Travis Ismaiel has been named in the Springbok Sevens squad that will compete in the North American leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in the USA and Canada later this month.
This selection will see Ismaiel completing a rare hat-trick of national team selections, having previously played for the Junior Springboks and Springboks earlier in his career. His debut for the Blitzboks is eagerly anticipated at the HSBC LA Sevens in Los Angeles.
Springbok Sevens coach Sandile Ngcobo has made three changes to the squad that played in the final of the HSBC Sydney Sevens last month.
Ronald Brown and Mfundo Ndhlovu have been included in the team, along with Ismaiel. The Blitzboks are looking to consolidate their top four position in the World Series.
The changes were made due to injuries sustained by Darren Adonis and Dalvon Blood in Sydney, which ended their season, as well as Shaun Williams, who suffered a knee injury during training this week.
The Springbok Sevens squad (with World Series stats):
Ryan Oosthuizen – 37 tournaments, 177 matches (185 points, 37 tries)
Impi Visser – 26 tournaments, 135 matches (125 points, 25 tries)
Zain Davids – 37 tournaments, 187 matches (170 points, 34 tries)
James Murphy – 13 tournaments, 58 matches (55 points, 11 tries)
Christie Grobbelaar – 12 tournaments, 60 matches (95 points, 19 tries)
Masande Mtshali – 4 tournaments, 4 matches
Siviwe Soyizwapi (captain) – 45 tournaments, 233 matches (700 points, 140 tries)
Travis Ismaiel – uncapped
Jaiden Baron – 2 tournaments, 10 matches (20 points, 4 tries)
Ricardo Duarttee – 4 tournaments, 23 matches (102 points, 7 tries, 32 conversions, 1 penalty goal)
Ronald Brown – 9 tournaments, 49 matches (303 points, 29 tries, 79 conversions)
Shilton van Wyk – 9 tournaments, 51 matches (115 points, 23 tries)
Mfundo Ndhlovu – 11 tournaments, 49 matches (60 points, 12 tries)
