Lions star to run with the BlitzBokke
Paul Treu's South African Sevens team has been bolstered by the addition of a number of Currie Cup stars.
Philip Snyman, the Free State Cheetahs outside back, has signed a two-year contract with the Springbok Sevens team and will play for the BlitzBokke until 2014.
Robert Ebersohn (FS Cheetahs centre and captain), as well as Warren Whiteley (Golden Lions, loose forward) also joined the BlitzBokke at their base camp in Stellenbosch and will be available for selection for the next four tournaments in the IRB Sevens World Series – Dubai, Port Elizabeth, Wellington and Las Vegas.
Snyman (seven tournaments) and Ebersohn (11 tournaments) have both represented the Springbok Sevens before their decision to concentrate on Currie Cup and Super Rugby.
This is Whiteley's first call-up to the BlitzBokke.
The two Free State players add a wealth of experience to the BlitzBokke squad, who was further bolstered by the addition of Cheetahs scrumhalf Kevin Luiters, Western Province Under-21 wing Tshepo Manaka and Sharks Under-21 centre Piet Lindeque.
The six players joined the rest of the Springbok Sevens training squad who all reported for duty again on Monday for the first time since returning from the Gold Coast Sevens, where the team finished third after losing only one of their six matches.
Speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday at Stellenbosch, Springbok Sevens coach, Paul Treu, welcomed the signing of Snyman.
"Philip is a big, strong guy and he adds tremendous value to the squad," Treu said.
"He has played some good provincial rugby for the Cheetahs and I am delighted with his decision to join us for the next two years.
"He knows our set-up and the culture of the Springbok Sevens very well and it was great to see how easily he and Robert slotted into the mix again when they joined us yesterday [Monday]."
Regarding the highly rated Whiteley, Treu said: "Warren has impressed me the whole season with his consistently good performances for the Lions. He is very excited to be part of the Springbok Sevens, albeit on a short-term basis."
Injuries to Springbok Sevens stalwart Cecil Afrika (knee) and Tshotsho Mbovane (fractured finger) has prompted the BlitzBokke management to call-up extra cover, hence the addition of Cheetahs livewire scrumhalf Luiters, speedy left wing Manaka and Lindeque.
The BlitzBokke training squad will prepare daily at their camp in Stellenbosch before heading for Dubai on 25 November.
The team for Dubai and the Nelson Mandela Bay SA Sevens tournament will be announced on November 21 during a media conference in Cape Town.
South Africa Sevens (all SARU contracted, unless stipulated otherwise): Chris Dry, Kyle Brown, Stephan Dippenaar, Bernado Botha, Frankie Horne, Paul Delport, Branco Du Preez, Cecil Afrika, Steven Hunt, Robert Ebersohn (Free State Cheetahs), Tshotsho Mbovane, Ruwellyn Isbell, Cornal Hendricks, Warren Whiteley (Golden Lions), Philip Snyman, Kevin Luiters (Free State Cheetahs), Tshepo Manaka (Western Province U21), Piet Lindeque (The Sharks U21), Reuben Johannes, Pieter Engelbrecht, Mark Richards.
