SA Women's 7s making progress despite Cape Town absence
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: This weekend, there is a buzz in Cape Town as some of the top teams on the sevens circuit get ready for World Rugby’s HSBC Cape Town SVNS.
The tournament kicks off on Saturday, with the champions crowned at the Cape Town Stadium on Sunday.
Twelve teams will fight for the title; unfortunately, the South Africa Women’s Sevens squad will not feature in the two-day series.
The side failed to secure promotion from the HSBC Sevens Challenger and in the end, did not get a spot in the HSBC World SVNS Series.
The team has been working hard at trying to get back to the main stage. They qualified for the World Rugby Challenger Series after winning the Rugby Africa Sevens in Ghana last month.
#SquadAnnouncement: “Cape Town is an amazing place to play.” #rugby #news #sports @CapeTown7s @Aussie7s #WomenInRugby #WomenInSports https://t.co/qaYJ2wr6YQ
— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) December 3, 2024
Last weekend Renfred Dazel finished fourth at the Dubai 7s International Invitational tournament.
The South Africa Women’s Sevens ‘A’ side, fielding seven new players, finished undefeated in their pool, beating Georgia (38-0) and France Military (21-10) before drawing with an Ireland Invitational side (12-12), but a better points’ differential by the Irish pushed them to the top of the pool.
In the playoffs, things went astray a bit. The SA team lost 33-7 to the Spanish side Lionesse in the semifinal, setting up a rematch with the Irish in the bronze medal match.
The South Africans were ahead at the break, but again scores were even at the end of the match. Ireland scored the match-winner in extra time to win 24-19.
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The squad regrouped to face Canada in some warm-up chukkas on Wednesday. The Canadians, a core team on the World Series, will travel to Stellenbosch for the session.
Dazel’s squad will then have a break and start up again in January to commence preparations for the World Rugby Challenger Series, to be played in March and April.
