BlitzBokke.com is a website for the fans… by the fans and we are fortunate to have some of the most passionate Springbok Sevens fans in all the cities where the IRB Sevens World Series takes place right here on this website.

Louisa Mills, one of our fans in the desert-city of Dubai, where the Series kicks off in a week’s time, sent us this report that appeared in the local Gulf News on 15 November 2009:

Paul Delport named Springbok Sevens captain

(Delport’s elevation is a natural succession after previously captaining the SA Schools)

Paul Delport was on Friday named as captain of the Springbok Sevens squad for the 2009/2010 IRB Sevens World Series, starting at the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens next month.  Delport’s elevation is a natural succession after previously captaining the SA Schools and national Under-21 and Under-19 teams.

Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu believes that Delport’s appointment as captain for the new season would further strengthen the existing leadership structures within the Sevens squad.

“All the senior and contracted players in the squad fully endorse Paul as their captain for the season,” said Treu.

“We want to create a platform for all our players to excel as leaders. This is part of the legacy we want to build. In the future, there will be new captains and leaders who will take over from Paul, so it’s important to have many leaders in our setup.

“The Vodacom Bulls have proved to be successful thanks to their leaders such as Victor Matfield, Fourie du Preez and Bakkies Botha in their squad.”

Seniors

Players such as Mzwandile Stick, Mpho Mbiyozo and Neil Powell, who have previously captained the SA Sevens side, are all expected to play a huge role as senior players in the side that intends to defend their crown as IRB Sevens World Series Champions.

“Our mentality within the squad is that of a team and not individuals. While Paul has been named captain, our strength will continue to be based on a team effort. That’s what I am expecting,” added Treu.

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If you’re as committed as Louisa and find yourself in any one of the IRB Sevens Series cities, send us your reports, stories, photos, or even clips from your local newspapers and we’ll gladly publish it here on BlitzBokke.com.

THREE MINUTES after it became available, tickets for the 2010 New Zealand Sevens were snapped up be excited Sevens fans.  Organisers ascribed this to the improved technology applied to ticket sales this time around.

NZI Sevens General Manager, Steve Walters said “Although tickets may have sold out this morning, we hope fans will see there are still a number of ways to embrace the 2010 NZI Sevens.”

Organisers were further encouraged by the fact that demand and popularity for the tournament remains, even during these slower economic times.

Mr Walters continued: “It’s a great tribute to the tournament that fans continue to love the great sports and entertainment event we have here in Wellington.

The 2009 tournament showed many fans will venture into Wellington even without a ticket. With the street parade, big screens in the city centre and many events going on, visitors and Wellingtonians continue to embrace the excitement and atmosphere that the event creates.”

The NZI Sevens will be held at Westpac Stadium on February 5th and 6th 2010. Wellington will be the third leg of the 2009/2010 IRB Sevens World Series.

Those who missed out this morning are encouraged to sign up to the e-newsletter at www.nzisevens.co.nz which keeps fans updated with the latest news and ticket competitions.

Hospitality and travel packages to the NZI Sevens are also available. For more details see www.nzisevens.co.nz

Captain my Captain.  The NZ players follow their legendary leader, DJ Forbes

The New Zealanders today announced that tickets for their tournament on the IRB Sevens World Series will go on sale on Tuesday 29 September 2009 from 9am. 

Tickets can be bought from Ticketmaster online at http://www.ticketmaster.co.nz or by calling Ticketmaster on 0800 111 999.

Make sure to pre-register your details with Ticketmaster by creating a Ticketmaster account. This will not guarantee tickets, but will speed up the purchase process.

For a full ticket price list visit www.nzisevens.co.nz

See you in New Zealand!

The first 5,000 main stand tickets have gone on sale for the second leg of the 2009/10 IRB Sevens World Series, the Emirates Airline South Africa Sevens at Outeniqua Park in George on 11-12 December.

