Eleven players involved in their season-ending HSBC SVNS World Championship victory in Los Angeles in May will be part of the Springbok Sevens squad for the 2026 HSBC SVNS opener in Dubai next weekend, while Blitzbok head coach Philip Snyman added experienced stalwarts Christie Grobbelaar and Donavan Don to his team.
Springbok Women head coach Swys de Bruin expressed his satisfaction after a wider training squad completed a first alignment camp for the 2026 season in Stellenbosch on Friday.
Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has named 11 changes to his squad to face Ireland at the Aviva Stadium, with RG Snyman earning his 50th Test cap for South Africa.
Springbok prop Thomas du Toit and scrumhalf Grant Williams shot down talk by the local media that the Boks could approach Saturday’s Test against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium as a grudge match.
Springbok wing Cheslin Kolbe emphasised the importance of capitalising on their point-scoring opportunities when the Boks line up against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday, if they want to break their 13-year losing run against the Irish at the Aviva Stadium.
It took him nine tournaments and two seasons – during which he was part of two HSBC SVNS tournament wins – to finally come to terms with rugby sevens and his Blitzbok role, and now, David Brits cannot wait for the new season to start for him to give it his best shot.
Springboks quartet Pieter-Steph du Toit, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche, and Ethan Hooker have been nominated for the prestigious World Rugby Awards for 2026.
Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth said the Boks are looking forward to Saturday’s Castle Lager Outgoing Tour showdown against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium and added that it would be a “nice opportunity” to try to change their fortunes in Dublin, where they last won a Test in 2012.
The Springboks will host England, Scotland, and Wales in July 2026 as the new Nations Championship launches with a northern invasion of the southern hemisphere, where every match will count as teams aim to finish the season as the top Test side on the planet.
Experienced utility back Damian Willemse said the Springboks must be dialled in and ready for anything Ireland throw at them when the teams cross paths at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday in the penultimate Test of the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour.