World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year Tristan Leyds Reveals He Nearly Quit Rugby

For World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year Tristan Leyds, the road to international recognition was far from straightforward. 

The Blitzboks star has revealed that there was a time when he seriously considered walking away from rugby altogether after enduring disappointment and missed opportunities in the fifteen-man game.

Leyds, the younger brother of former Springbok Dillyn Leyds, grew up dreaming of representing the Stormers at Newlands Stadium. Watching his brother achieve that dream only fuelled his own ambitions.

“For the people who didn’t know, I was on the verge of giving up rugby because certain things weren’t going the way I dreamt they would,” Leyds told SportsBoom.co.za in an exclusive interview. 

“As a kid from Cape Town, you grow up wanting to play for the Stormers. Seeing my brother do it made that dream feel closer, but the opportunity never came for me.”

The setbacks took a toll on him mentally, as selection disappointments and career frustrations mounted.

“I had a lot of struggles and mental walls during that period. Things were not going my way, and that’s when I nearly gave up,” he admitted.

Fortunately, a move into the sevens environment provided a fresh start. Today, Leyds is thriving in the Blitzboks setup and has no immediate plans to return to the fifteen-man format.

A Surprise Honour

Leyds was recently crowned World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year and named in the Team of the Tournament, becoming the latest South African to receive one of the sport’s highest individual honours.

“The initial feeling when I found out I was Player of the Year came as a surprise,” said Leyds. 

“One of the other nominees, Joji Nasova Naduvalo from Fiji, had an incredible season and also finished as the top try-scorer.”

The award places Leyds alongside legendary South African sevens players such as Cecil Afrika, Seabelo Senatla and Werner Kok.

“Those were the guys I watched growing up. I never imagined I would one day find myself in the Blitzboks system, let alone following in their footsteps.”

The recognition from former stars made the achievement even more special.

“Werner sent me a message to congratulate me, and Seabelo told me how proud he was of me. That meant a lot.”

The Emotional Moment

A video released by World Rugby showing Leyds' emotional reaction to the award quickly gained traction online.

The moment came shortly after South Africa defeated Fiji in the quarter-finals of the World Championship event.

“Coach Philip Snyman pulled me aside and asked if I could keep a secret,” recalled Leyds. “He told me, ‘You deserve this award.’ At first, I didn’t understand what he meant.”

As the reality sank in, the emotions became overwhelming.

“I just broke down in tears. At the start of last season, I set myself a goal of becoming the best first receiver on the circuit, and I didn’t achieve it. I was disappointed. This year, things worked out differently, and I managed to help the team win tournaments and play throughout the season.”

One of the Greatest Blitzboks Seasons

The 2025/26 campaign has been widely regarded as one of the most successful seasons in Blitzboks history.

South Africa won four tournaments in succession, captured the iconic Hong Kong Sevens title for the first time, and consistently challenged for honours throughout the campaign.

“We always talk about the great era of Cecil Afrika, Werner Kok and those players who reached final after final,” said Leyds. “Coach Philip Snyman and Renfred Dazel told me they had never won as many finals during their playing days as we did this season.”

The achievements become even more significant when considering how close the programme came to missing out on the Olympic Games only a few years ago.

“Not so long ago, the system was not in a good place. We had to qualify for the Olympics through a repechage tournament in Monaco. If we had failed there, many of us would have had to return to fifteens and potentially lost our contracts.”

Withdrawal From Rugby Premier League

Leyds was initially selected to participate in the Rugby Premier League in India, but later withdrew due to medical reasons.

“Unfortunately, I had to pull out because of a medical issue that requires surgery when I return to South Africa,” he explained. “It’s nothing major, just something preventative to look after my body.”

After a physically demanding season, the sevens star is focusing on recovery and spending time with family in France before preparing for another campaign with the Blitzboks.

“I’m sad to miss out on the Rugby Premier League, but after such a long season, I felt it was important to take a break and focus on my body and my family. Hopefully, there will be opportunities to play in similar tournaments again in the future.”

For Leyds, the journey from contemplating retirement to becoming the world's best sevens player serves as a powerful reminder that perseverance can turn disappointment into success.