Uncapped utility backline player Nabo Sokoyi has been included in the Blitzboks squad for the HSBC SVNS Cape Town at DHL Stadium, where the Blitzboks will aim to defend their crown in the second round of the season.
The 23-year-old, born in Upington and schooled at Grey College in Bloemfontein, will take the place of Mfundo Ndhlovu in the only change to the squad that finished in fifth position in Dubai a week ago.
Ndhlovu has signed with a Vodacom United Rugby Championship franchise and will join them in January, which has handed Sokoyi, a former Vodacom Bulls age group player, his big opportunity.
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Springbok Sevens head coach Philip Snyman said Ndhlovu’s future plans prompted him to act on his stated vision to expand playing opportunities to his wider squad as he builds depth towards the 2028 Olympic Games.
“We realise that we will be losing players to fifteens from time to time and we wish Mfundo well with this new chapter in his career – he has has been with us since 2018, and I understand his decision to move on,” said Snyman.
“It also gives an opportunity to the wider group. Nabo played really well in the International Invitational tournament in Dubai last weekend and I am confident that he will make the step-up into the Springbok Sevens. More new players will get similar opportunities in the remainder of the series.”
Last year, Snyman named Zander Reynders in the Cape Town squad and it paid dividends as they reclaimed the title last won in 2015. Reynders has since played in every tournament and will be in the squad again this weekend.
“Nabo has the talent and ability to become a permanent fixture in the squad and given his current form, I had the confidence to select him,” Snyman said.
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The Blitzbok coach was pleased with their training sessions since arriving back from Dubai and said they are determined to improve on their Dubai performance and to defend the title they won in Cape Town last year.
“We made some tweaks in our approach for the weekend, but the basics remain the same,” he said.
“Ball possession and retention remain very important, and we want to improve on that from last weekend. We also want to make a big step up on defence and dominate our opponents in that aspect as well.
“The players need no motivation this weekend, for them to play at home is massive, so the focus is on execution on the field.”
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Blitzboks squad for Cape Town: Christie Grobbelaar, Ryan Oosthuizen, Impi Visser, Zain Davids, Ricardo Duarttee, Ronald Brown, Selvyn Davids, Nabo Sokoyi, Shilton van Wyk, Donavan Don, David Brits, Zander Reynders, Tristan Leyds.
