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Kyle Brown will captain South Africa’s men’s 7s side at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Brown has been restored to the role by head coach Neil Powell after making Philip Snyman acting skipper for the last two stops on the HSBC Sevens Series.
Powell has stuck to the men that led the Blitzbokke to being runners-up on the 2016 circuit, opting not to select international stars Bryan Habana, Francois Hougaard, and Ryan Kankowski. There is room, however, for Juan de Jongh. The 14-test centre, last capped in 2012, skipped out on Super Rugby this season and his dedication and good form has been rewarded with a spot on the plane to Rio.
Other notable absentees are Branco du Preez, Frankie Horne, Chris Dry, and Stephan Dippenaar. Horne was dropped ahead of the 2015-16 season and has been unable to regain his place in the side, while injury kept du Preez from making a more significant challenge with breakthrough star Rosko Specman preferred as a playmaker.
Veteran forwards Dry and Dippenaar have been overlooked, along with Kankowski, with another breakout player Tim Agaba preferred and Dylan Sage a surprise choice after impressing late in the season. Dry and Hougaard will travel with the team as injury reserves, though they will not be permitted to stay with the team in the Olympic village.
South Africa are in Pool B at the tournament, joined by Australia, France, and Spain.
SOUTH AFRICA MEN’s OLYMPIC 7s
Cecil Afrika, Tim Agaba, Kyle Brown (capt.), Juan de Jongh, Justin Geduld, Werner Kok, Cheslin Kolbe, Dylan Sage, Seabelo Senatla, Kwagga Smith, Philip Snyman, Rosko Specman
