Bok women secure HSBC Sevens promotion after Challenger Series double

The Springbok Women's Sevens team have done the double at the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series in Stellenbosch with a dramatic 17-14 victory over Belgium in the final.

Having also emerged triumphant in the first of two Challenger Series tournaments last weekend, the Bok women held their nerve to edge Belgium in a nail-biting final on Sunday that needed a try at the death to seal victory. 

Even better, the back-to-back wins have seen South Africa secure their spot as a core team in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series for next season.

It was a tough match at the end of a tiring tournament against the Belgians, who beat China by 22-5 to advance to the final. The Bok women had booked their spot in the final with a 24-0 victory over Czechia.

Leading by 12-0 at the break, South Africa looked to be in control, but Belgium fought back to take a 14-12 lead before Libbie Janse van Rensburg scored the match-winner after the buzzer had sounded in thrilling fashion.

Ayanda Malinga handed the host nation a 7-0 lead after just 45 seconds when she went over for the first try after a great switch of direction opening up space on the left, with Sizophila Solontsi giving a superb offload in the tackle to put the speedster away.

With little possession in the rest of the first half, the Bok Women failed to convert their few opportunities into points, but Solontsi eventually went over just before the break to hand SA a 12-0 lead.

From the restart though, Cecile Blondiau broke a few tackles to put Belgium on the board which was only the second try conceded by the Bok Women all weekend. Nele Pien's conversion made it 12-7.

Blondiau then scored another try for Belgium with the South Africans clearly tiring, and Pien's conversion handed them a 14-12 lead with three minutes to go.

However, Renfred Dazel's team had enough left in the tank and showed great character to allow Janse van Rensburg to crash over after the Belgians conceded a few penalties in the red zone, clinching a memorable win for South Africa, who won 11 and drew only one of their 12 matches in the two tournaments.