Blitzboks eyeing another World Rugby Sevens title

South African Sevens Rugby team is gearing up to go for yet another HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series title. The Blitzboks won the Malaga tournament last week, after winning back-to-back championships in Dubai and are first seeds for the tournament starting in Seville on Friday. The Spain leg of the World Rugby Sevens Series moves to Seville this weekend. As the Blitzboks are preparing for the fourth tournament of the 2022 World Series, Dewald Human is looking to apply the same principles that brought glory in Malaga last weekend. The play-maker, who has scored 169 points in 56 matches, is comfortable in his current role.

“There is a lot of competition in my position. We call it healthy competition as it pushes us to be better. It’s about how you contribute to the team and the system. I think that’s what makes our team be successful,” says Human.

The 26-year-old Human, who captained the Blitzboks twice in the past including in their Canada Sevens tournament victory in Vancouver in 2021, is concerned about injuries.

“It’s very tough. Injuries are part of the game but it’s difficult if you get injured before the tournament. For me, I focus on being healthy at this moment. There is a lot of rugby to be played this year. For me, it’s just being healthy and injury-free over the weekend,” Human added.

Darren Adonis, who is a relative newcomer to the Blitzboks squad for the Sevens World Series, is keen to cement his position in the team. He will be playing in his fourth tournament this weekend.

“After finding my rhythm and getting into the habit of the game, it’s tough to shoot off and on and make the cut again. I think it’s a long year. I think the prep and build-up for the World Cup will be nice to have game time, playing, and having a good prep until then,” says Adonis.

Impi Visser will again lead the South Africans this weekend because Captain Siviwe Soyizwapi was injured in the first match of the Malaga tournament last week.