Record try-scorer Seabelo Senatla and bruising forward Kwagga Smith have been named in the Springbok Sevens team for the Commonwealth Games‚ even though they won’t play any part in the remainder of the current World Series.
Senatla‚ who has scored 219 tries in his World Series career‚ is on Super Rugby duty with the Stormers.
Smith and Tim Agaba‚ looseforwards for the Lions and Bulls respectively‚ have also been named in the 12-man team for the Games in the Gold Coast in April.
Those three players all withdrew from the Springbok sevens to concentrate on 15s‚ but the plan was always to include them in the Commonwealth Games team.
Smith‚ speaking last month‚ said the Games fitted in neatly with his Super Rugby schedule.
“It works out quite well actually because the Games fall on an off weekend for the Lions in Super Rugby‚” Smith said.
“And then the Lions come to Sydney for their Super Rugby tour and I might already be over there‚ which makes it doable.
“I have won a Commonwealth gold medal but I want to do it again‚ and also maybe win an Olympic Gold medal in 2020 as well.”
At the same time‚ the Springbok Women’s Sevens team will be in action for the first time at this international showpiece‚ which takes place from 4 to 15 April.
SASCOC named the South African team to represent the country at the prestigious event‚ which for the first time will include a women’s sevens competition.
In all‚ Team South Africa athletes will do battle across 16 codes.
Seven members of the gold medal-winning team to Glasgow in 2014 are back for another taste of Commonwealth Games action. They are Kyle Brown‚ Justin Geduld‚ Cecil Afrika‚ Werner Kok‚ Branco du Preez‚ Smith and Senatla.
The Blitzboks have been drawn in Pool A with Scotland‚ Papua New Guinea and Malaysia for the sevens tournament‚ which is scheduled for 14-15 April at the Robina Stadium.
The Springbok Women’s Sevens will face New Zealand‚ Canada and Kenya in their pool matches.
The Rugby Sevens teams are: Men: Tim Agaba‚ Philip Snyman‚ Dylan Sage‚ Kwagga Smith‚ Werner Kok‚ Kyle Brown‚ Branco du Preez‚ Rosko Specman‚ Justin Geduld‚ Cecil Afrika‚ Seabelo Senatla‚ Ruhan Nel‚ Siviwe Soyizwapi (travelling reserve). Women: Nadine Roos‚ Eloise Webb‚ Unathi Mali‚ Megan Comley‚ Zintle Mpupha‚ Veroeshka Grain‚ Zenay Jordaan‚ Marithy Pienaar‚ Mathrin Simmers‚ Christelene Steinhobel‚ Chane Stadler‚ Zinthle Ndawonde‚ Aseza Hele (travelling reserve).
Seabelo and Kwagga for Commonwealth Games
Image: KARIM SAHIB / AFP
Record try-scorer Seabelo Senatla and bruising forward Kwagga Smith have been named in the Springbok Sevens team for the Commonwealth Games‚ even though they won’t play any part in the remainder of the current World Series.
Senatla‚ who has scored 219 tries in his World Series career‚ is on Super Rugby duty with the Stormers.
Smith and Tim Agaba‚ looseforwards for the Lions and Bulls respectively‚ have also been named in the 12-man team for the Games in the Gold Coast in April.
Those three players all withdrew from the Springbok sevens to concentrate on 15s‚ but the plan was always to include them in the Commonwealth Games team.
Smith‚ speaking last month‚ said the Games fitted in neatly with his Super Rugby schedule.
“It works out quite well actually because the Games fall on an off weekend for the Lions in Super Rugby‚” Smith said.
“And then the Lions come to Sydney for their Super Rugby tour and I might already be over there‚ which makes it doable.
“I have won a Commonwealth gold medal but I want to do it again‚ and also maybe win an Olympic Gold medal in 2020 as well.”
At the same time‚ the Springbok Women’s Sevens team will be in action for the first time at this international showpiece‚ which takes place from 4 to 15 April.
SASCOC named the South African team to represent the country at the prestigious event‚ which for the first time will include a women’s sevens competition.
In all‚ Team South Africa athletes will do battle across 16 codes.
Seven members of the gold medal-winning team to Glasgow in 2014 are back for another taste of Commonwealth Games action. They are Kyle Brown‚ Justin Geduld‚ Cecil Afrika‚ Werner Kok‚ Branco du Preez‚ Smith and Senatla.
The Blitzboks have been drawn in Pool A with Scotland‚ Papua New Guinea and Malaysia for the sevens tournament‚ which is scheduled for 14-15 April at the Robina Stadium.
The Springbok Women’s Sevens will face New Zealand‚ Canada and Kenya in their pool matches.
The Rugby Sevens teams are: Men: Tim Agaba‚ Philip Snyman‚ Dylan Sage‚ Kwagga Smith‚ Werner Kok‚ Kyle Brown‚ Branco du Preez‚ Rosko Specman‚ Justin Geduld‚ Cecil Afrika‚ Seabelo Senatla‚ Ruhan Nel‚ Siviwe Soyizwapi (travelling reserve). Women: Nadine Roos‚ Eloise Webb‚ Unathi Mali‚ Megan Comley‚ Zintle Mpupha‚ Veroeshka Grain‚ Zenay Jordaan‚ Marithy Pienaar‚ Mathrin Simmers‚ Christelene Steinhobel‚ Chane Stadler‚ Zinthle Ndawonde‚ Aseza Hele (travelling reserve).
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