# South Africa national rugby sevens team

The South African national rugby sevens team, commonly known as the Springbok Sevens, competes in the World Rugby Sevens Series, the Rugby World Cup Sevens, the Summer Olympic Games and the Commonwealth Games. Overall, the team has won the World Rugby Sevens Series 4 times, as well as having won 40 tournaments in the series.

## History

After readmission to international sport following the ending of the apartheid ban, the team played their first sevens series in the 1993 Hong Kong Sevens, and also participated in the 1993 Rugby World Cup Sevens. They also played in the Hong Kong Sevens for the next two seasons. In 1996, they also took part in the Punta Del Este Sevens in Uruguay and the Dubai Sevens.
They participated in the 1997 Rugby World Cup Sevens the following year as well as in 1998, they played three South American tournaments – the Mar Del Plata Sevens in Argentina, the Punta Del Este Sevens and the Viña del Mar Sevens in Chile. 1999 saw them participate in the Mar Del Plata Sevens, the Santiago Sevens in Chile, the Fiji Sevens, the Hong Kong Sevens, the Japan Sevens and the Paris Sevens.
At the end of 1999, the first World Rugby Sevens Series (then the IRB Sevens World Series) started and the team have been participating in that series ever since. In addition to the Sevens Series, they also played in the Rugby World Cup Sevens, the Commonwealth Games, the World Games and, from 2016 onwards, the Olympic Games.
The team's nickname, "Blitzboks", is derived from "blitz" an Afrikaans word meaning lightning, and the derivative of Springbok ("Bok"), the official emblem of the South African rugby team.

## Tournament history
### Summer Olympics

Olympic Games record :
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | L | D |
| 2016 | Bronze medal match | 3rd | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 2020 | Fifth place match | 5th | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | Bronze medal match | 3rd | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 0 Titles | 2/2 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 0 |

### Rugby World Cup Sevens

World Cup Sevens record :
| Year | Round | Position | Played | Won | Lost | Drew |
| 1993 | Quarterfinals | 5th | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| 1997 | Final | 2nd | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 2001 | Quarterfinals | 5th | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2005 | Quarterfinals | 5th | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 2009 | Quarterfinals | 5th | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 2013 | Quarterfinals | 5th | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 2018 | Semifinals | 3rd | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 | 7th place final | 7th | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 0 Titles | 8/8 | 43 | 32 | 11 | 0 |

### Commonwealth Games

Commonwealth Games record :
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | L | D |
| 1998 | Quarterfinalists | 5th | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 2002 | Semifinalists | 3rd | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2006 | Plate Finalists | 6th | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 2010 | Semifinalists | 3rd | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2014 | Champions | 1st | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | Semifinalists | 4th | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 | Champions | 1st | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 2 Titles | | 40 | 32 | 8 | 0 |

### World Games

| Tournament | Placing |
| 2005 Duisburg | 2nd (Silver) |
| 2009 Kaohsiung | 3rd (Bronze) |
| 2013 Cali | 1st (Gold) |

## World Rugby Sevens Series
### Series Record

| Season | Position |
| 1999–00 | 5th |
| 2000–01 | 5th |
| 2001–02 | 2nd |
| 2002–03 | 4th |
| 2003–04 | 5th |
| 2004–05 | 4th |
| 2005–06 | 3rd |
| 2006–07 | 4th |
| 2007–08 | 2nd |
| 2008–09 | 1st |
| 2009–10 | 6th |
| 2010–11 | 2nd |
| 2011–12 | 5th |
| 2012–13 | 2nd |
| 2013–14 | 2nd |
| 2014–15 | 2nd |
| 2015–16 | 2nd |
| 2016–17 | 1st |
| 2017–18 | 1st |
| 2018–19 | 4th |
| 2019–20 | 2nd |
| 2021 | 1st |
| 2021–22 | 2nd |
| 2022–23 | 7th |
| 2023–24 | 7th |
| Total | - |

### Series tournament wins

South Africa won the following tournaments on the Sevens World Series since its inception in 1999–2000:
40 Tournament wins (up to 06/12/2022)

