A number of players hailing from the Border region will be in Sevens Rugby action this week as the Blitzbokke, SA Rugby Sevens Academy and Springbok Women’s Sevens teams will all be in action at the Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens International tournament.
For the defending HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series Blitzbokke, former Stirling High pupil Tim Agaba will be in the side and looking to make his mark early in the season.
Agaba was a part of last season’s title-winning squad, when not out through injury, and also picked up an Olympic bronze medal with the team in 2016, and will be hoping for more glory with the team.
He has competed in 10 tournaments, playing in 49 matches and scored six tries so far for the Blitzbokke.
Try-scoring ace Siviwe Soyizwapi will be leading a talented SA Rugby Sevens Academy squad in their Dubai campaign, while WP loose-forward Sikumbhuzo Notshe will be making his Sevens debut.
Soyizwapi was born in Mthatha and is an old Dalian, while Notshe was born in King William’s Town.
Last season Soyizwapi scored 29 tries for the Blitzbokke and he will be aiming to take that form and momentum into his first captaining stint with the Academy side.
SA Sevens Academy coach Paul Delport admitted the experience of Soyizwapi and the likes of Stedman Gans and Zain Davids will help them over the tournament, while he was also keen to see what Notshe will bring to the table.
“We will be up against national teams from the countries outside the series and experienced players in some of those invited teams, so will have to be at our best,” said Delport.
“We have a good record at this tournament and venue and having won here before, we are aiming for nothing less.
“Furthermore, we are keen to see what Notshe can do, but we need to allow him to find his rhythm and pace of the game, he is very talented though and I think he will be a real factor for us.”
On the SA women’s Sevens front Border wing Unathi Mali will make her Springbok Women’s Sevens debut in Dubai.
Mali, who featured in the SA Select Women’s Sevens team last season in Las Vegas, Hong Kong and France, made a return to the national Sevens camp in November following an impressive performance for the 15-a-side SA Select Women on their England tour in October where they faced the England Academy team and British Army.
“Unathi has worked hard to stake a claim for a place in the team since joining the squad earlier this month, and we are delighted that she will make her debut in an HSBC Sevens Series event after having represented the SA Select Women’s Sevens on a few occasions,” said Springbok Women's coach Ranfred Dazel.
“She scored a hat-trick in the opening match of the 15s tour to England last month, so she is in good form and ready to make her presence felt.”
Other Border women's stars who are in the SA women’s Sevens team are Zintle Mpupha and Eloise Webb, who will be looking to cement their places in the set-up after they impressed in the team that secured the Rugby Africa Sevens title in Tunisia in September. SA Sevens Academy and Bok Women’s Sevens teams will be in action in their respective tournaments tomorrow and Friday while the Blitzbokke will get their Dubai title defence under way on Friday, with the finals set for Saturday.
Border talent to star in Sevens action
For the defending HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series Blitzbokke, former Stirling High pupil Tim Agaba will be in the side and looking to make his mark early in the season.
Agaba was a part of last season’s title-winning squad, when not out through injury, and also picked up an Olympic bronze medal with the team in 2016, and will be hoping for more glory with the team.
He has competed in 10 tournaments, playing in 49 matches and scored six tries so far for the Blitzbokke.
Try-scoring ace Siviwe Soyizwapi will be leading a talented SA Rugby Sevens Academy squad in their Dubai campaign, while WP loose-forward Sikumbhuzo Notshe will be making his Sevens debut.
Soyizwapi was born in Mthatha and is an old Dalian, while Notshe was born in King William’s Town.
Last season Soyizwapi scored 29 tries for the Blitzbokke and he will be aiming to take that form and momentum into his first captaining stint with the Academy side.
SA Sevens Academy coach Paul Delport admitted the experience of Soyizwapi and the likes of Stedman Gans and Zain Davids will help them over the tournament, while he was also keen to see what Notshe will bring to the table.
“We will be up against national teams from the countries outside the series and experienced players in some of those invited teams, so will have to be at our best,” said Delport.
“We have a good record at this tournament and venue and having won here before, we are aiming for nothing less.
“Furthermore, we are keen to see what Notshe can do, but we need to allow him to find his rhythm and pace of the game, he is very talented though and I think he will be a real factor for us.”
On the SA women’s Sevens front Border wing Unathi Mali will make her Springbok Women’s Sevens debut in Dubai.
Mali, who featured in the SA Select Women’s Sevens team last season in Las Vegas, Hong Kong and France, made a return to the national Sevens camp in November following an impressive performance for the 15-a-side SA Select Women on their England tour in October where they faced the England Academy team and British Army.
“Unathi has worked hard to stake a claim for a place in the team since joining the squad earlier this month, and we are delighted that she will make her debut in an HSBC Sevens Series event after having represented the SA Select Women’s Sevens on a few occasions,” said Springbok Women's coach Ranfred Dazel.
“She scored a hat-trick in the opening match of the 15s tour to England last month, so she is in good form and ready to make her presence felt.”
Other Border women's stars who are in the SA women’s Sevens team are Zintle Mpupha and Eloise Webb, who will be looking to cement their places in the set-up after they impressed in the team that secured the Rugby Africa Sevens title in Tunisia in September. SA Sevens Academy and Bok Women’s Sevens teams will be in action in their respective tournaments tomorrow and Friday while the Blitzbokke will get their Dubai title defence under way on Friday, with the finals set for Saturday.
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