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[Listen to an interview with Philip Snyman here.] The Springbok Sevens team need to return to their proven ability of winning all six matches of a HSBC SVNS tournament and kick-starting that habit again is pretty high on their agenda in Spain this weekend. That is according to Philip Snyman as the Blitzboks completed their …
If the 2023/24 BKT United Rugby Championship season is a game of Survivor, then the Hollywoodbets Sharks, South Africa’s lowest-placed team this season, suddenly are at the well and they have the swing vote. It is one of the great ironies of this season that, in the final round of the league phase, the Hollywoodbets …
[Listen to Selvyn Davids and Siviwe Soyizwapi] The belief in their turnaround of fortunes is real and come the HSBC SVNS Grand Finale in Madrid this weekend, the Springbok Sevens team will be ready to deliver. That is the view of Blitzbok captain Selvyn Davids as the squad fine-tuned their preparations for the final showpiece …
Former Springboks skipper Bob Skinstad says the “magnificent” Challenge Cup triumph by the Hollywoodbets Sharks has fully vindicated the involvement of South African sides in northern hemisphere tournaments. Skinstand feels his former team delivered a near flawless display in beating Gloucester 36-22 in last weekend’s final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. They became the first …
The Kenya Rugby Union (www.KRU.co.ke) has confirmed the Simbas squad for 2024.
There are maiden call ups for 14 players, majority of whom were active during the just concluded Rugby Super Series, namely Francis Atiti, Felix Ojow, Amos Obae, Felix Okoth, William Mwanji, Griffin Chao, Obat Kuke, Tyson Maina, Richel Wangila, Matthias Osimbo, Dennis Abukuse, Abutwalib Wesonga and Quinto Ongo.
Former Kenya Sevens international Johnstone Olindi, now playing his club rugby in Canada also gets a call up to the squad.
The foreign based trio of Andrew Siminyu, Malcolm Onsando,Thomas Okeyo as well as Edward Mwaura, Clinton Juma, Samson Onsomu, Beldad Ogeta and Emmanuel Silungi who were also in action during the Rugby Super Series return to the squad after missing out on last year's internationals. Timothy Okwemba, last capped in 2019 also makes a return.
Seasoned Simbas campaigners John Okoth, Vincent Onyala, Brian Tanga, Samuel Asati and Lamech Ambetsa are away with the national sevens team, Shujaa as they prepare to compete at the Olympic games Jone Kubu is recovering from an ankle injury and going through return to play protocols following successful surgery.
The Simbas will begin their 2024 season with the Rugby Africa Cup between 20-28 July in Kampala, Uganda.
SIMBAS 2024 SQUAD
LOOSEHEAD PROPS: Francis Atiti (Menengai Oilers), Edward Mwaura (Kabras Sugar), Andrew Siminyu (University of Johannesburg, South Africa)
HOOKERS: Eugene Sifuna (Kabras Sugar), Teddy Akala (Kabras Sugar), Griffin Musila (KCB)
TIGHTHEAD PROPS: Wilhite Mususi (KCB), Ephraim Oduor (Kabras Sugar), Hillary Mwanjilwa (Kabras Sugar)
LOCKS: Brian Juma (Kabras Sugar), Hibrahim Ayoo (Menengai Oilers), Felix Okoth (Nakuru), Clinton Juma (Menengai Oilers), Hillary Odhiambo (Kabras Sugar), Malcolm Onsando ( SCM Rugby Timisoara, Romania), Emmanuel Silungi (KCB)
BLINDSIDE FLANKERS: George Nyambua (Kabras Sugar), Felix Ojow (KCB), Amos Obae (Nakuru)
OPENSIDE FLANKERS: Brian Ndirangu (Westshore RFC, Canada), Thomas Okeyo (NovaVit Griffons, South Africa), Elvis Olukusi (KCB), William Mwanji (Kabras Sugar)
NUMBER EIGHTS: Jeanson Musoga (Kabras Sugar), Elkeans Musonye (Menengai Oilers), Obat Kuke (Blak Blad)
SCRUM HALVES: Michael Wanjala (KCB), Samson Onsomu (Menengai Oilers), Brian Wahinya (KCB)
