Olympic hockey player switches to Sevens for Dubai
Yesterday at 03:45 AM
NEWS: A South African field hockey player, who represented South Africa at the 2024 Paris Olympics, will represent South Africa at the upcoming Dubai 7s International Invitational tournament.
Kayla Swarts, Olympic hockey player and younger sibling of South African track superstar Wayde van Niekerk, will represent the Springbok Women's Sevens 'A' side in Dubai, while the Springbok Sevens 'A' side will feature two former Junior Springboks.
Both teams will feature a combination of experienced players and new talent for the tournament, played alongside the HSBC SVNS tournament at The SEVENS in Dubai.
Springbok Women Sevens 'A':
Head coach Renfred Dazel has included five players that formed part of the squad that won the Rugby Africa Women's Sevens title in Ghana earlier this month for the trip to the UAE.
Team captain Kemisetso Baloyi, Shiniqwa Lamprecht and Zandile Masuku also played in the 2024 World Series, while Nompumelelo Mathe and Leigh Fortuin made their international sevens debuts in Ghana, where the team qualified for the 2025 World Rugby Challenger Series.
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They will provide much needed experience to the team with seven new players, all full of promise and talent.
One of the new players, Asiphe Mayaba, has Test experience and has scored five tries for the Springbok Women.
Danaé van der Bergh is the daughter of former Springbok loose forward Elandré, who played one Test in the green and gold in 1994, while her Leopards teammate Vianca Boer excelled for the SA Students Sevens team this year.
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Voice Ndou was the leading try scorer for Western Province in the 2024 Women's Premier Division where she played alongside Anja le Roux and Donëy Filies, who represented the Junior Springbok Women earlier in the year as well.
The Springbok Women's Sevens A team will face Georgia, France Militaire Rugby Sevens and Ireland Invitational in their pool.
Springbok Women's Sevens 'A' squad:
1. Kemisetso Baloyi (captain),
2. Nompumelelo Mathe
3. Leigh Fortuin
4. Kayla Swarts
5. Voice Ndou
6. Shiniqwa Lamprecht
7. Zandile Masuku
8. Vianca Boer
9. Anja le Roux
10. Danaé van der Bergh
11. Donëy Filies
12. Asiphe Mayaba
Springbok Sevens 'A':
Olympic bronze medallist Shaun Williams and fellow World Series winner Mfundo Ndhlovu highlight the Springbok Sevens 'A' squad for their trip to Dubai.
The team, coached by Sandile Ngcobo and co-captained by Williams and Gino Cupido, will play under the Shogun logo and will face Monaco Impis, Froggies and Olorun in their pool matches.
Former Junior Springbok speedsters Joel Leotela and Duran Koevort will be others to watch in a squad laden with budding talent, with all players hoping to show they can contribute to future Blitzbok campaigns.
Cupido and Siya Ndlozi formed part of the SA U18 Sevens team that played at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago in 2023 and look set to develop into senior internationals at this level, while Rowan Malgas (UJ), Zander Reynders (UP-Tuks) and Joubert Schoeman (NWU) all got invites to training after impressive performances for their respective universities.
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Flank Ntsika Fisanti is another who is aiming for HSBC SVNS action after a successful season with the Pumas.
Lots of eyes will be on Gideon van Wyk as well.
The former Cheetahs flank had a successful two-year stint with the Houston SaberCats in Major League Rugby and is adapting well to the rigours of Sevens.
Ngcobo said the tournament is one where the Blitzbok hopefuls will be tested in tough conditions and against experienced opponents and will provide an ideal opportunity for the players to show why they should be drafted into the senior squad.
Springbok Sevens 'A' squad:
1. Shaun Williams (co-captain)
2. Mfundo Ndhlovu
3. Gideon van Wyk
4. Gino Cupido (co-captain)
5. Zander Reynders
6. Duran Koevort
7. Rowan Malgas
8. Joel Leotlela
9. Siya Ndlozi
10. Ntsika Fisanti
11. Juan Smith
12. Joubert Schoeman
