The Springbok Sevens have set their sights on going back-to-back in Cape Town this December, as they look to defend their title.
But to achieve that short-term goal, they know that a strong start this weekend in Dubai — the opening tournament of the revamped World Rugby SVNS Series — is non-negotiable if they want to build the momentum needed for their home event.
Dubai has traditionally been a good hunting ground for the Blitzboks, but with the new sudden-death nature of the tournaments, every match becomes crucial. South Africa understands that laying a solid foundation in the United Arab Emirates will go a long way not just towards achieving their ambitions in the Mother City, but also towards setting the tone for the season ahead.
According to captain Impi Visser, who assumes full-time leadership duties from playmaker Selvyn Davids, the team has met with coaches and management to establish their short-, medium-, and long-term goals for the campaign.
The first step is a positive start in Dubai, followed by their major target: winning the Cape Town SVNS in front of their home fans once again.
On Saturday, the Blitzboks face a challenging opening pool against France, Fiji and Argentina. With only the top two teams in each of the two groups advancing to the semi-finals, every match will carry significant weight.
The #Blitzboks will travel to Dubai with a new captain and a settled squad for the #HSBCSVNS opener – more here: https://t.co/xXst7gIbQm ⚡#PoweredByUnity pic.twitter.com/CvUCw27vuq
— Springbok Sevens (@Blitzboks) November 21, 2025
“Our first short-term goal is to go back-to-back in Cape Town; we want to win the tournament twice in a row,” Visser said.
“However, the target is only Dubai at this moment. The focus is not on Cape Town, but on the challenge ahead. We want to start strong and convert that into a tournament victory.
“We laid a good platform with our pre-season for what is to come, and it is all about translating that onto the rugby field this weekend. We had some good training matches that gave us an indication of what to work on, and we identified certain things we can improve going into the season.”
Sea bringing the heat to the Dubai desert 🔥💨#Blitzboks #PoweredByUnity #HSBCSVNS pic.twitter.com/iDiYIHMMQY
— Springbok Sevens (@Blitzboks) November 21, 2025
According to Visser, they are not necessarily cautious of any of their opponents this weekend, but they know they are up against it.
He acknowledged that every match will be like a knockout game because only eight teams are competing for spots in the semis. Looking at the pool draw, he believes they have the tougher one this weekend.
“We don’t fear any team, but there is that respect between all eight of the sides because everyone knows each game will be a big fight to get to the play-offs.”
