Elusive runner Maceala Samboya is looking forward to making her debut for the Springbok Women's Sevens at the HSBC SVNS 2 tournament in Montevideo this weekend.
Image: @WomenBoks
The Springbok Women’s Sevens have their sights firmly set on keeping their promotion hopes alive in this weekend's second leg of the SVNS 2 in Montevideo.
With only three tournaments in the series, the stakes could hardly be higher. South Africa currently sit second on the standings behind Argentina after the opening round in Kenya, placing them firmly in contention for a top-four finish – the minimum requirement to qualify for the World Championship events in Hong Kong, Valladolid and Bordeaux later this season.
Those tournaments will ultimately determine which teams earn promotion to the elite HSBC SVNS circuit for next season. The significance of the Uruguay stop is therefore clear for Cecil Afrika's charges: maintain momentum, stay in the top four, and keep the dream of restoring their top-tier status alive for the team skippered by playmaking dynamo Nadine Roos.
Adding an intriguing dimension to the squad is the inclusion of Maceala Samboya, whose journey to her first international sevens tournament has been anything but conventional.
From a social touch rugby outing in 2023 to representing South Africa on the global stage, including at last year's World Cup in England, her rapid rise reflects both talent and determination.
“I am really looking forward to this opportunity to play sevens for my country as well, as that is where it all started for me,” Samboya said ahead of the team’s departure. “I remembered that first camp well – it was just a three-day camp, but it triggered something in me.”
Now fully integrated into the sevens environment after returning from the fifteens setup, Samboya believes she is better equipped for the demands of the shortened format. “As each opportunity came, I grew and learned and developed as a player. Coming back to sevens was still a challenge, but I found myself at ease this time,” she said.
Her inclusion, alongside another uncapped player, Shanidine Bezuidenhout, as well as the return of veteran powerhouse Catha Jacobs, signals both depth and the opportunity for new players to shine in the squad as they navigate a demanding schedule at Estadio Charrúa.
“It was great to join this group of players as they are really focused at the job at hand and to get back onto the world series,” Samboya added. “I hope to make a contribution, even if it is carrying water.”
Coach Afrika, however, expects far more from the dynamic back, backing her attacking instincts to trouble defences. South Africa open their campaign against Spain, China and Brazil on Saturday, before facing Kenya and Argentina on Sunday – a run of fixtures that will go a long way in shaping their promotion ambitions.
With little margin for error and everything to play for, the Uruguay leg could prove decisive in the Springbok Women’s Sevens’ bid to return to rugby’s biggest stage. It will also help build momentum for next weekend's final stop in the series in Sao Paulo.