South Africa Sevens coach Paul Treu will be hoping to enjoy more success in his home town, having guided the hosts to their first title on home soil en route to claiming the overall Series crown for the first time last season.

Tickets will cost R210 for the pool stages on Friday 11 December and R230 for the final day on Saturday and can be purchased at Computicket outlets across South Africa, via the call centre on 083 915 8000 and also online at www.computicket.com.

For fans in George and the surrounding areas, tickets can be purchased from the SWD Eagles ticket office at Outeniqua Park. The remainder of the seats will go on sale after 15 October.

“This tournament has grown so much in stature as a premier international event on the SA sporting calendar and I would urge rugby fans to book their tickets early so that they can avoid any disappointment,” said Khaya Mayedwa, SA Rugby’s Commercial Manager.

“We invested a lot of extra resources into last year’s event and the overwhelming feedback from supporters afterwards was that it was definitely best Sevens tournament held in South Africa.

“We are expecting a bumper turnout in George because of the huge amount of interest in Sevens rugby in our country at the moment.

“This is a tournament not to be missed so I would suggest that fans book their seats early so that they would be able to witness another exhilarating World Series tournament.”

(Pic: Alex Booysen)

The IRB Series Champions for 2008/2009, South Africa will commence their title defence in the desert city of Dubai in the first week of December 2009. 

Marius “Shoes” Schoeman celebrates SA winning the 2008/2009 IRB Sevens World Series

The IRB has announced the schedule for the 2009/2010 IRB Sevens World Series with only one change.  Instead of following the “Mother of all Sevens” tournament in Hong Kong, the Adelaide Sevens this time around will be played the week before Hong Kong.

The 2009/10 IRB Sevens World Series starts once again with the two events in Dubai and George, South Africa, in December 2009.

The Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens will kick off the 11th year of the Sevens World Series on 4-5 December at ‘The Sevens’, Dubai’s purpose-built sporting venue which staged last year’s event and the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens for both men and women in March.

A week later, the Emirates Airline South Africa Sevens follows on 11-12 December in George on the country’s famous Garden Route.

The IRB Sevens World Series will visit five continents over a six month period and feature eight established Grand Prix style events, hosted by the same eight countries as the last three World Series. There is, however, one change to the schedule as Australia host the Adelaide Sevens the week before Hong Kong in March 2010.

“The 10th year of the Sevens World Series was a huge celebration of Rugby filled with exciting, explosive action, fiercely contested matches, world class athletes, packed stadia and hundreds of spectacular tries,” said IRB Sevens Manager, Beth Coalter.

“As we embark on the second decade of the Sevens World Series, I am sure 2009/10 will be another massive year for the Game, and we look forward to seeing newly crowned champions, South Africa, defend their title for the first time in Dubai.”

IRB Chairman, Bernard Lapasset said: “These are very exciting times for Rugby Sevens with the sport represented at the World Games in Kaohsiung this month, and the Commonwealth Games Sevens finishing the Sevens calendar in 2010. By the time the World Series kicks off in December, we will also know if Rugby Sevens is to be played at the 2016 Olympic Games”

“Sevens possesses Rugby’s only World Series and it is our hope that the Game’s global appeal, true competitiveness and popularity with fans, broadcasters and sponsors will mark it out as a discipline to truly enhance the Olympic movement,” added Lapasset.

The 2009/2010 IRB Sevens World Series Schedule:

Dubai (UAE) 4-5 December 2009

George (South Africa) 11-12 December 2009

Wellington (New Zealand) 4-6 February 2010

USA 13-14 February 2010

Adelaide (Australia) 20-21 March 2010

Hong Kong (China SAR) 26, 27, 28 March 2010

London (England) 22-23 May 2010

Edinburgh (Scotland) 29-30 May 2010

Victorious Springbok Sevens Captain Mzwandile Stick joins Marius Schoeman who exited the international Sevens scene on a high and shares their thoughts with us. (video)

Reaction:

Mzwandile Stick, South Africa captain

“We’ve never been number one before, New Zealand have always dominated the Series, but now we have a new name on the trophy so we just want to enjoy this moment and forget about the (Edinburgh) final now (where they lost 20-19 against Fiji).

