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Wallabies star Len Ikitau surges past World Cup winners in Top 100 rise
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Blitzboks eye ‘fast start’ in bid to reclaim long-held crown
By Finn Morton
South Africa have won more men’s titles at the Dubai Sevens than any other nation, taking out five consecutive crowns before their streak came to an end last season. As the Blitzboks look to reclaim their throne this weekend, they understand a fast start is essential.
There are only eight teams in the top men’s division in 2025/26, split into two pools of four, and only the two teams progress to the semi-finals. With a new competition format raising the stakes higher than ever before in pool play, every moment of every match is going to matter.
After taking out the HSBC SVNS Series World Championship, the Blitzboks begin their quest for more glory against Olympic gold medallists France. They’re in the ‘pool of champions’ with reigning League Winners Argentina and last season’s Dubai champions Fiji.
Shilton van Wyk represented the Springboks Sevens for the first time four years ago at the Dubai Sevens, with the flyer boasting an incredible 80 per cent success rate when it comes to winning the title at the season-opening event.
While the format has changed, the challenge remains the same. There are no easy matches on the HSBC SVNS Series, but doing the jersey justice is the forefront of these players’ minds – with van Wyk insisting the Blitzboks are ready.
“We need a fast start, that is for sure,” van Wyk said.
“And after that, we need to maintain that momentum. We need to dominate from the outset and start the season on a high note.
“I remember those two tournaments in 2021 and how massive it was for me and my family,” he added, asked about his Blitzboks debut.
“To become a Blitzbok was very significant and to be a successful one even more so. But that is in the past and to give justice to those memories, we need to be spot-on here this weekend. We trained well in our pre-season and arrived ready, so we are good to go.”
Van Wyk debuted for the Blitzboks in Dubai on November 30, 2021. The Saldanha speedster on debut against Japan, and backed that up with five-pointers against Ireland and Great Britain – a try in each of his first three SVNS matches.
Four years later, van Wyk has represented South Africa in 27 SVNS tournaments, including last season’s unforgettable World Championship triumph in Los Angeles. The Blitzboks won another title during the regular season, winning the Cup Final at their home event in Cape Town.
Rugby is a team game, but van Wyk holds individual ambitions as well.
“I want to get to 35 tournaments, as this remains a special squad milestone that has been celebrated over many years,” Van Wyk said earlier this month.
“For me to get to that, I need to be selected regularly during the season, meaning that I will need to be in good enough form to make the team and also stay injury-free.
“If I get to 35, I will be happy and if we can add a couple of tournament wins to our tally, ever better.”
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