Impi Visser is the only uncapped warrior added to the Blitzboks squad ahead of the Sevens Series opener in Dubai this coming weekend.
Visser, 23, is an Academy graduate and is not entirely new to the Sevens circuit.
He explains: “Dubai is quite familiar to me in terms of being in the Academy side over the last two years.
“But it’s quite different to go over there with the senior squad.
“It’s quite a big honour and I’m privileged to be in this position, to be part of this team.
“It’s been a tough year for me in terms of injuries and just to be able to be back and to be able to compete, I’m incredibly humbled by it.”
Visser suffered a serious ankle injury last year after winning the Varsity Cup as Tukkies centre.
And while he is still raw in terms of senior Sevens experience, he will undoubtedly call on the more senior stars such as Branco du Preez and Kyle Brown, who are both back in the squad after missing this year’s World Cup because of injury.
EXPERIENCED CAPTAIN: Philip Snyman leads the Boks. Photo: DAVID MOIR/EPA
While Stedman Gans, Cecil Afrika and Heino Bezuidenhout are all unavailable because of injury, coach Neil Powell is still happy with the squad, led by Philip Snyman, he has chosen for the first leg of the series.
Powell explains: “I am pleased with the final selection, although it was not an easy one for me.
“A number of the guys outside of the squad were unlucky not to make the side, but it is good to have that depth.
“We have a solid core of experienced players and I am expecting them to show that in Dubai, a really tough tournament as you have no idea what to expect from your opponents.
“Those outside the squad will play for the SA Rugby Sevens Academy side in Dubai.
“They will not only get valuable game time, but also an opportunity to stake their claim against international opponents – just look at Impi as an example.”
The Springbok Sevens squad for the Dubai:
1 Impi Visser, 2 Philip Snyman (captain), 3 Ryan Oosthuizen, 4 Zain Davids, 5 Werner Kok, 6 Kyle Brown, 7 Branco du Preez, 8 Rosko Specman, 9 Justin Geduld, 10 Dewald Human, 11 Siviwe Soyizwapi, 12 Muller du Plessis, 13 Selvyn Davids.