“It means a lot to us. I have been playing for six years, Marius (Schoeman) has been playing for nine years, and now he is going to retire so finally we have something for him.

“It was a great feeling just to get my hands on that trophy.

“I think the start of the season was the most important thing for us. To start well in Dubai and then go to George and do so well, that set the foundation for our season.”

Marius Schoeman, veteran of nine seasons with South Africa Sevens and now retiring

“Nine years is a long time and it’s just awesome to finally get our hands on the trophy after a few years of very, very hard work.

“I don’t think it’s sunk in yet but tomorrow morning at the airport with the hangover it probably will!

“We’re just glad we can give something back to the rugby community in South Africa. They are always supporting us and we’re just glad to repay them.

Gordon Tietjens, New Zealand coach and eight-time winner of the World Series

“It’s a long season, 12 months to go without winning a tournament, but we finished on a positive note (winning the Plate against Australia).

“Out of these last two tournaments, I’ve found three or four players to put in the bank for next year, which is great.

“It’s about handling the pressure matches when it really matters and we’ll certainly know about that next year. But you can never take this experience away from them, which is great.

“I talked to (South Africa coach) Paul Treu and told them they deserve it.

“There are four or five teams now that can win a World Series and it probably just confirms how good we have been over the last few years to win eight of them. It’s been a great result for us, but it’s not to be this year.

“You get these years and who knows, next year might be another one like this for us, you just don’t know.

“It’s going to be really competitive and it’s going to get harder but I’ll be back next year.”

As they did in Hong Kong in March, Fiji has denied us a dream finish.

However, know this:

We are the Champions of Dubai 2008,

We are the Champions of George 2008,

We are the Champions of Adelaide 2009,

and

 We are the Champions… OF THE IRB SEVENS SERIES WORLD!

I don’t know how to say it more than that.

Let me ask Freddie Mercury and Queen to help me out.

(Don’t mind him sitting in his onnerbroek! Try beating that tache, Robert!)

Reigning IRB Sevens World Series Champions South Africa will meet Fiji in the Cup Final of the final tournament on the 2008/2009 IRB Sevens Circuit to set up a return of the Hong Kong Cup Final clash. 

The Springboks progressed to the Cup Final by beating competitive hosts Scotland 26-21.  The Scots pushed the Bokke all the way into sudden-death extra-time until the elusive speedster Gio Aplon sealed it for South Africa with a try under the sticks.

The other Cup finalists Fiji ousted the reigning Sevens World Champions Wales.

Although South Africa signed, sealed and delivered the Series title on Day 1 of the Edinburgh Sevens, their inspirational coach Paul Treu insisted that his charges planned to go all the way!

Bokke Bo!

Scotland,

You did well to make it this far in your home tournament.  By overcoming neighbours England you showed your pedigree.

You took us right to the wire. We salute you.

However, like your coach said after the match, you played the reigning IRB Sevens World Series Champions.

See you next year!

The final tournament on the IRB Sevens World Series circuit is set for a series of unique finals!

In game 33, Canada narrowly beat Spain 21-19.  Next up, the USA comfortably overcame Georgia 27-0 to set up:

* a cross-border, North American Shield Final. 

A cocky France then went on the beat South American contenders Argentina by 19-12.  Following that, England beat Portugal (31-7) to seal:

* a trans-English-Channel clash for the Bowl Final.

Lastly, Australia (who beat Samoa 26-14) and New Zealand (who overcame the Kenyans 26-21) will clash in a:

* trans-Tasman Plate Final

The Cup Final could be really special. 

How about:

The reigning Sevens World Champions (Wales) 

taking on…

The reigning World Series Champion (South Africa).

(this could work out should SA beat hosts Scotland and Wales beat Fiji)

How exiting is that!  Let’s wait and see.