Strong Sevens team for Games
6 March 2006
The South African Rugby Union has confirmed a strong squad to represent the country in Sevens at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne this month.
Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu named a squad of 12 players who will attend a training camp in Johannesburg ahead of their departure to Australia.
The addition of Antonius Verhoeven from Boland should increase the team's attacking option and also adds experience to the talented squad.
South Africa has been drawn in a tough pool that includes matches against Tonga, Uganda and Samoa at the Telstra Stadium on 16 March, with the quarterfinals, semi-finals and final to be played the following day.
Bronze medal in 2002
Treu captained the Sevens team that captured the bronze medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England, and believes that the current squad have the skill, speed and strength to make their presence felt in Melbourne.
"We now have a
wealth of experienced players in the likes of Fabian Juries, Stefan Basson, and Jaco Pretorius, plus exciting emerging talent like Gio Aplon, Mzwandile Stick and Ryan Kankowski," said Treu.
"Consistency will hold the key in Melbourne. It is with this in mind that we have stuck to our current squad despite the fact that some of the other teams have strengthened their ranks will full internationals. We definitely have the skill, capability and confidence to be among the contenders for a medal the Games."
Eastern Province flyer Juries is the world-record holder for the most tries scored in the history of Sevens rugby, while in Basson South Africa boasts the top points' scorer in the current IRB Sevens Series.
Springbok Sevens squad
Schalk van der Merwe (Golden Lions)
Ryan Kankowski (Natal Sharks)
Tobela Mdaka (Griffons)
Jonathan Mokuena (Leopards)
Zolani Mofu (Border)
Stefan Basson (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
Phillip Burger
(Vodacom Cheetahs)
Mzwandile Stick (Natal Sharks)
Gio Aplon (Vodacom Western Province)
Jaco Pretorius (Falcons)
Antonius Verhoeven (Boland)
Fabian Juries (Eastern Province).
Extra players invited to the training camp:
Lesley Jackson (Vodacom Western Province)
Frank Wagenstroom (Vodacom Western Province)
Renfred Dazel (Boland)
Heinrich Brussow (Vodacom Cheetahs)
Pieter Claassen (Golden Lions)
Source: SA Rugby
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