Blitzboks: Kwagga says no to C

HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND – FEBRUARY 04: Kwagga Smith of South Africa makes a break against Australia during the 2018 New Zealand Sevens at FMG Stadium on February 4, 2018 in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Blitzboks: Kwagga says no to Commonwealth Games in favour of Super Rugby

Kwagga Smith has pulled out of the Blitzboks side for the Commonwealth Games. Smith will stay focussed on the Lions in Super Rugby instead.

Blitzboks: Kwagga says no to C

HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND – FEBRUARY 04: Kwagga Smith of South Africa makes a break against Australia during the 2018 New Zealand Sevens at FMG Stadium on February 4, 2018 in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Kwagga Smith has turned down the opportunity to play for the Springbok Sevens side at the Commonwealth Games, saying he wants to focus on Super Rugby instead.

Smith has been part of the Sevens side for the past five years. Like many of his Sevens co-stars, he dreams of one day becoming a Springbok and with Jaco Kriel out injured for the Lions, a perfect opportunity has presented itself.

“We all sat around a table and spoke about it. We said that if Jaco Kriel is ready to play then it makes sense, and I can go. But it doesn’t help I go there and I get an injury and then we are sitting here with a problem at the Lions,” Smith told the media.

“So I said to coach Neil where my goals are, and what will happen if something like that happens. It is unlucky that Jaco had to get an operation again, so I think it is not going to happen that I will be released to play in the Commonwealth Games.”

When the squad for the Games was originally announced, Smith harboured some ambitions of being able to do both. At the time, he said:

“It works out quite well actually because the Games fall on an off weekend for the Lions in Super Rugby.

“And then the Lions come to Sydney for their Super Rugby tour and I might already be over there‚ which makes it doable.

“I have won a Commonwealth gold medal but I want to do it again‚ and also maybe win an Olympic Gold medal in 2020 as well.”

Other players with XVs ambitions named in the Blitzboks Commonwealth Games squad are Seabelo Senatla and Tim Agaba.

A replacement for Smith will be named in due course.

Springbok Sevens Commonwealth Games squad

Tim Agaba‚ Philip Snyman‚ Dylan Sage‚ Werner Kok‚ Kyle Brown‚ Branco du Preez‚ Rosko Specman‚ Justin Geduld‚ Cecil Afrika‚ Seabelo Senatla‚ Ruhan Nel‚ Siviwe Soyizwapi (travelling reserve).