Brilliant Blitzboks crowned kings of Los Angeles
The Blitzboks team saved their best for last to win the final tournament of the season, the HSBC Sevens World Championship in Los Angeles, with a 19-5 victory over Spain in the final wrapping up a flawless weekend in California on Sunday (early Monday morning SA time).
The Blitzboks were determined on defence and clinical on attack against a plucky Spain to win their second title of the 2025 season, after raising the trophy in Cape Town in December 2024.
They managed to keep Spain away from their try-line with solid defence and when in possession, struck when it mattered, and even managed to score when down to six men after a late yellow card to Zander Reynders.
The performance in the final wrapped up an excellent effort at the tournament, where the Blitzboks had no peers and hard as Spain tried, they had no answers to unlock the determination of their opponents to not let them get past them.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
Cristiano Ronaldo rules himself out of Club World Cup
No Ronaldo at Club World Cup Global football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed he will not be signing for a team competing in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup. Photo: Fayez Nureldine/AFP Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed he would not play in the upcoming Club World Cup on Saturday, dismissing rumours he was set to transfer to one of the participating clubs. Speaking ahead of Sunday's Nations League final against Spain in Munich, the Portugal captain said suggestions he was set to take part in the newly expanded competition were wide of the mark. "I will not be at the Club World Cup," the Portugal veteran said, but added he had "been contacted" by several participating teams. Ronaldo came into Nations League in Germany amid swirling doubts about his future at club level, with the veteran's contract at Saudi side Al-Nassr set to expire at the end of June.


eNCA
5 days ago
- eNCA
England defender Bright rules herself out of Women's Euros
England defender Millie Bright on Wednesday ruled herself out of selection for next month's women's Euros, saying she is "not able to give 100 percent mentally or physically". The 31-year-old, who captained the Lionesses to their first World Cup final in 2023, last week pulled out of Sarina Wiegman's Nations League squad to take an "extended period of recovery". "This is one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make, but after careful thought and discussions with my team, I have decided to withdraw from selection for the England squad ahead of Euro 2025," the Chelsea captain posted on Instagram. "Football has given me so much, and representing my country has always been my greatest honour. My pride and ego tells me to go but I think the team and the fans deserve more. Right now I am not able to give 100 percent mentally or physically. "As much as I want to be out there running through brick walls for England and fighting alongside my teammates, stepping back is the right thing for my health, my future in the game and most importantly the team." Bright said it would not be fair to take the place of another player "who is ready and able to give everything for the badge and country". The centre-back, capped 88 times for England, won a domestic treble with Chelsea during the 2024/25 season. Her withdrawal follows the shock international retirement of goalkeeper Mary Earps and the announcement on Tuesday that playmaker Fran Kirby was calling time on her England career after learning she was unlikely to make Wiegman's squad for the Euros in Switzerland. All three started every game when England secured their first major silverware at their home Euros in 2022. The Lionesses were knocked out of the Nations League with a 2-1 group-stage defeat to Spain on Tuesday. Wiegman is expected to announce her squad for the Euros on Thursday, with their title defence beginning on July 5 against France. Current and former England teammates offered their support in the comments section of Bright's post, including England and Arsenal forward Chloe Kelly, who wrote "proud of you always", while Aston Villa striker Rachel Daly said: "Couldn't be more proud. With you through EVERYTHING my girl."

The Herald
7 days ago
- The Herald
Piastri says Spanish Grand Prix win was what he needed
Formula One championship leader Oscar Piastri said winning Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix was what he needed after losing out to McLaren teammate Lando Norris over the previous two weekends. "It's been a great year and this weekend's been exactly the kind of weekend I was looking for," the Australian said after his fifth win in nine races. "We executed everything we needed to when it counted and that's all you can ask for. The team gave me a great car once again. It's a lot of fun winning races at the moment." The victory, the seventh of the 24-year-old's career, stretched Piastri's lead over second-placed Norris to 10 points after the Briton reduced it to three with his triumph in Monaco last Sunday. Norris also finished second at Imola, the race before Monaco won by Red Bull's Max Verstappen, with Piastri third. The Australian led from pole position in Spain, the top slot on the grid secured by the biggest margin of the year so far, after also topping the practice times at the Circuit de Catalunya. "It's definitely up there," Piastri said when asked whether it was his strongest yet in Formula One. "I don't know if it's the best one, but certainly it's been a strong one. It's pretty hard to complain with the results we've had this weekend. "The effort that's gone in, and analysing some of the things from last week that we could have done better, I think we turned it around very nicely and got back to the form we wanted to be on." Norris, winner of two races this year so far, said he did not feel he had lost anything. "I think Oscar drove a very good race today and had a good day yesterday. I had the pace to go with him but not enough to try and catch up and put him under threat," he said.