It was an umpteenth trip to the Emirates Dubai Sevens for Impi Visser on Monday, but the first time as Springbok Sevens captain – little wonder he represented the Blitzboks with dignified pride and confidence at the official captains’ photo this week.
It will be almost four years to the day when a bright-eyed 21-year-old Shilton van Wyk ran onto the pitch at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai, representing the Springbok Sevens for the first time on the international stage.
Six tournament victories out of eight played is no mean feat, but for Ryan Oosthuizen, another go at glory at the Emirates Dubai 7s tournament this weekend could not come quick enough.
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.
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.
The Springbok Women’s Sevens confirmed their standing as the best team on the continent after they outplayed hosts and main contenders, Kenya, in the Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens Cup final in Nairobi on Sunday, and according to coach Cecil Afrika, it was a great team effort that brought them success.
A daunting challenge awaits the Springbok Women’s Sevens team in the Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens Cup in Kenya this weekend, but upon their departure to Nairobi, coach Cecil Afrika was at ease due to the mood and mindset of the departing squad.
Springbok Sevens head coach Philip Snyman expressed his satisfaction with the progress of his squad’s HSBC SVNS pre-season preparations on Thursday, as they finished their final condition block before the 2026 season kicks off.
SA Rugby Women’s Player of the Year, Nadine Roos, is amongst the group of 18 players invited to a Springbok Women’s Sevens training camp in Pretoria, where the squad will step-up preparations for the Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens championship in Nairobi, Kenya on 15 and 16 November.
As a Blitzbok, he has won the HSBC SVNS world series, gold at the Commonwealth Games and bronze at the Olympic Games, but for Christie Grobbelaar, an appearance at his home tournament in Cape Town has remained rather elusive.