Goodbye Springboks? Double World Cup winner Damian Willemse to chase Olympic dream

The Springbok superstar has revealed there’s a possibility he could exit Test rugby in 2023 in order to represent his country in rugby sevens at the Olympics next year.

GAZZA OPEN TO TRADING SPRINGBOKS FOR BLITZBOKS

On 28 October, Willemse became the youngest player ever to win the World Cup twice after featuring heavily for the Springboks their final win over the All Blacks in Paris.

As things stand at the moment, Willemse is one of the most versatile and skilful Test rugby players in the world, one whose presence plays an integral part in the success of the Springboks’ bold selection policies and playing system.

ALSO READ | Four World Cup winners who could soon say farewell to Springboks

Speaking to Bryan Habana, Jean de Villiers and Hanyani Shimange on the Boks Squad podcast at DHL Stadium during the HSBC SVNS Cape Town stop this past weekend, the Stormers star revealed he would consider taking his skillset to the sevens circuit for the Blitzboks in an attempt to gain Olympic selection, in what would be a big blow for the Springboks.

“I mean, it’s always on the cards. I would love to obviously play in the Olympics. You also need training, I think, as Bryan said, you need to spend some time, you know, on the field, training with the guys,” Willemse told Boks Squad.

“This is a different sport, as I told Jean as well, because what these guys are doing, it’s crazy, it’s epic,” he told the group of former Springboks. “And, yeah, I think it’s definitely something that every rugby player and kid dreams of, which is competing in the World Cup or the Olympics and obviously to get a medal would be the cherry on the cake.”

ALSO READ | Three ‘fringe’ World Cup winners who could soon start for Springboks

WATCH: DAMIAN WILLEMSE ON POSSIBLE SEVENS SWITCH

Could we see Damian Willemse at the Olympics next summer? 🤩#BoksOffice

— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) December 11, 2023