‘Shakes’ to lead Blitzbokke
Preparations for 2020 Tokyo Olympics means it will be a critical season for SA's Sevens team
Siviwe “Shakes” Soyizwapi has been named as the SA Seven’s team captain in what will be a critical season for the team.
The 10-leg tournament will form part of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic preparations and the 2019/20 World Sevens Series season starts on December 5 in Dubai with the next leg in Cape Town the following week.
Soyizwapi will be taking part in his 29th tournament and will lead a strong side including Rosko Specman‚ Chris Dry‚ Dylan Sage‚ Justin Geduld and Seabelo Senatla. Ruhan Nel makes a return, while Christi Grobbelaar‚ an SA Rugby Sevens Academy player‚ will make his debut if he is picked.
Coach Neil Powell said the Blitzbokke need to start better in Dubai compared to 2018 when they exited in the quarterfinals and could only manage a sixth-place finish.
“We had a poor start in Dubai last year and it took us a while to recover from that. I am sure the effort will be there and we will be competitive‚” Powell said.”
In a tentative step into the world of Sevens rugby‚ Lions loose forward Hacjivah Dayimani will be making his Sevens Academy debut in Dubai.
The academy side is a strong one with Werner Kok‚ Branco du Preez‚ Cecil Afrika and Stedman Gans all making appearances.
The academy side will be playing against the Rambling Jesters‚ the French Military and the Russian Development.
The Blitzbokke will be up against England‚ Spain and Kenya in pool D.
Blitzbokke squad: Chris Dry‚ Ryan Oosthuizen‚ Dylan Sage‚ Zain Davids‚ JC Pretorius‚ Siviwe Soyizwapi (capt)‚ Selvyn Davids‚ Rosko Specman‚ Justin Geduld‚ Kurt-Lee Arendse‚ Seabelo Senatla‚ Ruhan Nel‚ Christi Grobbelaar
SA Rugby Sevens Academy squad: Hacjivah Dayimani‚ James Murphy‚ Impi Visser‚ Angelo Davids‚ Werner Kok‚ Branco du Preez‚ Dewald Human‚ Malcolm Jaer‚ Darren Adonis‚ Cecil Afrika‚ Mfundo Ndhlovu‚ Stedman Gans (capt)