Blitzboks Break New Ground: Springbok Sevens ‘A’ Squad Triumph in Africa With Unbeaten Run

The Springbok Sevens ‘A’ squad completed an unbeaten run to claim the 2025 Rugby Africa Sevens Cup in Mauritius, showcasing depth, resilience, and exciting new talent throughout the tournament.

Tournament Overview

At the Labourdonnais Sports Club under the blazing Mauritian sun, the Blitzboks ‘A’ squad – featuring eight uncapped players at HSBC SVNS level – displayed poise and power across all phases of the competition.

Their pool matches delivered early confidence:

• A 17–5 victory over Nigeria

• A high-energy 33–14 win over Zambia (featuring a brace by Mfundo Ndhlovu)

• A dominant 31–0 performance over Burkina Faso, where Sebastiaan Jobb scored a hat-trick

The knockouts raised the stakes – and the Blitzboks met the moment. They shut out defending champions Uganda 26–0 in the quarter-finals, outmuscled Zimbabwe 19–12 in the semis, and closed out the tournament with a controlled 26–12 win against Madagascar in the final.

Key Players and Leadership

Head coach Philip Snyman praised the team’s development:

“We wanted to give these players a proper understanding of what elite-level sevens demands – and they delivered.”

Snyman’s developmental focus was rewarded with standout performances.

• Sebastiaan Jobb led the try-scoring charge with five tries across the quarters and semis.

• Jayden Nell, Ricardo Duarttee, and Gideon van Wyk made crucial attacking contributions in the final.

• Ndhlovu, who co-captained the team with Jobb, played a central leadership role throughout the campaign.

Their final match opponent, Madagascar, impressed with their signature Fijian-style offloading, but the Blitzboks’ tactical discipline and finishing power made the difference.

Why This Win Matters

More than just a trophy, this victory showed how well South Africa’s Sevens pipeline is working.
The Blitzboks used this tournament as a development lab – testing players for SVNS Series and Olympic readiness. It offered:

• Exposure to African playing styles (often more physical)

• Experience managing back-to-back match fatigue

• Tactical adaptability under pressure in knockout play

Snyman called it a “valuable learning curve,” and fans across social media echoed the sentiment.

On X (formerly Twitter), one supporter wrote:

“If this is what the next generation looks like, we’re in very good hands.”

Image 1: X (formerly known as Twitter)/@Blitzboks

Match Results Summary

Pool Matches

• ?? 17–5 Nigeria

• ?? 33–14 Zambia (Ndhlovu x2)

• ?? 31–0 Burkina Faso (Jobb hat-trick)

Knockout Rounds

• ?? 26–0 Uganda (Quarter-finals)

• ?? 19–12 Zimbabwe (Semi-finals – Jobb double)

• ?? 26–12 Madagascar (Final – Nell, Duarttee tries)

What This Means for SA Rugby

With the senior Blitzboks under scrutiny for patchy performances in recent seasons, this result proves the depth of the Sevens programme. The performance of the ‘A’ squad showed that South African rugby is investing wisely in the future – and doing it with real success.

Players like Jobb, Duarttee, Nell, and Van Wyk are no longer fringe prospects. They’re contenders – and this tournament was their proving ground.

Also read: Go Big or Stay Home? Cardoso Urges Vuyo Letlapa to Choose Europe Over PSL Giants

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Source: SABC Sport

Featured Image: X (formerly known as Twitter)/@Blitzboks