The opportunity to get back on the horse is too good not to get excited about and according to Springbok Women’s Sevens assistant coach Cecil Afrika, the squad will be ready this weekend, when the first of two rounds of the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025 will be played at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town.
The Springbok Women’s Sevens team won the previous Challenger Series they were involved in and qualified to play in the 2024 HSBC SVNS, but they were demoted at the end of that series.
According to Afrika, the opportunity for redemption is real and the fact that they come well prepared and are playing at home should be enough to make everyone involved excited about a potential return to the big stage.
“The preparations went well; we worked hard at our Stellenbosch base and come in ready,” said Afrika.
“Our first session after our arrival on Tuesday was not great, to be honest, but the next one was much better, and we are shaping up nicely going into the weekend.”
Afrika said the experience gained by the squad playing on the circuit last season will be helpful, but it does not provide any guarantees.
“We have experienced players in the squad, as some have played the full world series and at the Olympic Games last year, but there are also a good number who have not,” he said.
“So rather than bank on experience alone, we would rather want energy and excitement to be part of this journey from everybody.
“There is no hiding behind the fact that us missing out on the series this season was a severe blow, but the fact that we have this opportunity to get back there should be enough to boost everyone's effort.”
For the former Blitzbok captain and legendary player, the challenge on Saturday from Hong Kong China and Czechia is one thing, the mindset of his own team the other for determine success on the opening day.
“We cannot lose to ourselves, as happened in some matches we played during the series last year,” said Afrika. “We are playing at home and that should be a benefit to us as the players get the opportunity to play in front of family, friends and passionate home supporters. Let’s hope for a good crowd that creates nice energy for the team to latch onto.”