Cecil Afrika, the all-time leader in Blitzboks World Series scoring with 1462 points, was recalled to the Springbok Sevens squad owing to Dewald Human’s injury, it was announced on Friday.
Afrika will be a member of a Blitzboks squad that will be eager to rebound from a dismal performance at the last event in Las Vegas as they head into the Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament this weekend in Cape Town.
The veteran flyhalf last appeared for South Africa in the World Series in 2020, but in recent months he has been playing for Monaco in the elite Extenso Super Sevens competition in France.
“I was in Port Elizabeth with my fiancée, Adrielle Armoed, making wedding arrangements (they are getting married in December), and we were on our way to the wedding location when coach Neil called,” Afrika said, recounting the phone call that altered his plans for this Rugby World Cup Sevens event.
“I had no idea he was going to ask me to join, though I have given him messages in the past, perhaps more jokingly than seriously, such as before the Commonwealth Games, informing him that I am available. I asked if I could call him back since I needed to speak with Adrielle, but I already knew the answer. My nation called and I had to respond.”
At the 2022 event, the notion that he had other commitments, such as touchline commentary and other World Rugby obligations, did not even cross his mind. As soon as Adrielle decided that this was an opportunity that Africa needed to embrace, she called Powell back to discuss the practicalities of getting him to Stellenbosch.
Eight days later, Afrika is once again clad in green and gold and reviewing running lines, angles, rush defense, and restarts with Powell, assistant coach Renfred Dazel, and other stalwarts such Selvyn Davids, Siviwe Soyizwapi, and Ryan Oosthuizen. His reintegration into the team was flawless, as though he had never left.
“The muscle memory returned immediately,” Afrika stated with a big grin on Tuesday.
“I am well aware of what Coaches Neil and Renfred demand from the game, as I have played for them for many years. As I was away from the team for a while, it took me a bit longer to digest the entire plan, but it is all coming back to me now.
“It was a little emotional, taking everything in and realizing that I’m back where I’ve always felt at home, but we have a job to accomplish this weekend.
“I’ve always been someone who asks a lot of questions throughout training, and that hasn’t changed, so I received all of my answers quickly. It was always gratifying to observe how the rest of the crew welcomed me back into the fold. That was a wonderful sensation.”
Afrika has participated in two HSBC Cape Town Sevens tournaments and is aware of the tremendous support the local team receives in the Mother City.
“You are receiving enormous amounts of energy, and the flood of support bolsters the team. “We must take advantage of this and send off Coach Neil on a strong note so that he may begin his next position on a high note as well,” stated Afrika.
The opportunity to participate in the Rugby World Cup is one thing, but to do so in one’s own nation is even more rare, and Afrika is determined that this opportunity should not be wasted.
“We must seize this honor and opportunity of a lifetime,” he urged. This is a tremendous opportunity for us to be a part of something extraordinary. When I joined the team, I vowed to contribute everything I have to its success. Whatever is required of me, I shall accomplish.”
Cecil Afrika — 2013 Rugby World Cup; 66 World Series competitions (1462 points)
Ronald Brown: RWC debut; eight World Series appearances (285 points)
Angelo Davids: RWC debut; nine World Series appearances (160 points)
Selvyn Davids – 2018 Rugby World Cup; 27 World Series competitions (564 points)
RWC debut for Muller du Plessis; 20 World Series appearances (315 points)
Christie Grobbelaar: RWC debut; eight World Series appearances (70 points)
Sako Makata – RWC debut; 16 World Series tournaments (60 points)
James Murphy: RWC debut; ten World Series appearances (45 points)
RWC debut for Mfundo Ndhlovu; 10 World Series appearances (60 points)
Ryan Oosthuizen – 2018 Rugby World Cup; 32 World Series competitions (160 points)
JC Pretorius makes his RWC debut; 20 World Series appearances (225 points)
Siviwe Soyizwapi (captain) – 2018 Rugby World Cup; 40 World Series competitions (670 points)
Impi Visser – World Cup debut; 21 World Series appearances (115 points)
Shaun Williams — Rugby World Cup debut; 7 World Series appearances (80 points)
Statistics for the Springbok Women’s Sevens squad (RWC and World Series):
RWC debut for Marlize de Bruin; 1 World Series appearance
Kirsten Eastes: RWC debut; one World Series appearance
Nolwazi Hlabangane – World Cup debut; 1 World Series appearance
RWC debut for Felicia Jacobs; 1 World Series appearance
Lerato Makua makes his RWC debut; 1 World Series appearance
Unathi Mali – World Cup debut; two World Series appearances
Ayanda Malinga — RWC debut, 1 World Series tournament (10 points)
Zintle Mpupha – 2018 RWC; six World Series competitions (40 points)
Simamkele Namba — RWC debut
Asisipho Plaatjies – World Cup debut; 1 World Series appearance
Nadine Roos – 2018 RWC; Five World Series Competitions (79 points)
Mathieu Simmers – 2013, 2018 RWC; 14 World Series (35 points)
Sizophila Solontsi: RWC debut; two World Series appearances
Eloise Webb – 2018 RWC; five World Series competitions (7 points)
BREAKING! Here are the Springbok Sevens players selected for next weekend’s #RWC7s in Cape Town – more here: https://t.co/qiLD25HyWX#BestOfUs image: https://t.co/91PyMLfzHg #BestOfUs
— Springbok Sevens (@Blitzboks) September 2, 2022