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 his 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.”