The South African Students Sevens team took silver at the World University Championships in Brive on Friday, losing to Great Britain in the final of the sevens competition.
The North Europeans won 35-17 and made it to the final by beating France in the semi-finals.
The combined side of Great Britain proved to be the best team at the tournament and also beat the South Africans in pool play on day one.
That was the only defeat the side suffered who then scored a couple of big wins over the likes of Malaysia, Mexico and Portugal afterwards.
In the semi-finals earlier on Friday, the pace of the South Africans proved too much for Belgium, one of the surprise teams of the tournament.
Jamba Ulengo (2), Andrè Smith (2), Philip de Wet and Hayden de Villiers all scored tries in the 40-5 romp, with Smith converting five of those.
South Africa's results:
Day one 11 July – beat Italy 26-5, lost Great Britain 26-14, beat Malaysia 45-19 (all pool B)
Day two 12 July – beat Mexico 72-0 (pool B), beat Portugal 56-7 (quarter-finals)