The Springbok Sevens team finally stepped onto the field at Shiranami Stadium in Kagoshima a week later than anticipated, but still in high spirits and energy.
The South Africans had a number of setbacks since arriving in Japan a week ago, but with the squad now finally cleared by the authorities and all Covid protocols observed, they wasted little time to stretch their legs on Tuesday and get the blood pumping with the Sevens tournament at the Olympic Games in Tokyo a week away.
Blitzboks captain Siviwe Soyizwapi says: “We are very happy to be out here and breathing in fresh air after a week in our hotel rooms.
“We decided to process negative news in a positive way and that is what we have done.
“As a group, it worked for us actually being isolated, as it brought a tight-knit group even closer.”