As the Blitzboks prepare for the fifth leg of the World Rugby Sevens series, two experienced players have shared their optimism about the team’s progress.

The squad is heading into this weekend’s competition with strong belief and a sense of unity, key factors that they believe will help them succeed.

Ryan Oosthuizen Reflects on Progress and Team Unity

Ryan Oosthuizen, a veteran forward making his seventh appearance in Hong Kong, has expressed confidence in the team’s development.

Despite facing tough opponents in their pool, including Uruguay, Australia, and New Zealand, he feels the squad is in a great space heading into the tournament.

“It’s been an incredible journey,” Oosthuizen said, reflecting on his long career.

“Back in 2017, I was just a young player debuting here, and now I’m almost 30 and about to become a dad.

It’s amazing to see how far I’ve come.”

He also spoke highly of the bond among the players, which he believes plays a crucial role in their on-field performance.

“We really enjoy each other’s company off the field, which creates a positive and happy squad,” he said.

“This connection helps us work for each other when we’re on the field.”

Oosthuizen, now competing in his 54th sevens tournament, credited the hard work and coaching philosophy for the team’s improvements.

“We’re really buying into the structure, and we can see the results of all the effort,” he added.

“Our management, including the strength and conditioning team, have done wonders in keeping us fit and fresh for each challenge.”

Zain Davids Overcomes Injury to Join Team for Hong Kong

Zain Davids, who made his debut with Oosthuizen in 2017, is also looking forward to the tournament, especially after overcoming a knee injury that nearly kept him out of the competition.

He acknowledged the medical team’s support in helping him recover in time for the Hong Kong Sevens.

“Getting back to full fitness was a real challenge, but thanks to our medical team, I’m ready to go,” said Davids.

“I’m really excited for this tournament.”

After 50 World Series tournaments, Davids is confident about the team’s potential.

“We’re in a good space,” he said. “Our defense is solid, and we have players with incredible flair on attack.

But most importantly, we play for each other, which always leads to positive results.”

Blitzboks’ Pool B Fixtures for Hong Kong Sevens

The Blitzboks will face three tough opponents in their pool, starting with Uruguay, followed by Australia and New Zealand.

The match schedule for the tournament is as follows:

Friday, 28 March:
- Blitzboks vs Uruguay – 11:56am
- Blitzboks vs Australia – 2:39pm
Saturday, 29 March:
- Blitzboks vs New Zealand – 7:43am

Blitzboks’ Stats in Hong Kong Sevens History

The Blitzboks have a strong history in Hong Kong, with several players topping the all-time stats for points, tries, and conversions.

Here are the notable players:

Most Points:
- Cecil Afrika (192), Branco du Preez (148), Justin Geduld (106)
Most Tries:
- Cecil Afrika (22), Fabian Juries (17), Seabelo Senatla (17)
Most Conversions:
- Branco du Preez (44), Justin Geduld (23)

Blitzboks Squad for Hong Kong Sevens

The squad for this leg of the series includes:

Ryan Oosthuizen
Impi Visser (co-captain)
Zain Davids
Ricardo Duarttee
Selvyn Davids (co-captain)
Dewald Human
Siviwe Soyizwapi
Shilton van Wyk
Quewin Nortje
Donavan Don
Gino Cupido
Zander Reynders
Tristan Leyds