Engelbrecht, Kolbe in Sevens frame

 

Successful talks between SARU and several provincial unions have paved the way for a number of Currie Cup players to be released for Springbok Sevens training duty.

 

Engelbrecht, a contracted Springbok with 12 Test caps, played for the Blue Bulls during the recently concluded Currie Cup while Kolbe starred for the Western Province during their successful campaign.

 

The Springbok centre last played for the national team against Scotland on November 17 at Murrayfield in 2013.

 

He was included in the June Test series against Wales and Scotland earlier this year but did not make any appearances.

 

As a contracted Bok he was forced to sit out of the Blue Bulls semifinal against Western Province at the back end of the Currie Cup.

 

During that time Engelbrecht trained with the Boks in Stellenbosch before they departed for their year-end tour. 

 

Not selected to travel to the Northern Hemisphere, the Bulls centre will now have a chance to bounce back into contention by impressing with the Sevens team.

 

Three more Blue Bulls players, Jesse Kriel, Warrick Gelant and Duncan Matthews (all utility backs), will join the training on Wednesday.

 

They will be joined by Springbok Sevens regulars Justin Geduld (Western Province), Albertus Smith and Mark Richards (Golden Lions), who returns to Sevens duties tomorrow having completed their provincial commitments.

 

Rayno Benjamin, a seasoned Springbok Seven and World Series campaigner but nowadays a regular Free State stalwart, is training with the squad since last week.

 

The Dubai Sevens takes place on December 5-6 and will be followed by the Nelson Mandela Bay Sevens in Port Elizabeth a week later, where the South Africans are the defending champions.

 

On Tuesday Springbok Sevens coach Neil Powell said the additional players are a welcome boost to his preparation plans.

 

“Our training for the Gold Coast tournament was hampered slightly by niggling injuries and Currie Cup commitments in some cases.

 

"But thanks to Rassie Erasmus (SARU GM for High Performance) we could secure the release of these additional players.

 

"Cheslin and Rayno knows our structures and playing philosophy very well, while I am looking forward to working with the rest of the group,” said Powell.

 

Regular captain, Kyle Brown, is continuing with his rehabilitation following a shoulder injury. Meanwhile, Phillip Snyman has sustained a calf muscle injury during training yesterday.

 

He is presently undergoing further investigation to determine the extent of the injury and will be treated accordingly.

 

Stephan Dippenaar has been ruled out of the next two tournaments following a hamstring injury sustained at the Gold Coast tournament.

 

Powell will name his 12-man squad for Dubai and PE at the end of the month.

 

Last month the Springbok Sevens finished fourth at the season-opening Gold Coast tournament after going down to Samoa in the semifinals.