s tournaments, we take a look at who has won gold in the past and the sides competing to add their names to the roll call of honour in July.

Commonwealth Games

Wed 11 May, 2022
3 min read
Madagascar qualify for rugby world cup sevens
4 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Discipline and hard work at the heart of Madagascar's success on the road to Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

The Madagascar women's sevens team has achieved their historic dream of qualifying for a Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament for the first time. At the heart of this achievement lies a lot of hard work, determination and discipline.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Wed 11 May, 2022
4 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Seven women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series players to watch in Toulouse

Following an exciting weekend in Langford we look at seven women’s stars who could light up Toulouse between 20-22 May.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Thu 5 May, 2022
4 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Black Ferns Sevens renew riveting rivalry with Australia on HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia wrapped up the 2022 Series title in Langford, but the Black Ferns Sevens left Canada with plenty to celebrate as they begin a busy period.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 3 May, 2022
4 min read
Madagascar Women's Sevens
3 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: Madagascar latest team to book ticket to Cape Town

Following another intense weekend of qualifying action we now know the identity of 12 women's and 20 men's teams who will compete at RWC Sevens 2022.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Mon 2 May, 2022
3 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
7 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia clinch overall 2022 series title while late Lily Dick try gives them Cup win in Langford

Hosts Canada took fifth place while Ireland flyer Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe bagged 12 tries as they won bronze in the HSBC Canada Sevens in Langford.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Mon 2 May, 2022
7 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
5 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia edge towards HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series glory in Langford as New Zealand provide thrills on return

Australia are closing in on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series title after a perfect start to the penultimate event of the season in Canada, while the Black Ferns came back with a bang at the Starlight Stadium.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Sun 1 May, 2022
5 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
3 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Captains on top of the world ahead of the HSBC Canada Women's Sevens in Langford

The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series returns to the home of Rugby Canada after a 1,083 day break as Australia look to clinch their first Series title since to 2018.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Fri 29 April, 2022
3 min read
Santiago Gómez Cora
5 min read

rugby sevens

Santiago Gómez Cora: “You have to be patient, trust a lot and do the hard work”

World Rugby caught up with Los Pumas Sevens coach about Argentina’s recent win in the HSBC Canada Sevens and what it means to him going forward.

rugby sevens

Thu 28 April, 2022
5 min read
Charlotte Caslick
3 min read

HSBC Sevens Series

Series title within Australia’s reach as the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series returns to Langford

We spoke to Australia co-captain Charlotte Caslick about her team's mindset heading into this weekend's HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series stop in Langford knowing they can wrap up the series title.

HSBC Sevens Series

Wed 27 April, 2022
3 min read
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