Olympic bronze medallist Justin Geduld has been included in Team South Africa’s Sevens squad for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, while Branco du Preez and Chris Dy have been included in the squad after missing out in 2016.
The trio of Blitzbok stalwarts will bring 199 tournaments worth of World Rugby Sevens Series experience to the squad, as Blitzbok coach Neil Powell finalised his team of 14 players, which includes one travelling reserve in Ruhan Nel.
Du Preez and Dry, who went to Rio as travelling reserve but did not get a chance to play, are South Africa’s most experienced World Series players, with 75 and 74 tournaments respectively, while Geduld has played in 50 World Series tournaments.
🚨 SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT! 🚨
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) July 6, 2021
Here is the @Blitzboks squad that is on their way to #Tokyo2020!
Congratulations everyone, see you in Japan! 🙌#HowWeSevens pic.twitter.com/WwoA7xry8L
Of his team, Powell says: “We looked at experience and more particular, Sevens experience, when we made the final call.
“In once-off tournaments such as this one, you need all the experience you can get.”
Blitzboks: Chris Dry, Sako Makata, Impi Visser, Zain Davids, Angelo Davids, JC Pretorius, Branco du Preez, Selvyn Davids, Justin Geduld, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Siviwe Soyizwapi (captain), Stedman Gans, Ronald Brown. Travelling reserve: Ruhan Nel.