The gold medal for Rugby Sevens at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris cannot be won in Toulouse in 2023, but don't tell the Springbok Sevens team that. In fact, according to Blitzbok coach Sandile Ngcobo, their approach is to use this weekend’s HSBC France Sevens at Stade Ernst-Wallon as an Olympic trial.
There is no doubt that a core of experienced Blitzboks available for the final two legs of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series has boosted the confidence of the squad, players and management alike.
Springbok Sevens captain Siviwe Soyizwapi said the fact that he will run out in his 50th HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series tournament in Toulouse on Friday is a special personal milestone, but his job for the Blitzboks between the four lines will come first.
Springbok Sevens captain Siviwe Soyizwapi will make his 50th HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series appearance for the Blitzboks in Toulouse next weekend after being named in a squad that feature five players who return to action after missing the tournaments in Hong Kong and Singapore.
The commitment of his squad over the last three months in preparing for the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series and immense courage under pressure in the last minute of Sunday’s final in Stellenbosch were the cornerstones of their success in winning core status to next season’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
The Springbok Women’s Sevens team completed their mission on the opening day at the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series in Stellenbosch on Friday by staying undefeated, but that is now done and dusted and the next job, to do the same on the second day of the tournament at Markötter Stadium, starts now.
The official log after the first of two World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series tournaments makes for good reading for the Springbok Women’s Sevens team and their supporters, with the South African side topping the women’s standings.
The Springbok Women's Sevens team finished the opening day of the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series with a strong 36-0 win over Mexico at Markötter Stadium in Stellenbosch, although they had a slow start to Thursday’s action with a 7-7 draw with Czechia.
Springbok Women’s Sevens coach Renfred Dazel has named an experienced squad for the opening tournament of the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series at Markötter Stadium in Stellenbosch from 20-22 April.
The Springbok Women’s Sevens programme for the 2023 season finally kicks into gear at the Hermanus Women’s 7s tournament on Saturday and Sunday, and for coach Renfred Dazel, it will provide an ideal start to get some much-needed game time for his players.