Intense prep for SA for 7s qualifier

The squad of 16 players of which 11 participated in the Women’s Rugby World Cup in France last month, are in  Stellenbosch for the camp.

The World Cup players are flyhalf Zenay Jordaan, centre Lorinda Brown, wings Veroeshka Grain, Phumeza Gadu and Sinazo Nobele, fullback Siviwe Basweni, scrumhalf Fundiswa Plaatjie, flanks Nomaphelo Mayongo and Rachelle Geldenhuys, No8 Shona-Leah Westo and  prop Nwabisa Ngxatu.

Centres Marithy Pienaar and Ziyanda Tywaleni, meanwhile, were included in the original 26-member World Cup squad, but were later ruled out due to knee and hamstring injuries respectively.

The team will be reduced to 12 players at the end of the camp, with the touring squad departing for Hong Kong on September 8.

The qualifier will include 12 teams, and should South Africa finish among the top four sides, they will be included in the core group for the 2014/2015 World Series.

The teams participating in the qualifier includes Japan, China, Kenya, Brazil, Fiji, Mexico, Hong Kong, France, Netherlands, Portugal and Argentina.

The top four sides at the conclusion of the World Series next year, meanwhile, will qualify automatically for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. The teams participating in the qualifier includes Japan, China, Kenya, Brazil, Fiji, Mexico, Hong Kong, France, Netherlands, Portugal and Argentina.

“We have selected the best available squad for the training camp and with a few players vying for the same positions, there will certainly be tough competition for places,” said Springbok Women’s Sevens coach Renfred Dazel.

“This tournament is of utmost importance to us with an eye on qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games, so we hope that the competition within the squad will bring out the best in the players. Many of the women are seasoned Sevens players, while others such as Siviwe Basweni and Nwabisa Ngxatu are relatively new in the set-up, so we are excited about this group of players.”

Zoning in on the tournament Dazel admitted that one of the main challenges was that they had only two weeks to prepare for the competition following the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

“We have a busy two weeks ahead to catch up with the other teams because most of our players participated in the World Cup and have had a heavy workload in the last few months,” said Dazel.

“But fortunately they had a few days off since arriving in South Africa on Tuesday and they are visibly refreshed. Those who did not participate in the World Cup, meanwhile, followed strict training programmes.

“One could sense the drive among the players to do well in the tournament since Sunday, so we are looking forward to a productive two-week camp.”

Springbok Women’s Sevens training squad:

Zenay JordaanMarithy PienaarNosiphiwo GodaLorinda BrownPhumeza GaduVeroeshka GrainFundiswa PlaatjieNomaphelo MayongoRachelle GeldenhuysShona Lea WestonSiviwe BasweniJackie KrielMathrin SimmersZiyanda TywaleniNwabisa Ngxatu