South Africa beat eight-time winners New Zealand on their way to the title

South Africa have won the IRB Sevens World Series title for the first time after the opening day of the Edinburgh Sevens at Murrayfield.

The Springboks came into the tournament 20 points clear of England in the race for the overall crown.

And they secured the point they needed and reached the quarter-finals with wins over France, USA and New Zealand.

Hosts Scotland are also through to the quarter-finals having recorded only their second-ever win over England.

While the English were eliminated from Group C, the Scots progressed to face Samoa, while the new series champions take on Australia.

South Africa coach Paul Treu said: "It's an unbelievable feeling for me.

"I can can only imagine how the players are feeling."

South Africa become the first nation to be world champions at 15-a-side and sevens rugby at the same time.

There was further African success in Group C, where Kenya added to their status as an emerging force in Sevens by beating both the Scots and England, who won last weekend's event in London.

Kenya's wins were the latest in a line of fine results that have seen the hitherto little-regarded rugby nation become well-known in the short form of the game.

They now face Wales for a place in the semi-finals, while New Zealand take on Fiji.

Scotland secured their place in the quarter-finals with a 26-5 win over Canada.

That followed a fine 33-17 win over England and a 22-17 defeat by the Kenyans, who also overcame the English 21-14.

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