Blitzboks cleared to travel to Kagoshima City after COVID scare

The Blitzboks have been cleared to continue their journey to Kagoshima City and their preparations for the Tokyo Olympics.

Kagoshima City is where the Blitzboks will have a final preparation camp prior to the Rugby Sevens tournament of the Tokyo Olympic Games.

The Blitzboks claimed a bronze medal in the inaugural Rugby Sevens tournament at the Rio Olympics and are out to reach the gold medal match this time around and bring home the ultimate prize.

Quarantine throws a spanner in the works for Blitzboks

The squad were quarantined after another passenger had a positive COVID test upon arrival on their flight from Doha to Tokyo, and the SA side were considered candidates for close contacts due to their seats on the plane.

The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) confirmed that following a process of review and thorough assessment of the circumstances, 17 of the 18 squad members are no longer deemed close contacts and were cleared to continue participation for the Games under the same guidelines as other participants.

One management member, Ashley Evert, was deemed to be a close contact and will remain in quarantine under the revised guidelines. He will join up with the squad at the Olympic Village in Tokyo, once cleared following the relevant COVID protocols.

The team now travel to Kagoshima City to start their final preparations for the tournament, scheduled for 26-28 July at Tokyo Stadium.

South Africa’s Tokyo Olympics dream

Justin Geduld is set for a second Games, while Branco du Preez and Chris Dry have been included in Neil Powell’s squad after missing out in 2016. 

The trio of Springbok Sevens stalwarts will take 199 tournaments worth of World Rugby Sevens Series experience with them to Tokyo. Du Preez and Dry – who went to Rio as travelling reserves but did not get a chance to play – are South Africa’s most experienced World Series players, with 75 and 74 tournaments respectively, while Geduld has played in 50 World Series tournaments.

In fact, all the players in Powell’s squad have played on the global circuit before, with travelling reserve Ronald Brown the only newcomer.

Siviwe Soyizwapi has been named as captain and will resume his leadership role in the squad.

Blitzboks squad

Squad: Chris Dry, Sako Makata, Impi Visser, Zain Davids, Angelo Davids, JC Pretorius, Branco du Preez, Selvyn Davids, Justin Geduld, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Siviwe Soyizwapi (Capt.), Stedman Gans 

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