FLY HALVES: Ntabeni Dukisa (Kabras Sugar), Barry Young (Kabras Sugar), Johnstone Olindi (Westshore RFC, Canada)
LEFT WING: Beldad Ogeta (Menengai Oilers), Griffin Chao (Kabras Sugar), Derrick Ashiundu (Kabras Sugar)
INSIDE CENTERS: Walter Okoth (Kabras Sugar), Tyson Maina (Menengai Oilers), Paul Mutsami (Kenya Harlequin)
OUTSIDE CENTERS: Richel Wangila (Kenya Harlequin), Bryceson Adaka (Kabras Sugar), Mathias Osimbo (Kabras Sugar), Dennis Abukuse (Menengai Oilers)
RIGHT WING: Joel Inzuga (Mwamba), Timothy Omela (Menengai Oilers), Alfred Orege (Kabras Sugar)
FULLBACKS: Abutwalib Wesonga (Menengai Oilers), Quinto Ongo (Impala)
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kenya Rugby Union (KRU).
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Tel: +254 724 256 179
Email: media@kru.co.ke
The Vodacom Bulls, DHL Stormers and Emirates Lions will have everything to play for in the final pool round of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship on Saturday – when the SA Shield winner will also be determined – as they attempt to book the best possible log positions heading into the quarter-finals and attempt to …
NBA Africa (www.NBA.com) and Safaricom, the leading telecommunication company in East Africa, today announced a multiyear youth basketball development collaboration in Kenya that will reach more than 10,000 youth this year through regional and national Jr. NBA tournaments, coaching clinics, and an elite camp for top Kenyan prospects. The collaboration marks the league's most expansive youth development programming in East Africa to date and makes Safaricom an Official Partner of the Jr. NBA in Kenya.
Through the collaboration, NBA Africa and Safaricom will host four regional Jr. NBA tournaments across Kenya for boys and girls ages 16 and under, culminating with a 16-team national tournament later this year. The collaboration will also include Jr. NBA Fit clinics, life-skills seminars, coaching capacity building, and an elite basketball development camp for 100 of the top high-school-age players from across the country. Top prospects from the elite camp will have the opportunity to participate in NBA Africa's other elite development initiatives on the continent.
“Our collaboration with Safaricom builds on the NBA's ongoing efforts to grow basketball in Kenya and across the continent of Africa,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “We look forward to creating more opportunities for young people to engage in physical activity and learn the values inherent in sport.”
“For over two decades, we have supported Kenyan passion points including sports such as football, rugby and golf,” said Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa. “We have created numerous opportunities for our youth, providing them with a platform through which they can launch their sports careers. We do this because we are Kenya's biggest supporter and are led by our purpose of transforming lives. We look forward to engaging with NBA Africa as we explore how to transform the lives of our basketball loving youth across the country.”
In November 2023, NBA Africa established a new subsidiary in Kenya, with an office located in Westlands, Nairobi. The NBA Kenya office supports all of the league's business and basketball development initiatives in the country and is led by NBA Kenya Senior Director and Country Operations Lead Michael Finley. The office marks NBA Africa's fifth office on the continent, joining Cairo, Egypt; Dakar, Senegal; Johannesburg, South Africa; and Lagos, Nigeria.
Additional details about the Jr. NBA tournaments and elite camp will be announced at a later date.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of National Basketball Association (NBA).
