Two uncapped players and the return of their most experienced squad member highlight the travelling group of 14 players named by the Springbok Sevens head coach Philip Snyman for next weekend’s HSBC SVNS Singapore.
Luan Giliomee and Ronaldo Young could earn first caps in the Singapore National Stadium, while Sebastiaan Jobb is back in the squad, having last played for the Blitzboks in Singapore in April last year.
Siviwe Soyizwapi will make a welcome return to the squad, having last represented the Blitzboks at the HSBC SVNS World Championship in Los Angeles in May last year. He will also captain the side, as Impi Visser is rested for this trip that will also include the HSBC SVNS Perth early in February.
Snyman said injuries, planned rotation and building depth towards the 2028 Olympic Games all played a role in these selections.
“All the senior guys will get some rest before the three World Championship tournaments,” said Snyman.
“Impi’s workload in Dubai and Cape Town was huge, so we decided to give him a break. The decision was made easier with Siviwe being fit again, so he will replace him in the forwards and take over the captaincy for this trip as well.”
The changes amongst the backs are as a result of injury and building on squad depth, the Blitzbok coach said: “Unfortunately Ronald Brown and Selvyn Davids picked up injuries in Cape Town in December and are not yet available for selection, as is Dewald Human, so that impacted our options in the playmaker position.
“Luan Giliomee will slot in there, while Sebastiaan Jobb and Ronaldo Young will add some real spark to the outside backs.
“Quewin Nortje is also recovering well from his injury, and unfortunately Gino Cupido had a setback earlier this week, so they were no considered for selection for this trip,” Snyman added.
Giliomee represented South Africa at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad & Tobago in 2023, the SA Schools and U18 sides in 2024, and toured Ireland and France with the SA U19 Academy last year. He joined the Blitzboks training squad from Durban late last year, where he was playing for the Hollywoodbets Sharks age group sides.
Young represented the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers on the wing last year before he joined the Blitzboks squad on a dual contract.
“Renaldo has been training very well since he joined us and did really well for the SA ‘A’-side in Dubai last year – I am excited to see what he can do,” Snyman said.
“Sebastiaan is also back and looked really sharp in training. All three are part of the depth building system we are busy with as 2028 approaches.”
The squad will depart for Singapore on Monday and Snyman will make a call on the 13 players for the tournament next Friday.
Blitzbok squad for Singapore:
#1 Christie Grobbelaar – 24 tournaments, 200 points (40 tries)
#2 Ryan Oosthuizen – 58 tournaments, 245 points (49 tries)
#4 Zain Davids – 55 tournaments, 240 points (48 tries)
#5 Ricardo Duarttee – 21 tournaments, 325 points (24 tries, 100 conversions, 1 penalty goal)
#9 Nabo Sokoyi – 1 tournament, 10 points (2 tries)
#11 Siviwe Soyizwapi (captain) – 60 tournaments, 795 points (159 tries)
#12 Shilton van Wyk – 29 tournaments, 310 points (62 tries)
#15 Donavan Don – 11 tournaments, 89 points (17 tries, 2 conversions)
#16 Sebastiaan Jobb – 4 tournaments, 15 points (3 tries)
#19 David Brits – 11 tournaments, 50 points (10 tries)
#20 Renaldo Young – uncapped
#21 Zander Reynders – 8 tournaments, 20 points (4 tries)
#24 Tristan Leyds – 13 tournaments, 149 points (19 tries, 27 conversions)
#27 Luan Giliomee – uncapped
Blitzboks’ pool fixtures (SA times, all matches live on SuperSport)
Saturday 31 January:
- 06h54: Spain
- 10h20: Great Britain
- 13h46: Fiji
Pools:
- A: South Africa, Spain, Great Britain, Fiji
- B: New Zealand, Australia, France, Argentina
Standings after two rounds:
- South Africa – 32 points
- Fiji – 32
- New Zealand – 32
- France – 28
- Australia – 26
- Argentina – 24
Sick Saurus
Sport Trivia: Who was the first person from South Africa to win the Olympic 100m sprint? Answer: Reggie Walker. South African Reggie Walker won the Olympic 100m track event in London in 1908. He set a new Olympic record of 10.8 seconds in his semi final, and equalled it in the final. He was just 19yrs and 128 days old when he won the gold medal. Paul Nash equalled the then world record of 10.0 seconds four times in 1968.
Intimidation Station
Still on the subject of cricket superstitions, the player with the most rituals performed during a match is arguably Neil McKenzie of South Africa. Before a game, for example, he would attach his cricket bat to the ceiling with tape. When it’s time for him to bat, he would check all the changing room lights to make sure they were shut off and that the toilet seats were down.