Visser ready to hit Blitzbok half century in North America

Impi Visser is preparing to hit 50 tournament appearances for the Blitzboks in the North America leg of the 2025/26 HSBC SVNS Series season.

The 30-year-old has been recalled by South Africa head coach Philip Snyman for tournaments in Vancouver and New York after he was rested for Singapore and Perth. Visser has taken back the captaincy from Siviwe Soyizwapi.

In total there are six changes to the squad that finished fourth in Singapore and won in Perth.

This includes returns from injury for Selvyn Davids, Ronald Brown and Dewald Human, while Gino Cupido is set to make his first appearance of the season.

Grant de Jager is the sole uncapped player in the squad. There are high hopes for the 21-year-old, who is earmarked as the next Kwagga Smith or JC Pretorious.

Luan Giliomee is currently with the Junior Boks in Georgia, while Nabo Sokoyi and Renaldo Young missed out on selection to allow senior players back into the team.

“I am happy to include Grant, he is an extremely talented player who really works hard in the training sessions and he deserves this chance,” Snyman said.

“Players such as Quewin Nortje and Jaydon Nell missed out as we did not want to bring back too many players back from injury for this trip.

“Overall, it is an experienced and exciting squad that will travel and knowing that those players staying behind are pushing hard and creating an environment of competitive excellence, is a good place to be at for this group.”

In Vancouver, South Africa have been named in Pool A with New Zealand, Spain and Great Britain.

Springbok Sevens squad for Vancouver and New York

1 Christie Grobbelaar
2 Ryan Oosthuizen
3 Impi Visser (c)
7 Ronald Brown
8 Selvyn Davids
10 Dewald Human
11 Siviwe Soyizwapi
12 Shilton van Wyk
15 Donavan Don
16 Sebastiaan Jobb
19 David Brits
24 Tristan Leyds
28 Grant de Jager
35 Gino Cupido