ACE playmaker Cecil Afrika and debutant Werner Kok will join the Springbok Sevens squad ahead of the last tournament of the HSBC World Sevens Series at Twickenham, in London, this weekend.
Afrika has been declared fit following a knee strain and comes in for Seabelo Senatla, while winger Kok replaces Justin Geduld.
Blitzbokke coach Paul Treu welcomed the return of Afrika, who will strengthen the squad ahead of the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow next month.
“He is a great player and motivates the rest of the team when he is fit and playing,” said Treu. “With him fully recovered , it will also be important for us to manage him well with an eye on the Rugby World Cup Sevens.
“He needs to get game time under the belt and will also be important to provide guidance to the younger guys , like Werner and WJ Strydom.”
Senatla and Geduld will join the junior Springboks squad in Stellenbosch to prepare for the Junior World Championship that kicks off in France later this month.
Kok was part of the Western Province team that won the U 19 Provincial Championship in 2012.
A final call on the fitness of Paul Delport, who injured his knee in the 28- 21 final victory over New Zealand at the Glasgow Sevens on Sunday, will be made once the squad had settled down in London.
Strydom made his Blitzbok debut in Glasgow and now Kok, another product of the SA Rugby Union’s Sevens elite player development squad, will join him. “Werner is a very hard worker, is fast and will be able to cover at centre and hooker, so I’ m very happy to welcome him to the squad,” said Treu.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s win in Glasgow ensured a top seed for the Twickenham tournament and they will play the United States, Australia and France in Pool A.
Due to the promotion-relegation for core team status on the circuit, only 12 teams will contest the Cup in London.
Pool B consists of New Zealand, Wales, Canada and Kenya and Pool C of England, Fiji, Samoa and Argentina.
The likes of Scotland, Portugal, Russia and Spain will contest the second tournament, with Hong Kong, Zimbabwe, Tonga and Georgia all aiming to become one of the final three teams to qualify as a core team for the 2013-2014 season.
Afrika return is big boost for Blitzbokke’s London Sevens push
Afrika has been declared fit following a knee strain and comes in for Seabelo Senatla, while winger Kok replaces Justin Geduld.
Blitzbokke coach Paul Treu welcomed the return of Afrika, who will strengthen the squad ahead of the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow next month.
“He is a great player and motivates the rest of the team when he is fit and playing,” said Treu. “With him fully recovered , it will also be important for us to manage him well with an eye on the Rugby World Cup Sevens.
“He needs to get game time under the belt and will also be important to provide guidance to the younger guys , like Werner and WJ Strydom.”
Senatla and Geduld will join the junior Springboks squad in Stellenbosch to prepare for the Junior World Championship that kicks off in France later this month.
Kok was part of the Western Province team that won the U 19 Provincial Championship in 2012.
A final call on the fitness of Paul Delport, who injured his knee in the 28- 21 final victory over New Zealand at the Glasgow Sevens on Sunday, will be made once the squad had settled down in London.
Strydom made his Blitzbok debut in Glasgow and now Kok, another product of the SA Rugby Union’s Sevens elite player development squad, will join him. “Werner is a very hard worker, is fast and will be able to cover at centre and hooker, so I’ m very happy to welcome him to the squad,” said Treu.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s win in Glasgow ensured a top seed for the Twickenham tournament and they will play the United States, Australia and France in Pool A.
Due to the promotion-relegation for core team status on the circuit, only 12 teams will contest the Cup in London.
Pool B consists of New Zealand, Wales, Canada and Kenya and Pool C of England, Fiji, Samoa and Argentina.
The likes of Scotland, Portugal, Russia and Spain will contest the second tournament, with Hong Kong, Zimbabwe, Tonga and Georgia all aiming to become one of the final three teams to qualify as a core team for the 2013-2014 season.
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