South Africa announces sevens team to Rio Olympics

South Africa have announced their 7s team for next month's Olympic Games in Rio, with Kyle Brown named as captain.

Brown leads the 12‑man squad which excludes 2007 Rugby World Cup winner Bryan Habana and fellow 15‑man Springboks Francois Hougaard and Ryan Kankowski.

Hougaard has been included as one of two travelling replacements, along with Chris Dry, in the squad named by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee.

Current World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year, Werner Kok, has been included in the team after he missed out in all of the 2015/16 World Rugby Sevens Series following a knee injury. He has been joined by Springbok midfielder, Juan de Jongh, who has played in 14 Test matches for South Africa.

Cheslin Kolbe, is also included, but generally Springbok Sevens coach Neil Powell stuck to most of the regulars that helped the Blitzboks to second place in the overall World Series.

This include forwards Tim Agaba, Philip Snyman and Kwagga Smith, speedster Seabelo Senatla, former World Sevens Player of the Year Cecil Afrika, Justin Geduld and Rosko Specman and all‑rounder Dylan Sage.

South Africa is pooled with France, Australia and Spain.

Source: Planet Rugby