The Springbok Women’s Sevens’ dream of returning to the HSBC SVNS Series will have to wait another year, but coach Cecil Afrika believes the lessons learnt during a demanding campaign could prove invaluable for the team’s long-term future.
South Africa’s hopes of securing core status for 2027 ended with a 12th-place finish at the third and final SVNS World Championship tournament in Bordeaux, where only the top eight teams booked their places in next season’s elite series. While the result was disappointing, Afrika was quick to place it in the context of a season that often forced his side to play catch-up.
The Bok Women suffered a significant setback earlier in the campaign when injuries disrupted preparations ahead of the Hong Kong tournament, limiting the time available to build combinations and momentum at a crucial stage of the season.
“We never really had a chance in Hong Kong due to the short time together after the injuries,” Afrika said.
Yet, despite those challenges, South Africa steadily improved as the campaign progressed. Given a month to prepare before the final two tournaments, the side produced some of their most competitive performances of the season and arrived in Bordeaux with genuine belief.
Afrika believes that growth demonstrated just how close the team is to bridging the gap to the world’s best.
“We’re not far off from where we need to be,” he said.
The coach pointed to depth and experience as the biggest differences between South Africa and the teams that secured top-eight finishes. Fatigue, decision-making under pressure and a lack of composure in key moments ultimately proved costly.
Those shortcomings are now shaping plans for the next cycle. Afrika wants a larger training squad, greater competition for places and more playing opportunities as South Africa begin another attempt to qualify for the SVNS Series while also building towards the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The expected return of several experienced players from injury should further strengthen the programme and help accelerate the development of emerging talent.
Captain Zintle Mpupha believes the progress made this season should not be overlooked.
The Bok Women fought their way through the SVNS pathway and established themselves among the world’s top 12 teams, while performances in Spain showed they can compete with more established opponents.
“This sevens system requires hard work,” said Mpupha. “We came a long way.”
She believes the foundations have now been laid for the next generation to continue that journey. Both Mpupha and Afrika are convinced the campaign offered proof that South Africa’s return to the top tier is a matter of when, not if.
