Two SVNS World Championship-winning Blitzboks have been included in the Springbok Sevens ‘A’ squad for the Rugby Africa Sevens Cup in Mauritius next week.
Along with Ricardo Duarttee and Mfundo Ndhlovu, who both scored tries in the victory over Spain in the Los Angeles final last month, head coach Philip Snyman has included two other capped Blitzboks – Sebastiaan Jobb and Masande Mtshali.
The group depart for the African tournament, to be played at Labourdonnais Sports Club on 21 and 22 June, on Friday.
The four Blitzboks will be joined by a number of players in the wider national sevens training squad, as well as two Varsity Cup standouts from Maties, Grant de Jager and Ezekiel Ngobeni.
Gideon van Wyk, Jayden Nell, Ntsika Fisanti, Joubert Schoeman, Rowan Malgas and Joel Leotlela were all regulars at the Blitzbok training sessions, although Leotlela was released to play for Western Province in the U21 Cup, while Fisanti helped the Pumas to win the SA Cup last month.
Apart from their stint with the WP U21 team in recent weeks, Ngobeni and Leotlela also played together for the Junior Springboks last year, while Jobb and Mtshali also represented the SA U20s earlier in their careers.
MORE: Burnout could hit Boks – Skinstad
“We certainly want to support African competitions where possible and this tournament fits in nicely, as we will conclude our 2025 season by going to the Rugby Africa Sevens in Mauritius,” said Snyman.
“It is important to grow the game on the continent and it provides us with a perfect opportunity to give playing time to those who trained hard all season, but did not get the chance to play.
“We are building towards the Olympic Games in 2028 and these tournaments are important for us to give players exposure and game time.
“Both Grant de Jager and Ezekiel Ngobeni caught my eye playing in the Varsity Cup and they have done well in our training sessions thus far. They are the type of players I want to have a look at with the eye on the future development of the squad.”
Snyman said Ndhlovu’s inclusion is because he only played in two tournaments in the recently concluded world series, while Duarttee will be tried in the flyhalf position at the tournament.
“I am also looking forward to the efforts from Masande and Sebastiaan, who will have to step-up as senior players in the group,” added Snyman.
South Africa were drawn in Pool B and will face Burkina Faso, Zambia and Nigeria. Pool A consist of Uganda, Kenya, Cote D’Ivoire and Ghana, while the hosts will face Madagascar and Zimbabwe in Pool C.
Springbok Sevens ‘A’ pool fixtures (Saturday, 21 June):
v Nigeria, 8.06am
v Zambia, 10.50am
v Burkina Faso, 1.34pm
Springbok Sevens ‘A’ squad:
Masande Mtshali
Jayden Nell
Gideon van Wyk
Ntshika Fisanti
Ricardo Duarttee
Joubert Schoeman
Grant de Jager
Ezekiel Ngobeni
Rowan Malgas
Joel Leotlela
Sebastiaan Jobb
Mfundo Ndhlovu
Photo: Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images
The post Sevens ‘A’ get Blitzbok champs boost appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.