Blitzboks ‘true ambassadors for SA’

SA Rugby president Mark Alexander yesterday congratulated the Springbok Sevens squad on winning the World Rugby Sevens Series for the second consecutive season.

The record-breaking Blitzbok team of Neil Powell landed in Cape Town yesterday with the World Series trophy after they clinched the series in dramatic fashion in Paris on Sunday.

“This was an exceptional performance by our squad, who refused to stop believing and kept on fighting, literally until the very last match of the series,” said Alexander.

“We are immensely proud of them and South Africa should be too. The Blitzboks are a leading light in team culture based on respect, humility and shows the country that there is strength in diversity.

“They have been true ambassadors for the country and again represented SA Rugby on the world stage with distinction and grace. Even when injuries robbed them of experienced players, Neil Powell and his management backed their structures and gave younger players a chance to show their worth.

“This is a true reward for our Sevens programme and I want to congratulate all involved in this record-breaking effort.”

The back-to-back series victories were a first for the Springbok Sevens. It was also the third time the Blitzboks had won the World Series, after they were also crowned champions for the first time in the 2008/09 season.

The Blitzboks clinched the World Series on Sunday when they successfully defended their Paris Sevens crown to cap a year highlighted by the team’s consistency and excellence.

South Africa won the Dubai and Paris legs of the 10-tournament series and finished in the top four in the remaining eight, played in iconic cities all over the world. They were runners-up in Sydney, Hamilton and London, won bronze in Cape Town, Vancouver and Hong Kong and placed fourth in Las Vegas and Singapore. – ANA