Springbok Sevens skipper Philip Snyman is set to make history, proudly representing South Africa for his 50th time in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at the Sydney Sevens tournament, kicking off at Allianz Stadium on Friday, 26 January.
The remarkable 30-year-old made his Blitzbok debut a decade ago in Dubai back in 2008 and has been a vital member of the squads that clinched the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series titles twice, first in 2008/09 and again in 2016/17.
Last year, Snyman led the Blitzboks to victory in Sydney. Reflecting on the challenge ahead, he emphasises that to succeed this time around, individual milestones must take a back seat, with team goals as the priority.
“Reaching 50 tournaments is a massive honour for any player, and achieving it in the Springbok Sevens jersey makes it even more special,” shared Snyman.
“Honestly, I wasn’t too focused on the milestone itself; my mind was on hitting the pitch with my teammates and enjoying the game. Sharing this moment with family and friends makes it all the more rewarding.
“This weekend, we have clear goals. Whether it’s your first or 50th tournament, every player must contribute equally. Every role counts for the team’s success.”
The special jersey handover ceremony saw Snyman honoured with a gold cap, celebrating his achievement alongside fellow sevens greats Kyle Brown (60 tournaments) and Cecil Afrika (55 tournaments), welcoming him as the sixth Blitzbok to reach this milestone. Other legends include Frankie Horne (68), Chris Dry (63), and Branco du Preez (57).
Snyman acknowledged that representing South Africa in 50 tournaments was a significant personal goal.
“It was definitely a target for me,” he remarked.
“I’ve yet to play in a Commonwealth Games, so if all goes well, I hope to tick that box in April. The Rugby Sevens World Cup in July is another goal; I’ve participated in two but lost in the quarter-finals. This time, I aspire to be part of a winning team,” added Snyman, who also earned a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Turning his attention to the upcoming Sydney Sevens, the captain called on the team to sharpen their clinical skills and defence.
“We must capitalise on scoring chances and strengthen our defence. Defence has always been our pride, but recent tournaments haven’t reflected our best performance in this area.
“If we stick to these goals, success will follow,” Snyman concluded.
Catch the Blitzboks’ action at these times (SA times):
26 January
- 09h22: Papua New Guinea
27 January
- 06h03: Spain
- 09h14: England
Meet the Springbok Sevens squad 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 (30 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
