South Africa and Canada Claim FISU Rugby Sevens World Titles

What happened

Watch the highlights:

South Africa's men and Canada's women completed unbeaten campaigns by winning the 2026 FISU World University Championship Rugby Sevens titles at Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch. According to the championship's official FISU report, South Africa defeated Uganda 34-7 in the men's final, while Canada beat France 20-0 in the women's decider.

The hosts established control early in the men's final and led 22-7 at half-time. Leachim Adams scored three tries, Aaron Swartz crossed twice and Raymond Gordon added another. Swartz also kicked three conversions. Uganda's points came through a Stuart Mwayi try and a Calvin Gizamba conversion, but the tournament's surprise finalists could not overturn South Africa's first-half advantage.

Canada were similarly decisive in the women's final. They led France 15-0 at the break and finished with four unanswered tries, all scored by Ava van Santen. The shutout capped an unbeaten run and delivered Canada's fourth women's title in the competition after earlier triumphs in 2004, 2006 and 2014.

Why it matters

South Africa's victory was their first men's FISU rugby sevens crown since 2018, and it arrived in front of a home crowd after an unbeaten tournament. Adams finished as both men's Player of the Tournament and the leading try scorer, recording nine tries and 45 points across the championship. His final hat-trick supplied the defining individual performance of the title match.

Van Santen matched that influence for Canada. Her four-try final lifted her championship total to 12, earning her the women's Player of the Tournament award and the top try-scorer honor. Canada's defense was just as important, preventing France from scoring after the French side had beaten defending champion Japan 23-12 in the semifinal.

Tournament impact

Uganda's silver medal followed a dramatic 17-14 semifinal win over Argentina, sealed by Allan Karuhanga after the siren, and marked a notable run to an all-African men's final. Argentina recovered to beat Japan 28-26 for bronze. In the women's event, Japan responded to its semifinal loss by defeating Australia 22-5 for third place.

The final standings placed South Africa, Uganda and Argentina on the men's podium, with Canada, France and Japan occupying the women's medal positions. The results closed a three-day championship in which the two winners combined attacking efficiency with unbeaten consistency when the knockout pressure was highest.