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Blitzboks look to experience for Dubai season opener
By Joe Harvey
Philip Snyman has named an experienced Blitzboks squad for the HSBC SVNS season opener in Dubai next week.
The squad includes 11 players that helped South Africa to World Championship success in Los Angeles last May to end their season on a high.
Snyman has also taken the opportunity to rejig his leadership group for the new season.
Impi Visser has taken over the captaincy from Selvyn Davids, who will serve as co-captain alongside Zain Davids.
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“Selvyn is such a key player for us, and we wanted to free him up from any added pressures and I want him to just be the brilliant playmaker he is, without any extra burden,” Snyman said.
“Impi has all the experience in the world and Zain or Selvyn will take over when he leaves the field. Our leadership core is very strong, but there is also the reality that the squad is ageing, and we need to build in all areas, including leadership.”
It is a 13-player squad that boasts a whopping 340 tournament appearances. Ryan Oosthuizen has the most tournament appearances with 56 and Xander Reynders possesses the least with six.
There are also returns for Christie Grobbelaar and Donavan Don. Most recently Grobbelaar has represented the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship and Don has been a standout performer for the Boland Cavaliers in the Currie Cup.
Snyman revealed at his team announcement that there are plans to broaden his selections in 2026 and offer opportunities to the next generation of player that will represent the Blitzboks at the next Olympic Games.
“We are lucky that we have some serious talent coming through and my planning is to give several new players opportunities this season,” he said.
“The 2028 Olympics seem a long way off, but the long term planning for that is already in action.
“I plan to rotate the players in the opening six tournaments and once we hit the three tournaments in the World Championship Series, will look at consolidating the squad.”
Blitzboks Sevens squad for Dubai
1 Christie Grobbelaar
2 Ryan Oosthuizen
3 Impi Visser (c)
4 Zain Davids
5 Ricardo Duarttee
7 Ronald Brown
8 Selvyn Davids
12 Shilton van Wyk
13 Mfundo Ndhlovu
15 Donavan Don
19 David Brits
21 Zander Reynders
24 Tristan Leyds
