Nortje returns to boost Blitzboks’ strike power at World Champs in Hong Kong
· The South African
Quewin Nortje returns to the Springbok Sevens squad for the HSBC SVNS World Championship opener in Hong Kong next weekend.
The 23-year-old missed all six regular HSBC SVNS Series stops due to injury this season. Nortje last featured at the inaugural World Championship tournament in Los Angeles in May 2025. The Blitzboks won that title, and now they target more silverware in the Far East.
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“Someone like Quewin worked very hard over a couple of months in that role and now will be ready to contribute as we know he can,” head coach Philip Snyman said.
INJURY CASUALTIES OPEN DOOR FOR RETURNING STARS
Three squad changes follow the North American leg, where the Blitzboks won in both Vancouver and New York. Christie Grobbelaar, Dewald Human and Gino Cupido all picked up injuries and cannot travel to Hong Kong.
Zain Davids and Jayden Nell come into the squad to fill the gaps left behind. Davids sat out the North American leg, while Nell impressed on debut in New York last month.
Nell and David Brits will both experience Hong Kong’s famous rugby sevens tournament for the first time. The rest of the squad brings 38 combined visits to the celebrated Kai Tak Sports Park event.
Nortje carries a remarkable strike rate of 32 tries across just 12 tournaments. His return adds serious attacking threat to a side that has won three tournaments in a row.
SNYMAN CALLS FOR FRESH START AHEAD OF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BID
Snyman says the team reset completely after returning from North America to Stellenbosch.
“We started over; this is a new challenge and we have some players coming back,” said Snyman. “We had to align first, and the best way to do that is to start at the basics.”
He added the squad pushed each other hard in training ahead of the Hong Kong trip.
The Blitzboks boss explained the team’s focus on Hong Kong began long before this week.
“Doing well in Hong Kong was one of our objectives at the start of this campaign. Nothing has changed from our competitive excellence mindset in camp.”
The coach confirmed the squad travels with strong belief in their ability to perform on the big stage.
BLITZBOKS’ POOL A SCHEDULE
The Springbok Sevens side landed in Pool A alongside Argentina, Spain and Uruguay at Kai Tak Sports Park.
The Blitzboks open their campaign against Uruguay on Friday, 17 April, at 05h16 SA time. They then face Spain at 08h49 before taking on Argentina on Saturday morning at 06h13. All matches are broadcast live on SuperSport.
The squad departs for Hong Kong on Thursday. Hong Kong remains the only HSBC SVNS venue here the Blitzboks have not yet won a title.
Springbok Sevens squad for Hong Kong: Ryan Oosthuizen, Impi Visser (captain), Zain Davids, Ronald Brown, Selvyn Davids, Siviwe Soyizwapi, Shilton van Wyk, Quewin Nortje, Donavan Don, Sebastiaan Jobb, David Brits, Tristan Leyds, Jayden Nell.