Contact:
Pawel Weszka
NBA Africa Communications
pweszka@nba.com
+27 10 0072666
Contact Safaricom:
For enquiries, email prcomms@safaricom.co.ke
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About NBA Africa:
NBA Africa is an affiliate of the National Basketball Association (NBA), a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball. NBA Africa conducts the league's business in Africa, including the Basketball Africa League (BAL), and has opened subsidiary offices in Cairo, Egypt; Dakar, Senegal; Johannesburg, South Africa; Lagos, Nigeria; and Nairobi, Kenya. The league's efforts on the continent have focused on increasing access to basketball and the NBA through youth and elite development, social responsibility, media distribution, corporate partnerships, NBA Africa Games, NBA Stores, the BAL, and more.
NBA games and programming are available in all 54 African countries, and the NBA has hosted three sold-out exhibition games on the continent since 2015. The BAL, a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and NBA Africa, is a professional league featuring 12 club teams from across Africa that tipped off its fourth season in March 2024. Fans can follow @NBA_Africa and @theBAL on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
About Safaricom:
Safaricom is the leading telecommunication company in East Africa. Our purpose is to transform lives by connecting people to people, people to opportunities, and people to information. We keep over 45.9 million customers connected and play a critical role in the society, supporting over one million jobs both directly and indirectly while our total economic value was estimated at KES 393 billion ($3.1 billion) for the 12 months through March 2022.
Listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange and with annual revenues of close to KES 335.4 billion as of March 2024, Safaricom provides connectivity through wide range of technology, 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G in aggregate covering over 99% of Kenya's population.
Safaricom is an equal opportunity employer, actively recruiting staff from different backgrounds reflecting the communities that we serve. We are committed to equal gender representation at all levels. Our target is to achieve 50:50 senior management gender parity by 2025.
As part of our ongoing commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we continue to work towards improving energy and resource efficiency in our network and facilities to reduce carbon emissions and our fuel consumption. We remain committed to becoming a Net Zero carbon-emitting company by 2050.
[Listen to audio of Eloise Webb and Libbie Janse van Rensburg.] The Springbok Women’s Sevens squad understand very well what is at stake in Madrid this weekend and are adamant it will be a matter of fight, not flight in their quest for survival in their approach to this weekend’s HSBC SVNS play-off tournament. South …
[Listen to audio of Justin Geduld here.] The record books will reflect that South Africa won the last two HSBC SVNS tournaments in Spain – Malaga and Seville in 2022 – and for Justin Geduld, playing in his 60th world series tournament for the Blitzboks this weekend, those achievements can be repeated. The experienced flyhalf …
The match officials appointments of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship Round 18 fixtures have been confirmed and are available alongside TV listings below. Ben Whitehouse will take up the whistle for the 100th time as Benetton take on Edinburgh Rugby this Saturday, June 1. The Welshman made his PRO12 debut in November 2014 and is …
The “phenomenal” Gareth Davies has been likened to a top striker in football having just reached a major career landmark. Wales scrum-half Davies took his tally of league tries up to 50 with a double in the Scarlets’ victory over Zebre Parma in the last round of Vodacom URC matches. He’s only the second Welshman …
Get ready for a historic showdown as Sportsmans Warehouse Premier Interschools presents one of the oldest and most eagerly awaited schoolboy derbies in the country: Bishops vs. Rondebosch. This historic match up, set to take place just before the midyear break, marks the 203rd meeting between these two prestigious Western Cape schools, a rivalry that …
The World Rugby U20 Championship returns to South Africa in June and July when the 12 best Under-20 teams will battle it out for global supremacy, with France defending the title they won in Cape Town last year, while the Junior Springboks will look to improve on their bronze medal from 2023. The tournament kicks …
DHL Western Province handed the Bulls Daisies (22-10) their first defeat in two years on Saturday, while the Border Ladies (38-24 over Golden Lions Women) and Sharks Women (34-17 over Free State Women) secured significant wins on the road in round six of the Women’s Premier Division. Despite their defeat at City Park, the Daisies …
The Springboks added prestigious continental awards to their impressive list of accolades following their back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles last year, when they received the Team of the Year and Sportsman of the Year awards at the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Sports Awards in Lusaka, Zambia on Saturday.
