New recruit Grant de Jager embracing Blitzboks culture as he targets Cape Town debut

The former Western Province and Maties speedster joined the Blitzboks setup in September and has quickly bought into the team's high-intensity culture, which he says mirrors his own approach to the game.

The defence of the HSBC SVNS Cape Town crown is high on the Blitzboks' agenda this coming season. The tournament will be played at DHL Stadium on 6 and 7 December, with tickets available from only R250 per person, exclusively on Ticketmaster.

"I have a firm belief in hard work and one thing I pride myself on is that I will always try and outwork everyone else on the field," said De Jager.

"That was the first thing that I picked up from the team since I joined and that is their willingness to work harder and harder."

He can recall the exact moment when, as a 13-year-old, decided that he wanted to be a Springbok Sevens player.

"I always wanted to go to the Olympics and at that time I was also a serious swimmer," he said.

"But on that day in 2016, we were watching the Rugby Sevens tournament at the Olympic Games in Rio and when our guys were on the podium, I told my mom that I want to represent them at the Olympics in future.

"When I got the call this year from coach Philip (Snyman) that I will be contracted I immediately phoned my mom and reminded her of that dream I shared with her."

For now, the Olympic Games â- where South Africa won bronze in Rio and again last year in Paris â- is not on the immediate horizon, but De Jager would rather like to cement a spot in the squad for the HSBC SVNS.

"I am not getting ahead of myself â- I will play as a hooker and the incumbents are Ryan Oosthuizen, who has played more than 50 tournaments, and David Britz, who has won the Currie Cup in his career," he said.

"It will be a great opportunity for me to learn from these experienced players and learn the ins and outs of the position. Work rate will not be an issue for me, just making sure I do my job well is things I will be looking to gain experience from Ryan and David from," added De Jager, who played in the FNB Craven Week for the Pumas in 2022.

De Jager's first sortie into sevens was a productive one. He was part of the Springbok Sevens 'A' team that won the Rugby Africa Sevens tournament in Mauritius in June this year and such was his input that Snyman decided to offer him a contract.

Winning in Mauritius was a special feeling and winning in Cape Town was equally fulfilling, De Jager said: "I was a spectator at DHL Stadium last year when the Blitzboks won and it was such a magnificent occasion.

"I could see how much fun the people in the party stands were having, mixed with the enjoyment and pride the rest of us had because the Blitzboks won in such commanding fashion.

"Little did I know that it would become part of my future. I am not phoning my parents and booking plane tickets for them yet, but it would be such an honour to one day play for South Africa in our home tournament."

The Springbok Sevens played six pre-season matches against Germany last week, with three matches each on Thursday and Friday. They will repeat the exercise this week in the same format and De Jager said he loved every minute of it.

"It is only when you play with these guys when you realise how good they are," De Jager said with a broad smile.

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