Injury blows force Blitzboks to reshuffle for Singapore Sevens

Injuries to key players have opened the door for backs Luan Giliomee and Renaldo Young to make their Springbok Sevens debuts at next weekend’s Singapore Sevens.

Their inclusion is bolstered by the return of former skipper Siviwe Soyizwapi, who fills the leadership and experience vacuum created by Impi Visser’s absence.   

The Blitzboks secured back-to-back wins at last month’s Cape Town Sevens, and will be keen to build on that momentum in the third leg of the world series at the Singapore National Stadium. 

Head coach Philip Snyman said the changes among the backs – which include a return for Sebastiaan Jobb – are as a result of injuries and building squad depth for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, as he announced the 14 players for the trip to Singapore and Perth a week later. 

“Unfortunately, Ronald Brown and Selvyn Davids picked up injuries in Cape Town in December and are not yet available for selection, as is Dewald Human, so that impacted our options in the playmaker position. Luan Giliomee will slot in there, while Sebastiaan Jobb and Renaldo Young will add some real spark to the outside backs,” Snyman said.

“Quewin Nortje is also recovering well from his injury, and unfortunately Gino Cupido had a setback earlier this week, so they were not considered for selection for this trip.”

Jobb last played for the Blitzboks in Singapore in April last year.

Meanwhile, Soyizwapi’s return to fitness is perfectly timed, allowing Visser – one of the standout performers in Cape Town – a well-earned rest. Soyizwapi last represented the Blitzboks at the HSBC SVNS World Championship in Los Angeles in May last year, and will captain the side once again on his comeback.   

“Impi’s workload in Dubai and Cape Town was huge, so we decided to give him a break. The decision was made easier with Siviwe being fit again, so he will replace him in the forwards and take over the captaincy for this trip as well,” Snyman said.

Giliomee represented South Africa at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago in 2023, the SA Schools and U18 sides in 2024, and toured Ireland and France with the SA U19 Academy last year. He joined the Blitzbok training squad from Durban late last year, where he was playing for the Sharks age-group sides.

Wing Young was part of the Boland Kavaliers' Currie Cup last year before he joined the Blitzbok squad on a dual contract. 

South Africa are in Pool A with Spain, Great Britain, and Fiji. New Zealand, Australia, France, and Argentina are in Pool B. The squad will depart for Singapore on Monday.

Blitzbok squad for Singapore Sevens:

1. Christie Grobbelaar, 2. Ryan Oosthuizen, 4. Zain Davids, 5. Ricardo Duarttee, 9. Nabo Sokoyi, 11. Siviwe Soyizwapi (captain), 12. Shilton van Wyk, 15. Donavan Don,16. Sebastiaan Jobb, 19 David Brits, 20. Renaldo Young,  21. Zander Reynders, 24. Tristan Leyds, 27. Luan Giliomee.