Melbourne Coach Leads Global Powerhouse as South Africa Makes History in Hong Kong

As South Africa confidently charged towards a landmark victory at the Hong Kong Sevens, Dave Wessels urged restraint.

“It’s not finished yet,” South Africa’s high-performance director proclaimed to all within earshot at the bustling Kai Tak Stadium.

But it effectively was, as the Blitzboks triumphed with a commanding 35-7 victory over Argentina in the men’s final.

Wessels’ hesitance to crow too early was entirely justified.

The affable coach had witnessed his fair share of second-half disappointments while leading the Western Force and the now-defunct Melbourne Rebels.

Frequent player changes and off-field issues plagued those two teams, prompting Wessels to return to Cape Town in 2021.

Now leading the national side, Wessels has been entrusted with steering the most formidable team in rugby by Springboks’ head honcho Rassie Erasmus.

“I’ve known Rassie from our early days with the Stormers,” Wessels shared with Wide World Sports amidst the burst of fireworks.

“I consider myself fortunate to be part of this era. Rassie’s intelligence is evident, but what is truly remarkable is his immense passion for the sport. However, it’s vital we maintain humility, as we understand how swiftly circumstances can change in sport.”

It’s hard to believe that it took South Africa 50 years to clinch a major title in Hong Kong.

They faced a loss to Spain on the first day and were nearly turned over by Kenya in the quarter-finals, pulling off a stunning turnaround.

“I’m nearly lost for words,” coach Philip Snyman expressed.

“There’s overwhelming pride and appreciation at this moment. We waited an eternity for this. We’ll just take it easy, enjoy, and celebrate tonight. Fifty years is a long time coming for this.”

“The narrative of Hong Kong 2026 might not feature six flawless chapters, but what a fantastic conclusion to the tale.”

South Africa stood atop the podium alongside New Zealand’s women’s championship-winning team, who narrowly defeated Australia 19-14 in their final.

New Zealand secured their fifth straight tournament victory and their fourth consecutive win at Hong Kong.

Coach Tim Walsh from Australia lamented the small mistakes that had significant repercussions, with Jorja Miller shining brighter than fellow star Maddison Levi.

“We are a youthful team, so we show great respect for all the women who have moved on due to pregnancy, retirement, and other reasons,” Miller, an ex-highland dancing champion, told Wide World of Sports.

“Defeating Australia never gets old. The competition within the squad keeps everyone striving for more. I’m aiming for another gold medal in LA at the Olympics in 2028.”

A staggering 113,395 enthusiastic fans packed the stadium over the course of the three-day event.

The loudest cheer of the tournament erupted when Hong Kong’s men secured a third consecutive Melrose Claymores title by defeating Japan.

“We have a deep appreciation for Hong Kong. The fans showed up today, always acting as our eighth player on the pitch. With every pass and every part of the game, they cheered us on, which greatly boosted our performance,” stated captain James Christie.

“The tournament has been extraordinary – last year was impressive, but each year seems to surpass the previous one. I have no idea how they achieve it. Winning on the 50th anniversary is just phenomenal – cheers to Hong Kong, Hong Kong China Rugby, and the Hong Kong Sevens as a whole.”

The action now shifts to Spain in May.

Sam Worthington’s journey to the 2026 Hong Kong Sevens was supported by the Hong Kong Tourism Board and Cathay Pacific