Blitzboks Look To Rewrite The Script At Cape Town SVNS

The Blitzboks are back on home soil, and this time, they are not just arriving with luggage and jet lag. They are arriving with unfinished business.

Fresh off a disappointing fifth-place finish in Dubai, the Springbok Sevens squad touched down at Cape Town International Airport with one mission on their minds: redemption at the Cape Town SVNS. And for sweeper Ricardo Duarttee, it is not just another tournament. It is personal.

A Long Flight Home And A Hard Look In The Mirror

The overnight trip from Dubai gave the squad enough quiet time to absorb what went wrong. Losses to Fiji and Argentina stung, raising tough conversations about rhythm, execution and confidence.

Duarttee says the reset was immediate.

“We already regrouped on Sunday. It hurt to drop those pool games, but we found some belief again on day two,” he shared.

Now, that renewed spark must be backed up when the whistle blows at DHL Stadium for the second stop of the 2026 HSBC SVNS.

A Special Kind Of Pressure In Cape Town

For South African rugby fans, the Cape Town Sevens is part sport, part festival. Families dress up, the stadium becomes a carnival, and even casual viewers morph into passionate sevens pundits for the weekend.

Playing in that environment is electric. But it comes with weight.

“This is the one weekend we get to play in front of family, friends and our supporters,” Duarttee said. “We want to put pride back in that jersey. And Cape Town is the place to do it.”

Last year’s Cape Town title was only the Blitzboks’ second since the tournament shifted to the Mother City in 2015. The squad is determined not to wait another decade for the next one.

A Brutal Pool Awaits

Their road to redemption is not a gentle one. The Blitzboks face Dubai champions New Zealand in their opener, followed by a rematch with Fiji. They close the pool against Great Britain.

A tough assignment, but Duarttee sees opportunity.

“What an opportunity to fix the mistakes and show what we can do,” he said. “I cannot wait for Saturday.”

The City Is Ready. The Stadium Is Ready. Are The Blitzboks?

Cape Town transforms during Sevens weekend. Hotels fill up, flags wave from balconies, and the walk to DHL Stadium feels like a street carnival. It is the one tournament where the Blitzboks truly feel the heartbeat of home.

Duarttee has one message for supporters:

“Come celebrate our only home tournament with us. See you there.”

The Blitzboks have the stage, the crowd and the hunger. Now it is about turning disappointment into dominance when Cape Town lights up for the SVNS this weekend.

{Source:SABC Sport}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com