Johannesburg – The Springbok Women’s Sevens squad will depart for Hong Kong on Sunday for the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series qualifier with the goal of qualifying for the World Series circuit and possibly the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
South Africa will face France, Mexico and China in the pool stages of the qualifier, which features 12 teams and takes place on September 12 and 13.
The team has to finish in the top four to secure a place on the 2014-15 IRB Women’s Sevens World Series circuit.
The top four teams on the log table at the end of the 2014-15 season will qualify automatically for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Failure to qualify for the World Series would mean South Africa would have to rely on invitations in order to participate in some IRB World Series tournaments and they would have to pursue a different route to possibly qualifying for the Olympic Games in 2016.
Springbok Women’s Sevens coach Renfred Dazel selected 12 players for the tour following a two-week training camp in Cape Town, which includes regular Sevens stars Zenay Jordaan (captain), Lorinda Brown, Phumeza Gadu and Veroeshka Grain.
Utility player Shona Leah-Weston and prop Nwabisa Ngxatu, meanwhile, have made comebacks to the squad after focusing on the 15-a-side code in the past year.
Dazel was optimistic that the team could qualify for the World Series, but he admitted that it would take a massive effort from his charges.
“We all understand the importance of advancing to the semi-final of the competition with an eye on possible Olympic qualification, so the team has all the motivation they need to prove that they deserve to be on the IRB World Series circuit.
“The players know that achieving this will take a massive effort, so hopefully they can replicate the high-tempo rugby and show the mental strength they displayed at the training camp in their matches.”
Springbok Women’s Sevens squad: Lorinda Brown, Phumeza Gadu, Rachelle Geldenhuys, Nosiphiwo Goda, Veroeshka Grain, Zenay Jordaan (captain), Nwabisa Ngxatu, Sinazo Nobele, Marithy Pienaar, Fundiswa Plaatjie, Mathrin Simmers, Shona-Leah Weston. – Sapa