BlitzBokke Hunt with Steven
The Springbok squad for the Hong Kong and Tokyo legs of the IRB Sevens World Series shows three changes from the group that won the United States title last month in Las Vegas.
The 12-man squad was announced by the South African Rugby Union on Thursday.
The players who were part of the title-winning squad in the US and not travelling to the Far East are Warren Whiteley, Pieter Engelbrecht and Cheslin Kolbe.
Whiteley (Golden Lions) and Kolbe (Western Provinces) returned to their provinces, while Engelbrecht was not considered for selection because of the concussion he suffered at the tournament in Harare last weekend.
Steven Hunt, who returned to action for the SA Elite Player Development squad in Zimbabwe over the weekend, will make his first World Series appearance for the BlitzBokke since the Dubai tournament in December last year.
Another fully fit player returning to the line-up is Justin Geduld, who has recovered from a hand injury.
Free State flyer Jamba Ulengo also returns to the squad. He made his debut for the BlitzBokke in the 2011/12 series in Glasgow and London.
Other players not considered because of injury are Kyle Brown (ankle), Cecil Afrika (knee) and Mark Richards (Achilles).
The Hong Kong Sevens tournament takes place over three days from March 22 to 24 and will be followed by the Tokyo Sevens a week later on March 30 and 31.
Springbok coach Paul Treu expects another thrilling tournament in Hong Kong.
"The World Series is very competitive at the moment and it is very difficult to predict a winner for Hong Kong," said Treu.
"So far this season there have been five different winners for the five rounds of the World Series, which just illustrate the point that Hong Kong will be an extremely difficult challenge."
South Africa is drawn in Pool A alongside Argentina, Wales and Australia.
South Africa: Chris Dry, Philip Snyman, Frankie Horne (captain), Jamba Ulengo, Cornal Hendricks, Tshotsho Mbovane, Branco du Preez, Stephan Dippenaar, Paul Delport, Justin Geduld, Seabelo Senatla, Steven Hunt.
