Blitzboks Reveal First Squad for Upcoming Season
In his inaugural Blitzboks squad for the upcoming sevens season, Philip Snyman has selected 10 players with previous success at the Dubai Sevens, which is set to commence in the UAE next weekend.
Snyman, recently appointed as the Blitzboks head coach through the next Olympic Games cycle in 2028, has welcomed newcomers Donovan Don, David Brits, and Tristan Leyds to the desert tournament. The remaining squad members are well-acquainted with the tournament’s trophy, including co-captains Impi Visser and Zain Davids, who will lead the team on this trip.
BLITZBOKS SQUAD DEPTH IS HEALTHY
The Blitzboks’ chief expressed satisfaction with the team’s preparations for the new season, noting the positive response from the 17 players chosen for the final training group in Dubai.
“The players put in tremendous effort, making my selection process quite challenging,” Snyman remarked.
He added, “Players like Mfundo Ndhlovu and Shaun Williams, who returned from injuries just last week, really raised the bar for me. A bit more preparation could have influenced my decisions, but I am pleased with this final group, their mindset, and the experience they bring.”
“We have a solid base of seasoned players alongside some dynamic younger talents, who inject energy into the squad. My focus is on this group, with plans to integrate new players throughout the season to enhance depth—an approach currently being executed effectively by the Springboks, which we aim to emulate.”
“In addition to building depth, we are embarking on a new season with fresh objectives. Our strategy involves utilizing the ball more widely and improving our defensive tactics to create turnover opportunities. It’s crucial for us to maintain consistency and finish in the top four of each tournament.”
The Blitzboks face a formidable pool, including Olympic champions France, Australia, and Kenya, but Snyman isn’t overly concerned at this stage.
“We’re just now delving into the specifics of those matches. Our main focus over the last few weeks has been on our own goals for this campaign,” he stated.
Reflecting on the Blitzboks’ strong performances in Dubai over recent seasons and the expectations they bring, Snyman said: “Starting the season positively is always beneficial, but we’ve seen our performances dip in the past. We are dedicated to reversing that trend, aiming for a top-three finish at the end of the series, even as we build depth.”
Selected stats:
- The Blitzboks have clinched the Emirates Dubai 7s title 11 times since the inception of the world series in 1999, triumphing in the last five tournaments held.
- Impi Visser, Ryan Oosthuizen, and Zain Davids have celebrated victory in five consecutive Emirates Dubai 7s events.
Blitzboks squad for Dubai: Christie Grobbelaar, Ryan Oosthuizen, Impi Visser (co-captain), Zain Davids (co-captain), Ricardo Duarttee, Ronald Brown, Dewald Human, Siviwe Soyizwapi, Shilton van Wyk, Quewin Nortje, Donovan Don, David Brits, Tristan Leyds.
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