Olympic qualification and backing up their previous two seasons of top form will be one of the many challenges facing the South African Blitzboks as they begin their final preparations to open the 2026-27 SVNS Series in Dubai.
Men’s head coach Philip Snyman will name his 13-man squad on Friday, South African time, after spending the last few weeks with a 38-man extended training squad at the program’s headquarters in Stellenbosch.
After handing six players their debuts in the 2025-26 SVNS Series, Snyman will return to a deep talent pool in South Africa, with several key stars unavailable for the opening two weeks of action in Dubai and Cape Town.
Impi Visser, Zander Reynders, Jayden Nell and 2025-26 SVNS Series Dream Team inclusion Shilton van Wyk are big losses for the Blitzboks as they are all currently recovering from injuries and are guaranteed to miss part of the 2026 season.
Mfundo Ndhlovu and Donavan Don are also unavailable, having left the team to link up with Stormers and Sharks that is, in their 2026-27 United Rugby Championship campaigns.
However, the Blitzbok head coach has plenty of exciting options at his disposal, having drawn talent from the Junior Springboks, many of whom are yet to be crowned champions in 2026. Rugby World Cup under 20 years earlier this year.
Combined with exciting up-and-coming Varsity Cup players and players from the URC sides, this gives Snyman plenty of options and directions for his side to continue their winning streak.
“With qualification for the Olympic Games determined by the final placings at the 2027 World Cup, we will ensure that our best team is ready for those events,” Snyman said in a statement.
“To be able to do that, we will use the first six tournaments of the series to build depth and cover certain key positions.
“Most of our established group of players are fit and ready, apart from four injured players, and we have invited some very exciting younger talent to the camp.
“There are a number of players who have played for the Junior Springboks over the last two years, while some standout players in the FNB Varsity Cup are also included in this group.
“We also have some loan players from the franchise, such as JC Mars from the DHL Stormers, training with us.”
Competition will be tight for places – with Snyman not only managing a 13-man squad for the SVNS campaign, but also a second squad that will also take part in the Dubai Invitational which takes place on the same weekend.
The tournament will serve as a valuable opportunity for the touring players to get some saddle time against quality opposition – while also being ready to break into the first team for Cape Town should the Blitzboks’ injury problems continue.
“No one in the contract group is resting on their laurels,” Snyman added. “New players are pushing hard for more permanent opportunities and this is creating a very competitive environment.
“We’ve seen in the past how important that tournament is to our younger group because they also have international teams playing in that tournament and it also gives them a real sense of tournament play.”
The Blitzboks team will be named on Friday and the team will leave for Dubai on Monday, November 23.
Extended squad for Springbok Sevens: Christie Grobbelaar, Ryan Oosthuizen, Impi Visser, Zain Davids, Ricardo Duarttee, Quewin Nortje, Ronald Brown, Selvyn Davids, Nabo Sokoyi, Dewald Human, Siviwe Soyizwapi, Shilton van Wyk, David Brits, Grant de Jabban Re, Sender de Jabban Re. Leyds, Gino Cupido (all played Blitzboks), Rowan Malgas, Aaron Swartz, Tiaan Fourie, Juan Smith, JC Mars, Marnus Potgieter, Zack von Wielligh, Leachim Adams, Gregan Kerneels, Siya Ndlozi, Kruger van Reenji,, Lumen Okoen, Jean Potgieter, Quintin Okoen Potgieter, H. Lizwe Mtetwa, Ceano Everson, Christiaan Potgieter, Samuel Badenhorst, Jack Benade.