The glittering awards ceremony, to celebrate the pinnacle of sporting excellence, was attended by athletes, sports luminaries, and government dignitaries from across the ten countries that make up Region: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The awards add a continental flavour to the accolades received by the world champions, with the Springboks most recently being crowned the Team of the Year at the SA Sports Awards and SA Rugby Awards, while Kolisi received the People's Choice and Sports Star of the Year Awards.
SA Rugby President Mr Mark Alexander congratulated the team and Kolisi for being honoured in such a prestigious manner: “This award underlines the continental significance of the Springboks' consecutive Rugby World Cup victories and the key role Siya played in guiding the team both on and off the field.
“They deserve all the recognition for their hard work and sacrifices over several years to lift the Webb Ellis Cup in France last year and Japan in 2019, and we are delighted to see how far and wide their achievements have reached.
“The team and Kolisi have been critical in showing what unity, teamwork, and overcoming numerous barriers on and off the field can achieve in nation-building and building winning teams, and we hope this inspires teams across Africa to follow in their footsteps and achieve similar success.”
The competition for these awards was stiff, with the Springboks going up against the Malawian Scorchers – the national women's football team – and Botswana's senior men's 4x400m relay team, while Kolisi triumphed in a highly competitive category, edging out notable athletes such as Bayapo Ndori from Botswana, and Mancoba Mahlatsi from Swaziland.
The ceremony's keynote address was delivered by Her Excellency Mutale Nalumango, Vice President of Zambia. The African Union Sports Council Region 5 is committed to the development and promotion of sports within the Southern African region. The council, through various programmes and events, aims to foster unity, enhance athletic performance, and support athletes in achieving their highest potential.
Issued by SA Rugby Communications
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South African Rugby.
For further information, please contact:
Andy Colquhoun
GM: Communications and Commercial
+27 (0) 21 928 7010
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andyc@sarugby.co.za
De Jongh Borchardt
Communications Manager
+27 (0) 21 928 7021
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jjharmse@sarugby.co.za
Olive Foley presents the Anthony Foley Memorial trophy to the 2024 Investec Player of the Year, Antoine Dupont, with her sons, Dan and Tony, following the Investec Champions Cup final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium The Stade Toulousain captain, Antoine Dupont, has added to his long list of achievements by winning the prestigious Investec Player of …
The Suzuki Griquas finished off a perfect campaign by winning the SA Cup – their first major trophy in a decade – when they defeated arch-rivals the Airlink Pumas by 46-24 in a thrilling final at Suzuki Stadium in Kimberley on Saturday afternoon. Pieter Bergh’s side led from the onset, racing into a 29-0 lead …
Hollywoodbets Sharks captain Eben Etzebeth described his team’s convincing victory against Gloucester in the EPCR Challenge Cup final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Friday night as his greatest club highlight and lauded his team’s character for making history by becoming the first South African franchise to win the European title. The significant 36-22 …
The Disciplinary process related to Ruan Venter Red Card in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship Round 17 game against Glasgow Warriors on Saturday May 18 has resulted in a four game suspension. After an act of foul play by Emirates Lions player No 20 (Ruan Venter), referee Craig Evans showed the Player a Red Card …
Podcast of Philip Snyman can be listened to here. Ryan Oosthuizen will represent the Springbok Sevens for the 50th time in the HSBC SVNS in Madrid next weekend, where the final tournament of the 2024 season will be played at the Cívitas Metropolitano Stadium from 31 May to 2 June. Oosthuizen was named in the …
Ryan Oosthuizen will represent the Springbok Sevens for the 50th time in the HSBC SVNS in Madrid next weekend, where the final tournament of the 2024 season will be played at the Cívitas Metropolitano Stadium from 31 May to 2 June.
Oosthuizen was named in the Blitzbok squad to play in the Grand Finale, where South Africa will face Ireland, Fiji and New Zealand in pool play, having missed the previous tournament in Singapore.
