Explosive winger Quewin Nortje is set to make his first appearance of the 2025-26 season for the Blitzboks.
The 23-year-old missed the entire regular season through injury, but is now fit again and ready to add firepower to the South African attack for the opening leg of the SVNS World Championship in Hong Kong.
Nortje boasts an impressive strike rate of 32 tries in 12 tournaments and last featured at the World Championship event in Los Angeles in May 2025, where the Blitzboks lifted the title.
His return is one of three changes to the squad that finished the regular series strongly, winning four of the six tournaments – including triumphs in Vancouver and New York.
Christie Grobbelaar, Dewald Human and Gino Cupido were ruled out after picking up injuries during the North American leg.
MORE: Blitzboks hit by injuries as Hong Kong looms
Zain Davids returns after being rested for those tournaments, while youngster Jayden Nell retains his place after impressing on debut in New York.
Blitzboks coach Philip Snyman said the squad reset their focus after regrouping in Stellenbosch ahead of the three World Championship events in Hong Kong, Valladolid and Bordeaux.
“We started over; this is a new challenge and we have some players coming back, so we had to align first and the best way to do that is to start at the basics,” said Snyman.
“We worked hard in training, pushed each other very hard and reminded ourselves of our objectives at the start of this campaign. Doing well in Hong Kong was one of them, so we know what we are training for.”
ALSO: Snyman hails Blitzboks’ heart
Hong Kong remains the one stop on the circuit the Blitzboks have yet to conquer, something Snyman’s side will be eager to change when the tournament kicks off at Kai Tak Sports Park.
Hong Kong pools
A: South Africa, Argentina, Spain, Uruguay
B: Fiji, France, Great Britain, Germany
C: New Zealand, Australia, Kenya, USA
Blitzboks fixtures
Friday, 17 April
5:16am: Uruguay
8:49am: Spain
Saturday, 18 April
6:13am: Argentina
Photo: Daniel Cole/Reuters
The post Blitzboks welcome back try machine appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Explosive winger Quewin Nortje is set to make his first appearance of the 2025-26 season for the Blitzboks.
The post Blitzboks welcome back try machine appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
