Sage, Gans back for Springbok Sevens trip to Australasia

Dylan Sage and Stedman Gans have been recalled to the Springbok Sevens squad for the next two tournaments in the World Rugby Sevens Series, in Sydney, Australia next weekend and in Hamilton, New Zealand a week later.

Sage missed the tournaments in Dubai and Cape Town due to a back injury. Gans, who last played for the Blitzboks in Singapore last season, was part of the SA Rugby Sevens Academy team that won the Sudamericarugby 7s tournaments in Uruguay and Chile in the last fortnight.

Springbok Sevens coach Neil Powell also included Stormers loose forward Sikhumbuzo Notshe as the replacement player to travel with the team. Notshe, who joined the squad in October, will return to Super Rugby upon his return, as will three other squad regulars, Tim Agaba (Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Lions) and Seabelo Senatla (Stormers).

The Springbok Sevens team for the HSBC Sydney Sevens:

1. Tim Agaba (12 tournaments, 61 matches, 50 points, 10 tries)
2. Philip Snyman (captain – 49 tournaments, 219 matches, 58 tries, 321 points)
3. Dylan Sage (17 tournaments, 93 matches, 100 points, 20 tries)
4. Kwagga Smith (29 tournaments, 147 matches, 300 points, 60 tries)
5. Werner Kok (31 tournaments, 163 matches, 365 points, 73 tries)
6. Kyle Brown (60 tournaments, 297 matches, 400 points, 80 tries)
7. Stedman Gans (4 tournaments, 11 matches, 5 points, 1 try)
8. Rosko Specman (23 tournaments, 123 matches, 288 points, 52 tries)
9. Justin Geduld (32 tournaments, 164 matches, 699 points, 77 tries)
10. Cecil Afrika (55 tournaments, 285 matches, 1335 points, 160 tries)
11. Seabelo Senatla (35 tournaments, 179 matches, 1015 points, 203 tries)
12. Ruhan Nel (23 tournaments, 115 matches, 202 points, 40 tries)
13. Sikhumbuzo Notshe (0, 0)*

*Replacement Player