Philip Snyman and Ruhan Nel ruled out of Hamilton Sevens

Springbok Sevens captain Philip Snyman and the experienced Ruhan Nel have returned to South Africa following injuries sustained at the HSBC Sydney Sevens tournament last weekend.

Snyman, who played in his 50^th tournament for the Blitzboks, injured his hamstring and Nel his knee. They will be replaced this weekend by SA Rugby Sevens Academy products Zain Davids and Muller du Plessis, who are departing for New Zealand on Monday for the HSBC Hamilton Sevens, the fourth tournament of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.

Davids made his debut for South Africa a year ago in New Zealand and then played in Sydney, Las Vegas, Vancouver, Hong Kong and Singapore, before joining the Junior Springboks for the World Rugby U20 Championship in Georgia.

Du Plessis represented the SA Schools team in 2016 and 2017 and had his first taste with the Academy side earlier this month.

The South African team arrived in Hamilton on Monday. They face Papua New Guinea, Russia and England in Pool B of the tournament that starts on Saturday at the FMG Waikato Stadium.