## Players
### Current squad

The following players have been selected to represent South Africa during the 2023–24 SVNS tournament beginning in December 2023.
Note: Caps reflect the total number of SVNS events competed in as of the 2023 South Africa Sevens.
| Player | Position | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club/province |
| Zain Davids | Forward | (1997-05-04) 4 May 1997 (age 27) | 42 | Unattached |
| Christie Grobbelaar | Forward | (2000-05-25) 25 May 2000 (age 24) | 18 | Unattached |
| Katlego Letebele | Forward | (2003-11-18) 18 November 2003 (age 21) | 2 | Unattached |
| Masande Mtshali | Forward | (2003-07-10) 10 July 2003 (age 21) | 7 | Unattached |
| Ryan Oosthuizen | Forward | (1995-05-22) 22 May 1995 (age 29) | 45 | Unattached |
| Impi Visser | Forward | (1995-05-30) 30 May 1995 (age 29) | 34 | Unattached |
| Ronald Brown | Back | (1995-09-02) 2 September 1995 (age 29) | 15 | Unattached |
| Selvyn Davids (c) | Back | (1994-03-26) 26 March 1994 (age 30) | 31 | Unattached |
| Justin Geduld | Back | (1993-10-01) 1 October 1993 (age 31) | 56 | Unattached |
| Dewald Human | Back | (1995-05-19) 19 May 1995 (age 29) | 24 | Unattached |
| Quewin Nortje | Back | (2003-01-14) 14 January 2003 (age 22) | 2 | Blue Bulls |
| Rosko Specman | Back | (1989-04-28) 28 April 1989 (age 35) | 32 | Griquas |
| Shilton van Wyk | Back | (1999-12-22) 22 December 1999 (age 25) | 15 | Unattached |

## Records and statistics
### Previous squads

The previous South African Sevens squads are as follows:
Squads :
vteSouth Africa squad – 2020 Summer OlympicsForwards
Chris Dry
Sako Makata
Impi Visser
Zain Davids
Angelo Davids
JC Pretorius
Backs
Branco du Preez
Selvyn Davids
Justin Geduld
Kurt-Lee Arendse
Siviwe Soyizwapi (c)
Stedman Gans
Ronald Brown
CoachNeil Powell
vteSouth Africa Sevens – 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens — Bronze medalSquad
Heino Bezuidenhout
Selvyn Davids
Zain Davids
Justin Geduld
Dewald Human
Werner Kok
Ruhan Nel
Ryan Oosthuizen
Dylan Sage
Philip Snyman
Siviwe Soyizwapi
Rosko Specman
Coach
Neil Powell
vteSouth Africa Sevens – 2018 Commonwealth GamesSquad
Cecil Afrika
Tim Agaba
Kyle Brown
Selvyn Davids
Zain Davids
Branco du Preez
Justin Geduld
Werner Kok
Ruhan Nel
Dylan Sage
Philip Snyman
Rosko Specman
Siviwe Soyizwapi
Coach
Neil Powell
vteSouth Africa Sevens – 2017–18 World Rugby Sevens Series — ChampionsSquad
Cecil Afrika
Tim Agaba
Heino Bezuidenhout
Kyle Brown
Selvyn Davids
Zain Davids
Chris Dry
Muller du Plessis
Branco du Preez
Stedman Gans
Justin Geduld
Dewald Human
Werner Kok
Marco Labuschagné
Mosolwa Mafuma
James Murphy
Mfundo Ndhlovu
Ruhan Nel
Sandile Ngcobo
Sikhumbuzo Notshe
Ryan Oosthuizen
Dylan Sage
Seabelo Senatla
Kwagga Smith
Rhyno Smith
Philip Snyman
Siviwe Soyizwapi
Rosko Specman
Coach
Neil Powell
Marius Schoeman
vteSouth Africa Sevens – 2016–17 World Rugby Sevens Series — ChampionsSquad
Cecil Afrika
Tim Agaba
Kyle Brown
Selvyn Davids
Zain Davids
Stephan Dippenaar
Chris Dry
Branco du Preez
Stedman Gans
Justin Geduld
Dewald Human
Werner Kok
Marco Labuschagné
Ruhan Nel
Sandile Ngcobo
Ryan Oosthuizen
Dylan Sage
Seabelo Senatla
Kwagga Smith
Philip Snyman
Siviwe Soyizwapi
Rosko Specman
Coach
Neil Powell
vteSouth Africa squad – 2016 Summer Olympics – Bronze medalForwards
Tim Agaba
Kyle Brown
Werner Kok
Philip Snyman
Kwagga Smith
Backs
Cecil Afrika
Juan de Jongh
Justin Geduld
Francois Hougaard
Cheslin Kolbe
Dylan Sage
Seabelo Senatla
Rosko Specman
Coach
Neil Powell
vteSouth Africa Sevens – 2014 Commonwealth Games — Gold medalSquad
Cecil Afrika
Kyle Brown
Chris Dry
Branco du Preez
Justin Geduld
Cornal Hendricks
Frankie Horne
Werner Kok
Mark Richards
Seabelo Senatla
Kwagga Smith
Warren Whiteley
Coach
Neil Powell
vteSouth Africa Sevens – 2013 World Games — ChampionsSquad
Bernado Botha
