Cecil Afrika can’t wait to run out for the Blitzboks again.
The 31-year-old, who is South Africa’s all-time leading points-scorer, missed a total of nine tournaments last season because of injury.
But he is in the squad again for this weekend’s New Zealand Sevens in Hamilton and will go all out to impress coach Neil Powell as they gear up for the Olympic Games later this year.
Veteran playmaker Afrika says: “It is great being back with the squad and I am very keen to get back onto the field and playing again.
“The warm-up tournaments I played in Kenya and Dubai certainly got the juices flowing and I am very keen to get going again.
“We need to follow up the good work done by the squad that played in Dubai and Cape Town and if we do what was practised, planned and expected, we will be competitive.”
SCHEMING: Coach Neil Powell
Having won bronze with South Africa at the 2016 Olympic Games, Afrika knows doing well this weekend has to be their priority.
Drawn in a pool alongside Japan, England and Kenya, South Africa have to finish first if they want to make the playoffs.
The New Zealand tournament will not feature quarterfinals, meaning only group winners will make it to the semis.
If South Africa make it to the final four, they will face the winner of Pool C featuring France, Ireland, Canada and Spain.