The belief in their turnaround of fortunes is real and come the HSBC SVNS Grand Finale in Madrid this weekend, the Springbok Sevens team will be ready to deliver.
Playing rugby for your country remains a privilege, and being able to don the green and gold in both sevens and fifteens even more so. Hence, when the call came to rejoin the Springbok Women's Sevens and travel to Spain for the HSBC SVNS Qualifier this weekend, Veroeshka Grain did not hesitate despite having just returned from Madagascar with the Springbok Women.
The record books will reflect that South Africa won the last two HSBC SVNS tournaments in Spain – Malaga and Seville in 2022 – and for Justin Geduld, playing in his 60th world series tournament for the Blitzboks this weekend, those achievements can be repeated.
The World Rugby U20 Championship returns to South Africa in June and July when the 12 best Under-20 teams will battle it out for global supremacy.
The Springboks added prestigious continental awards to their impressive list of accolades following their back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles last year, when they received the Team of the Year and Sportsman of the Year awards at the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Sports Awards in Lusaka, Zambia.
Hollywoodbets Sharks captain Eben Etzebeth described his team’s convincing victory against Gloucester in the EPCR Challenge Cup final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London as his greatest club highlight and lauded his team’s character for making history by becoming the first South African franchise to win the European title.
Suzuki Griquas finished off a perfect campaign by winning the SA Cup – their first major trophy in a decade – when they defeated arch-rivals the Airlink Pumas by 46-24 in a thrilling final at Suzuki Stadium in Kimberley.
DHL Western Province handed the Bulls Daisies (22-10) their first defeat in two years, while the Border Ladies (38-24 over Golden Lions Women) and Sharks Women (34-17 over Free State Women) secured significant wins on the road in round six of the Women's Premier Division.
Ryan Oosthuizen will represent the Springbok Sevens for the 50th time in the HSBC SVNS in Madrid next weekend, where the final tournament of the 2024 season will be played at the CÃvitas Metropolitano Stadium from 31 May to 2 June.
Three stalwarts have been recalled to the Springbok Women’s Sevens squad to contest the HSBC SVNS 2024 play-off tournament in Madrid next weekend, with head coach Renfred Dazel opting for experience for the most important tournament of the season.