Kyle Brown
Stephan Dippenaar
Cornal Hendricks
Steven Hunt
Ruwellyn Isbell
Reuben Johannes
Werner Kok
Mark Richards
Seabelo Senatla
WJ Strydom
Jamba Ulengo
Coach
Neil Powell / Vuyo Zangqa
vteSouth Africa Sevens – 2013 Rugby World Cup SevensSquad
Cecil Afrika
Rayno Benjamin
Kyle Brown
Stephan Dippenaar
Chris Dry
Branco du Preez
Cornal Hendricks
Cheslin Kolbe
Sampie Mastriet
Seabelo Senatla
S'bura Sithole
Philip Snyman
Coach
Paul Treu
vteSouth Africa Sevens – 2010 Commonwealth Games — Bronze medalSquad
Cecil Afrika
Rayno Benjamin
Bernado Botha
Renfred Dazel
Paul Delport
Okkie Kruger
MJ Mentz
Chase Minnaar
Tera Mtembu
Neil Powell
Boom Prinsloo
S'bura Sithole
Coach
Paul Treu
vteSouth Africa Sevens – 2009 Rugby World Cup SevensSquad
Gio Aplon
Rayno Benjamin
Kyle Brown
Renfred Dazel
Paul Delport
Robert Ebersohn
Frankie Horne
Lionel Mapoe
Mpho Mbiyozo
Neil Powell
Philip Snyman
Vuyo Zangqa
Coach
Paul Treu
vteSouth Africa Sevens – 2008–09 IRB Sevens World Series — ChampionsSquad
Gio Aplon
Rayno Benjamin
Kyle Brown
Renfred Dazel
Paul Delport
Robert Ebersohn
Frankie Horne
Lionel Mapoe
Mpho Mbiyozo
Chase Minnaar
Howard Noble
Milo Nqoro
Neil Powell
Marius Schoeman
Philip Snyman
Mzwandile Stick
Vuyo Zangqa
Coach
Paul Treu
vteSouth Africa Sevens – 2006 Commonwealth GamesSquad
Stefan Basson
Philip Burger
Renfred Dazel
Danwel Demas
Fabian Juries
Ryan Kankowski
Thobela Mdaka
Zolani Mofu
Jonathan Mokuena
Jaco Pretorius
Mzwandile Stick
Schalk van der Merwe
Antonius Verhoeven
Coach
Paul Treu
vteSouth Africa Sevens – 2005 Rugby World Cup SevensSquad
Stefan Basson
Danwel Demas
Eddie Fredericks
Lesley Jackson
Fabian Juries
Gareth Krause
Thobela Mdaka
Jaco Pretorius
Marius Schoeman
Mzwandile Stick
Schalk van der Merwe
Jano Vermaak
Coach
Paul Treu
vteSouth Africa Sevens – 2002 Commonwealth Games — Bronze medalSquad
Jean de Villiers
Gaffie du Toit
Ian Fihlani
Dale Heidtmann
Conrad Jantjes
Fabian Juries
Jorrie Müller
Anton Pitout
Neil Powell
Marius Schoeman
Egon Seconds
Paul Treu
Wayne van Heerden
Luke Watson
Coach
Chester Williams
vteSouth Africa Sevens – 2001 Rugby World Cup SevensSquad
Helgard Brink
Warren Britz
Ricardo Loubscher
Breyton Paulse
André Pretorius
Bobby Skinstad
Rodger Smith
Paul Treu
Wayne van Heerden
Chester Williams
Coach
Norman Mbiko
vteSouth Africa Sevens – 1998 Commonwealth GamesSquad
Gaffie du Toit
Joe Gillingham
Deon Kayser
Werner Raats
Pieter Rossouw
Bobby Skinstad
Jeffrey Stevens
André Venter
Chester Williams
Russell Winter
Coach
Dawie Snyman
vteSouth Africa Sevens – 1997 Rugby World Cup SevensSquad
Graeme Bouwer
Stephen Brink
Jacques Olivier
Shaun Payne
Pieter Rossouw
Bobby Skinstad
André Snyman
Jeffrey Stevens
Joost van der Westhuizen
André Venter
Coach
Dawie Snyman
vteSouth Africa Sevens – 1993 Rugby World Cup SevensSquad
Chris Badenhorst
Jannie Claassens
André Joubert
Dieter Kriese
Ruben Kruger
Dick Muir
Dion O'Cuinneagain
Jacques Olivier
Joost van der Westhuizen
Chester Williams
Coach
Gysie Pienaar :

### Player records

The following tables show the leading career South Africa players based on statistics from the World Rugby Sevens Series. Players in bold are still active.

### Award winners

The following South Africa Sevens players have been recognised at the World Rugby Awards since 2004:
World Rugby Men's 7s Player of the Year (2004–14) :
| Year | Nominees | Winners |
| 2006 | Stefan Basson | — |
| 2008 | Fabian Juries | — |
| 2009 | Renfred Dazel | — |
| 2011 | Cecil Afrika | Cecil Afrika |
| 2014 | Kyle Brown | — |
World Rugby Men's 7s Player of the Year (2015–23) :
| Year | Nominees | Winners |
| 2015 | Werner Kok | Werner Kok |
| 2015 | Seabelo Senatla | Werner Kok |
| 2016 | Seabelo Senatla (2) | Seabelo Senatla |
| 2017 | Rosko Specman | — |
World Rugby Men's 7s Dream Team :
| Year | No. | Player |
| 2024 | 1. | Selvyn Davids |