The Blitzboks arrived in Cape Town eager to bounce back from a disappointing fifth-place finish at the recent Dubai 7s tournament. The team is now focused on the upcoming SVNS Cape Town tournament, the second leg of the 2026 HSBC SVNS series, set to take place this weekend at DHL Stadium.
Hurt and Ready to Regroup
Upon landing in the Mother City, Springbok Sevens sweeper Ricardo Duarttee confirmed that the long flight provided ample time for reflection. Despite securing two victories on Day Two in Dubai, the pool losses to Fiji and Argentina still sting.
“It hurts that we dropped results to Fiji and Argentina in our pool, but we came back on Sunday to get some belief back,” said Duarttee. “This weekend, we have another chance to redeem ourselves and I cannot wait for that.”
The Blitzboks secured the Cape Town title last year, their first win in the city since the tournament moved to DHL Stadium in 2015. Duarttee emphasized the team’s determination to avoid another long wait for a home victory, stating the squad is focused on “right[ing] the wrongs from Dubai.”
The Magic of DHL Stadium
Duarttee, known as “Tricky Ricky,” highlighted the unique motivation that comes with playing at home:
- Motivation: “We get to play in front of family, friends and loyal supporters.”
- Goal: “We need to put some pride back in the Springbok Sevens jersey and where better than right here.”
- Atmosphere: “There is no place like DHL Stadium on the weekend of the Cape Town Sevens.”
Tough Pool Challenge Ahead
The road to redemption will not be easy, as the Blitzboks have been drawn into a highly competitive pool:
| Match 1 | Match 2 | Match 3 |
| New Zealand (Dubai Winners) | Fiji (Beat Blitzboks 28-10 in Dubai) | Great Britain |
Duarttee views this challenging group as the perfect opportunity to prove their capabilities: “What an opportunity this will be for us to rectify the mistakes and show what we are capable of, especially in front of a proper crowd to cheer us on
