The Springbok Sevens will be hoping to get their season back on track after a disappointing showing in their last two tournaments in North America.

Injuries to more than a dozen players, many of them regular starters, have severely disrupted the Blitzboks over the last few months, and as a result, Donovan Don, Sebastiaan Jobb, Morné Joubert and Mpho Kubheka have been called up to join the training squad in Stellenbosch.

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Reinforcements to join the #Blitzboks training squad in Stellenbosch – more here: https://t.co/5KgNSEaiVw 💪#BlitzIgnite pic.twitter.com/Pwg3Hcv1bv

— Springbok Sevens (@Blitzboks) March 15, 2023

Don, a former Junior Springbok fullback, will get a taste of the Blitzbok environment after he starred for the Griffons in the Currie Cup First Division last season. The fleet footed Don can play with equal ease on the wing and was a member of last year’s triumphant SA U20 team that won the U20 Six Nations Summer Series in Italy.

Like Don, both Jobb and Joubert have progressed through the junior rugby ranks, while Kubheka is currently plying his trade at scrumhalf for the University of Johannesburg in the Varsity Cup.

Jobb was a member of the SA Rugby U18 Academy training squad in 2017 before moving to the Vodacom Bulls’ junior teams and more recently abroad, while Joubert, who is currently contracted to the Airlink Pumas, was a member of the SA U18 Sevens and SA Schools sides in 2014.

Coach Sandile Ngcobo attributed the foursome’s call up to the training group to the good collaboration between SA Rugby and the provinces.

“We are grateful for the collective effort between SA Rugby and the players’ provinces,” said Ngcobo.

“With our local competitions up and running we know that managing player resources is a very difficult juggling act, and I therefore want to thank their teams for releasing the players to our camp.”

The newcomers will, however, have to hit the road running because of the short turnaround time between the tournaments. The Blitzboks are due to leave for Hong Kong at the end of next week.

“We don’t have a lot of time on hands to prepare for the next two tournaments, and experience has shown us it takes a while for newcomers to find their feet,” added the Blitzbok coach.

“However, I do feel they have a fantastic opportunity here not only to showcase their ability and skills, but also to demonstrate how quickly they can slot into such a demanding environment.”

Meanwhile, some of the injured Blitzboks are due for return to training next week and depending on their return to play progress, some of them might even come into consideration for the travelling squad to Hong Kong.

The Blitzboks are currently without the services of Selvyn Davids, Ronald Brown, Dewald Human, Justin Geduld, Shaun Williams and Jaiden Baron, all of who are crucial playmakers.

The Springbok Sevens will face Ireland, New Zealand and Kenya in their pool at the Hong Kong Sevens, which runs from March 31 to April 2.