Tristan Leyds named World Rugby SVNS Player of the Year

South African Rugby president Mark Alexander congratulated the Blitzboks for successfully defending their HSBC SVNS World Championship title, while also praising both Leyds and Shilton van Wyk at the HSBC SVNS Awards 2026 in Bordeaux on Sunday.

Leyds delivered an impressive season, scoring 124 points from 16 tries and 22 conversions across nine events. He finished second in the team’s scoring charts behind Van Wyk, who led with 160 points from 32 tries.

“Tristan gave us many reasons to smile during the 2026 season, and all of us involved in South African rugby are very proud of this humble and hard-working young man,” said Alexander. He highlighted Leyds’ ability to energise the squad while emphasising the collective strength of the team.

Alexander also singled out Van Wyk for his influence, noting his consistent attacking threat and match-winning tries, which earned him a place in the HSBC SVNS Dream Team.

The SA Rugby president praised the Blitzboks for a historic campaign that included back-to-back SVNS World Championship titles and tournament victories in Cape Town, Perth, Vancouver, New York, and Hong Kong.

“Their back-to-back triumph is not only a victory for rugby, but a celebration of South African determination and teamwork,” Alexander said, thanking players, coaches, management, and supporters.

Head coach Philip Snyman, captain Impi Visser, and the wider management team were also commended for guiding the squad through a dominant season defined by consistency, unity, and silverware.

Previous South African winners of the award include Cecil Afrika (2011), Werner Kok (2015), and Seabelo Senatla (2016).