Grain has high hopes for Rugby Africa 7s
Springbok Women’s Sevens captain Veroeshka Grain said on Tuesday the players are cautiously excited for the Rugby Africa Sevens in Tunisia next week, which also doubles up as the Rugby World Cup Sevens Qualifier, and that they will focus all their energy on winning the tournament.
The Springbok Women’s Sevens competed in the inaugural 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament and the 2013 showpiece, and if they qualify for this event, it will mark their third successive appearance in the international spectacle.
Grain and her charges will depart for Tunisia on Wednesday, 13 September, with the tournament being contested on 16 and 17 September.
“This is an important tournament for us, so there will naturally be nerves, but we are also very excited about the challenge,” said Grain.
“We are going to Tunisia with one goal in mind and that is to win the tournament, and we intend to focus all our energy on achieving that.
“That said, we know we have to be at our best to achieve this, as Kenya have been tough opponents in the last few years and Tunisia will want to make the most of their home ground advantage, while a number of other sides have shown a steady improvement in the quality of their rugby in the last few seasons as well.”
The Bok Women’s Sevens have an impressive track record in the Rugby Africa Sevens, as they won back-to-back titles from 2013 to 2016, after being crowned the champions in 2011 and from 2006 to 2008.
“We have won the Rugby Africa Sevens in each of the tournaments that I have participated in, and that is a record that I would like to keep intact,” said Grain.
“But with a Rugby World Cup Sevens place at stake this year, it makes it even more important for us to win.
“Obviously what happened in the past will have no significance when we take to the field, and all the participating teams will have the same goal in mind, so it is important that we focus on our structures, take each game in our stride and ensure that we do our best in every match.
“Our preparation has been good, especially with the training camp in Potchefstroom where we were exposed to hot conditions during the day – which is exactly what we will get in Tunisia – and the game time thanks to the two matches that we played. And hopefully that will set us in good stead going into the tournament.”
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