Leyds geared for more Perth memories

The Australian HSBC SVNS stop and particularly HBF Park in Perth, will always have a special place in the heart of Springbok Sevens flyhalf Tristan Leyds and come this weekend for the fourth tournament of the 2026 season, it will be no different.

There will be an added bounce in the step for Leyds though. He made his Blitzbok debut in Perth in 2024, which was rather fitting, as older brother Dillyn Leyds moved to Western Australia a decade earlier to kickstart his senior international career.

“I was happy with my debut; it was a good place to run out for my country and represent them and I thought it went well,” said Leyds as the Blitzboks prepared for a bite at Aussie gold. “Sadly, I missed out last year due to injury but I am ready to go and give it my all this weekend again.”

Leyds will play in his 15th tournament (168 points - 22 tries, 29 conversions) and although loaded with the extra responsibilities in the playmaker role, he embraces the challenges that will be posed to the South Africans this weekend.

The absence of playmakers Selvyn Davids, Dewald Human and Ronald Brown cast the spotlight on the former DHL Western Province player but the 28-year-old does not shy away from the extra workload.

“They have been in those roles for five, six, seven years and they have really excelled in that, so stepping into the breach is huge but I love the new challenge,” said Leyds, who also got married in December last year.

“There were extra leadership duties that came my way especially on this trip but I would not want it any other way. It is part of growth, and I am all for it.

“Hopefully I can do justice to that this weekend especially. I have grown as a Blitzbok player over the seasons and I am coming to grips with the demands of the world series. Even some of my opponents from other teams remarked on my improved fitness.”

Reviews from Singapore showed them what not to do this weekend, said Leyds: “It showed how tough we made it for ourselves, with silly mistakes and basically playing against ourselves. There will be a mental shift, with ball possession at the top of mind.

“We really can’t play without the ball. We would attack for 30 seconds, give the ball away and then defend for two minutes. That came back to bite us and we can’t repeat that.”

Leyds promised the Blitzboks will be good value for money this weekend: “We have the team to get the job done.”

Leyds is eager to leave a legacy in the Blitzbok jersey. Where Dillyn claimed his fame by winning the Junior World Championship with the Junior Boks, 10 Test caps with the Springboks and European club glory with Stade Rochelais in fifteens, Tristan’s contribution to the family home mantel piece in Somerset West is a bronze medal from the 2024 Olympic Games and the HSBC SVNS World Championship gold from last season and he is keen for more sevens glory.

“On a personal note, I would love to reach 35 tournaments, which is an in-team benchmark, although age might catch-up with me,” he laughed.

“If I look after my body, it certainly is possible and then 50 will be the next target. I think another Olympic Games would be nice yes but for now, our focus remains on the world series and then the three World Championship tournaments later in the season.”

Meanwhile, World Rugby is marking the occasion with the launch of 'Hard as Nails'. Celebrating style, strength and self-expression, players are set to showcase bespoke nail polish alongside the athleticism, resilience and physicality on display throughout the tournament.

The campaign, designed to celebrate unity through diversity and authenticity, invites players and fans to show they’re Hard as Nails by painting their nails in support of self-expression, inclusion and the tournament’s arrival in Perth. Two bespoke nail colours have been created exclusively for the event and will be worn by participating players across the weekend.

But Hard as Nails is about more than style. To bring the campaign to life, players were also put to the test around the city, taking on physical challenges including a grip-strength test to see who would top the Hard as Nails charts.

Nails are having a moment in sport, becoming a symbol of strength, individuality and confidence. This is about more than aesthetics. It’s about showing that rugby sevens is a sport that champions self-expression, inclusion and power on and off the field. At the heart of the HSBC SVNS Series is gender parity, with men’s and women’s competitions running side by side at every leg of the Series, helping drive the continued growth of women’s rugby worldwide.

Australia Sevens player Maddison Levi said: “Hard as Nails is the perfect way to describe an SVNS player. It’s probably one of the most athletically demanding sports for a female, you have so much space to cover, you have to be fit, fast and physical. Hard as Nails really encompasses everything you need to be as an SVNS athlete.”

Canada Women’s Sevens player Savannah Bauder added: “Being in a team and wearing the same uniform, we all look similar. But when it comes to doing your nails, your hair, or being big into glitter, it shows the feminine side of rugby. There’s often a stigma around contact sports and being strong and tough but being able to show your traits and quirks through your nails or hair lets your personality shine, even when you’re in the same kit.”

Players and fans are encouraged to show they’re Hard as Nails by painting their nails using the exclusive Perth colours and sharing photos and videos on social media using #HardAsNails and @svnsseries, celebrating self-expression, inclusion and the arrival of HSBC SVNS in the city.

The HSBC SVNS Series continues to redefine the rugby sevens experience, combining elite, fast-paced sport with a festival atmosphere of music, food and culture. Perth’s HBF Park will once again feature live entertainment, international DJs, food and beverage activations and the Beach Club delivering an unforgettable experience for fans from around the world.

Blitzboks’ Pool A fixtures

Saturday (SA times – all matches live on SuperSport)

5.58am: Spain

9.14am: Argentina

12.52pm: Fiji

2026 HSBC SVNS schedule

29-30 November: Dubai - NZL/NZL

6-7 December: Cape Town - SA/AUS

31 January-1 February: Singapore - FIJI/NZL

7-8 February: Perth

7-8 March: Vancouver

14-15 March: New York

17-19 April: Hong Kong (World Championship Series, Round 1)

29-31 May: Valladolid (World Championship Series, Round 2)

5-7 June: Bordeaux (World Championship Series, Round 3)