Springbok Sevens coach Philip Snyman says one of his key goals this season is to broaden the Blitzboks’ player base.
After wrapping up their final conditioning block and a team-building camp in Caledon, the Blitzboks will now turn their attention to the SVNS opener in Dubai (29-30 November), followed by their home tournament in Cape Town (6-7 December).
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Snyman said he was pleased with the progress made during pre-season, particularly in integrating players returning from fifteens and introducing new faces to the system.
“We needed to get some game time in the legs, especially to get the guys who returned from their fifteens duties back on track with our plays,” he said. “It was also very productive for those players who trained with us for the first time.”
The Blitzboks used the Fast Forward Sevens tournament in Stellenbosch, as well as 12 warm-up matches against Germany, to sharpen their match fitness and combinations.
“That was vital for our preparation, and I’m very happy with how it went,” Snyman added.
Looking ahead, the coach says his priority is creating more competition for places, especially among the forwards.
“One of the main aims for this season is to expand our selection base with the eye on the 2028 Olympics [in Los Angeles],” he explained. “Our squad is ageing and we need to adapt to that.
“Instead of three, I can now select from at least 10 players to start the match in the forwards – exactly the position I wanted to be in at the start of the season.”
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Snyman credited the Blitzboks’ strong leadership group and assistant coach Renfred Dazel for driving the team’s culture and values throughout pre-season.
“It’s a player-driven system, and we’re lucky to have leaders with great experience on the circuit,” said Snyman. “Renfred’s technical knowledge and understanding of our values have been invaluable.”
OOSTHUIZEN: SVNS could get repetitive
2025-26 SVNS tournaments:
29-30 November: Dubai
6-7 December: Cape Town
31 January – 1 February: Singapore
7-8 February: Perth
7-8 March: Vancouver
14-15 March: Los Angeles
17-19 April: Hong Kong
29-31 May: Valladolid
5-7 June: Bordeaux
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
The post Snyman: Blitzboks building depth appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Springbok Sevens coach Philip Snyman says one of his key goals this season is to broaden the Blitzboks’ player base.
The post Snyman: Blitzboks building depth appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
