Despite coming second in the HSBC World Sevens Series, South Africa is determined to win next weekend’s Rugby World Cup Sevens title for the first time in Cape Town.

This was after South Africa 7s head coach Neil Powell sprung a major selection surprise by naming the legendary Cecil Afrika in his squad for the World Cup, which is on 9-11.

Afrika is part of a group that consists of 14 players of which a final squad of 12 players will be confirmed next Wednesday. Tem of the players in the squad helped South Africa to win the gold medal at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games at the end of July.

Dewald Human and Zain Davids, who were two of the Blitzboks’ stars at the Commonwealth Games, will be absent from the Rugby World Cup Sevens due to injury. Human and Davids were part of South Africa‘s squad which participated at the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco but both sustained injuries at last weekend’s Los Angeles Sevens, which was the final tournament of the 2022 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.

Powell is delighted to have a player of Afrika’s experience in his squad.

“We had been in regular contact since Cecil left Springbok Sevens to first play professional rugby in the USA and now France, so I am up to date with his fitness and form,” Powell told Planet Rugby.

“The injuries to Justin Geduld earlier this year and now Dewald Human left us short of options at fly-half and Cecil not only provides massive experience, but big match temperament as well. He will also take some of the work-load away from Selvyn Davids, who is coming back from injury.”
Davids, Ronald Brown, Christie Grobbelaar and Mfundo Ndhlovu have all returned to the Blitzboks squad. They missed the tournament in Los Angeles due to injuries suffered at the Commonwealth Games.

Meanwhile, the Fiji Airways Fijian 7s team arrived in Cape Town on Friday morning. Head coach Ben Gollings named his 12-member squad with Sireli Maqala being the only overseas-based player.

Squads:

Fiji: Josua Vakurinabili, Jeremaia Matana, Joseva Talacolo, Sevuloni Mocenacagi, Elia Canakaivata, Iosefo Masi, Jerry Tuwai, Filipo Bukayaro, Filipe Sauturaga, Waisea Nacuqu, Vuiaviwa Naduvalo, Sireli Maqala.

South Africa: Cecil Afrika, Ronald Brown, Angelo Davids, Selvyn Davids, Muller du Plessis, Christie Grobbelaar, Sako Makata, James Murphy, Mfundo Ndhlovu, Ryan Oosthuizen, JC Pretorius, Siviwe Soyizwapi (c), Impi Visser, Shaun Williams

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