His return to the squad – in place of Zain Davids – is the only change amongst the forwards, while Springbok Sevens interim head coach Philip Snyman tweaked the backline as well, where Justin Geduld comes in the injured Dewald Human and Shaun Williams for Shilton van Wyk.
Geduld will run out in his 60th tournament for the Blitzboks while Williams, who last played in Hong Kong, will be used on the wing as well as sweeper in a squad that has the versatility and experience to continue a good Spanish streak.
The Blitzboks won both tournaments in 2022, when the world series last stopped in Spain, with consecutive victories in Malaga and Seville.
Snyman said team selection had the Olympic repechage in mind as well, but he also wanted to field a squad capable of winning the Grand Finale.
“Zain and Shilton, who will do some conditioning back home in the next two weeks, are still very important to our final push towards the Olympic qualification,” said Snyman.
“It is great to have Ryan back amongst the pack and Shaun and Justin will bring their own magic to the tournament, so it is an exciting and capable squad.
“Shilton is still suspended after his red card in Singapore and will miss the first two matches, so we thought it would be better for him to stay home and do some conditioning with Zain. The two of them have played in all seven tournaments and most of the minutes as well, so they can do with the rest.”
Snyman said they are also managing the workload of Selvyn Davids: “He is the other player who played in all the tournaments and most of the minutes, so we will manage his workload accordingly.
“We are taking an extra sweeper with us to Madrid and that will give Shaun an opportunity and some valuable game time.”
Each match-up in the pool will have a finals feel about them, but Snyman would not want it any other way.
“Yes, it is the Grand Finale after all,” he said. “Facing Ireland on day one and Fiji and New Zealand on the second day just to get into the semi-finals is a nice challenge, but we have shown in Hong Kong and Singapore that we can get out of pools unbeaten.”
Snyman said their season is far from lost: “I think we have turned the ship. We are in a position to win the Grand Finale and then qualify for the Olympic Games. Those are two pretty big things on our radar, so we still have so much to play for. The season is far from over.”
Pool fixtures:
Friday, 31 May
14h37: Ireland
Saturday 1 June
12h44: New Zealand
15h49: Fiji
Springbok Sevens squad for Madrid:
#1 Christie Grobbelaar - 20 tournaments, 155 points (31 tries)
#2 Ryan Oosthuizen - 49 tournaments, 220 points (44 tries)
#3 Impi Visser - 38 tournaments, 200 points (40 tries)
#6 Tiaan Pretorius - 7 tournaments, 15 points (3 tries)
#8 Selvyn Davids - 36 tournaments, 662 points (85 tries, 117 conversions, 1 penalty goal)
#9 Shaun Williams - 16 tournaments, 157 points (25 tries, 16 conversions)
#11 Siviwe Soyizwapi - 52 tournaments, 755 points (151 tries)
#14 Rosko Specman - 35 tournaments, 466 points (86 tries, 18 conversions)
#23 Justin Geduld - 59 tournaments, 1119 points (118 tries, 264 conversions, 1 penalty goal)
#24 Tristan Leyds - 4 tournaments, 52 points (8 tries, 6 conversions)
#28 Dylan Sage - 27 tournaments, 165 points (33 tries)
#30 Quewin Nortje - 5 tournaments, 70 points (14 tries)
#33 Katlego Letebele - 7 tournaments, 5 points (1 try)
Issued by SA Rugby Communications
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South African Rugby.
Note to editors: Audio notes of Philip Snyman can be downloaded here (apo-opa.co/3KfiIjJ).
Three stalwarts have been recalled to the Springbok Women's Sevens squad to contest the HSBC SVNS 2024 play-off tournament in Madrid next weekend, with head coach Renfred Dazel opting for experience for the most important tournament of the season.
