Tim Agaba
Frankie Horne will captain the SARU Sevens Academy team at the Dubai International tournament, which also includes 2 new Sevens recruits in Tim Agaba and Siviwe ‘Shakes’ Soyizwapi, formerly of the EP Kings.
Agaba and Soyizwapi this week became the latest Sevens recruits when they each agreed to terms with SARU to play Sevens for the next 2 years. Agaba is a talented No 8 while speedster Soyizwapi has already played for the Academy side in Singapore in September.
SARU on Friday announced the 12-man squad for the Dubai tournament, which takes place on 4 & 5 December and will run concurrently with the opening Round of the new HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
Apart from Horne, the Academy side – known as the Samurai Internationals – also includes Springbok Sevens internationals Ruhan Nel, Rosko Specman and Stephan Dippenaar.
Together with Blitzbok veteran Horne, they will form the nucleus of a strong line-up which will aim for their 3rd tournament win of the new season. The Academy side triumphed earlier in 2015, in August and September, in Windhoek and Singapore respectively.
Marius Schoeman, team manager of the SARU Academy side, said he was looking forward to seeing the 2 former EP Kings players in action in the same Sevens outfit.
“They are talented players and will find themselves amongst very experienced company in Dubai, where the opposition will also be very tough,” said Schoeman, a former stalwart of the Springbok Sevens team.
Schoeman added that Horne and the rest of the senior players will play a mentoring role in the side.
“Frankie has got vast experience of playing on the World Series circuit and he and the other Springbok Sevens players will give guidance to the promising youngsters,” said Schoeman.
The team travelled to Dubai on Sunday afternoon.
The Samurai International (SARU Sevens Academy) to play in the Dubai International Tournament is (SARU contracted, unless indicated):
- Timothy Agaba
- Sandile Ngcobo
- Frankie Horne (Captain)
- Dylan Sage
- Dewald Human
- Rosko Specman
- Sphamandla Ngcobo
- Siviwe Soyizwapi
- Joel Booysen (DHL Western Province)
- Ruhan Nel
- Sibahle Maxwane
- Stephan Dippenaar