Francois Pienaar opens up about World Cup sevens
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Exactly 27 years ago, Francois Pienaar led the Springboks to what many believed was an impossible task as they lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in South Africa, and in 77 days, the country will host a second global showpiece when the World Cup Sevens kicks off in Cape Town.
From September 9 – 11, the 40 best men’s and women’s rugby sevens teams will be in action in the Mother City as they try to claim silverware that is only played for once every four years.
New Zealand will defend both the men’s and women’s titles they won in San Francisco in 2018, and they will be joined by the Blitzboks and Springbok Women’s Sevens team, as well as 22 other men’s and 14 other women’s teams.
Pienaar, who lives in Cape Town, said he is excited about the prospect of a packed stadium watching some of the best athletes in action.
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“It’s the first World Cup we will host since 1995 and I for one can’t wait to support the Blitzboks and Springbok Women’s Sevens teams in Cape Town in September,” said Pienaar.
“The World Cup Sevens will be a momentous occasion when the eyes of the rugby world will be on South Africa.
“I would like to wish all the teams – but especially our two sides in Green and Gold – all the best for the tournament, when we will yet again show the world what a wonderful country we live in, and what can be achieved when we stand together as South Africans.”
The top eight men’s teams and top four women’s teams from the hugely successful RWC Sevens 2018 in San Francisco, USA, have already secured automatic qualification for the tournament in 2022, as well as the Springbok Women’s Sevens team, as host nation.
The qualified teams for the men’s event are defending champions New Zealand, England, the Blitzboks, Fiji, Argentina, USA, France, and Scotland. Amongst the women’s teams, South Africa will join defending champions New Zealand, France, Australia and USA in Cape Town.
Apart from the pre-qualified sides, other teams that have qualified include African sides Madagascar (women), Uganda, Zimbabwe and Kenya (men), the Canadian men and women’s teams, as well as men’s teams from Australia, Samoa, Tonga, Jamaica, Hong Kong, South Korea, Uruguay and Chile, and women’s teams from Fiji, Japan, China, Brazil and Colombia.