Former captain Sizophila Solontsi, playmaker Libbie Janse van Rensburg and wing Veroeshka Grain were recalled by Dazel, who also roped in Byrhandrѐ Dolf in a fourth change to the squad that closed out their previous tournament, in Singapore, with consecutive wins.
Solontsi and Janse van Rensburg were stand-outs in last year's World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series, helping South Africa to qualify for the HSBC SVNS Series, while Grain and Dolf return to the squad having last played in Cape Town and Perth respectively.
Solontsi, Grain and Dolf played for the Springbok Women in the Rugby Africa Women's Cup in Madagascar earlier this month, while Janse van Rensburg completed her rehabilitation after picking up a groin injury in Dubai, the opening tournament of the 2024 series.
Dazel said the selection of the quartet was easy: “They were always part of the wider selection plan, especially with the Olympics coming into play in a couple of months.
“Injury prevented the selection of Libbie and Sizo earlier in the campaign, while Dolf and Veroeshka did well when they were called upon earlier. It is an honour for me to select those individuals,” Dazel said.
Their experience will also be crucial for the squad's quest to retain their core status next season.
“All four have showed they care for the jersey so much when they last played and that is the attitude I am looking for from the Madrid squad,” said Dazel.
“It is going to be a fight from the first game to the last and will not be easy. That said, I have confidence in this group and how hard they will work for this team.
“The results did not always show the effort, but I am confident going into this tournament. We worked hard, the confidence is good, and we know what is at stake.”
South Africa will face fellow HSBC SVNS team Brazil in their pool, alongside Belgium and Argentina, who qualified through the Challenger Series. The two top sides qualify to the quarter-finals and the four winners of those will get the remaining four slots for next season's series.
“We have played Belgium often in recent years – in fact, they come to Stellenbosch for a training camp every year and have sessions against us,” said Dazel.
“They have tall players and love an off-loading game. Brazil and Argentina have the same South American style of play and they love to play off rucks, for example. We have prepared accordingly, and I believe that we have what it takes to top the pool, so we leave for Madrid with a clear plan and calm heads.”
Pool fixtures:
Friday 31 May
12h00: Argentina
15h06: Belgium
Saturday 1 June
13h51: Brazil
Springbok Women's Sevens squad for Madrid:
#10 Mathrin Simmers (co-captain) - 20 tournaments, 35 points (7 tries)
#4 Zintle Mpupha (co-captain) - 11 tournaments, 55 points (11 tries)
#7 Eloise Webb – 8 tournaments, 7 points (1 try, 1 conversion)
#17 Sizophila Solontsi – 2 tournaments
#96 Libbie Janse van Rensburg - 1 tournament, 0 points
#12 Liske Lategan – 9 tournaments, 15 points: (3 tries)
#16 Maria Tshiremba - 5 tournaments, 35 points (7 tries)
#9 Nadine Roos - 12 tournaments, 207 points (27 tries, 36 conversions)
#21 Byrhandrѐ Dolf – 2 tournaments, 0 points
#24 Veroeshka Grain – 11 tournaments, 85 points (17 tries)
#13 Kemisetso Baloyi - 7 tournaments, 0 points
#3 Ayanda Malinga - 7 tournaments, 65 points (12 tries)
#18 Shiniqwa Lamprecht - 7 tournaments, 0 points
Issued by SA Rugby Communications
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South African Rugby.
Note to editors: Audio notes of Renfred Dazel can be downloaded here (https://apo-opa.co/4bqV93o).
Rugby World Cup France 2023 delivered a significant social and economic impact for the host country while efforts to limit its environmental footprint were remarkable according to the official impact report produced by experts from EY on behalf of the French Ministry of Sport.South Africa were not the only winners of Rugby World Cup 2023 …
World Cup winner Manie Libbok has signed a three-year contract extension with the DHL Stormers. The talented playmaker has made a big impression in the number 10 jersey over the last three years and will continue to pull the strings for the DHL Stormers until at least 2027. A flyhalf who is blessed with a …