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From Torn Shirts to Team Triumph: Inside the Making of the Modern Blitzbok

CAPE TOWN – Beyond the dazzling tries and tournament victories, the South african Sevens team, the Blitzboks, have forged a unique identity built on humility, brotherhood, and a symbolic piece of worn-out kit: the “little frog.” This unassuming training jersey, handed to new recruits, embodies the ethos of a team that has quietly revolutionized south African rugby and become a beacon of unity in a nation frequently enough divided.

The Blitzboks’ journey to becoming a consistent force in world sevens rugby wasn’t always marked by fanfare. Chris Dry, a veteran of 74 SVNS tournaments, recalls a period where the team deliberately shied away from excessive celebration. “That was a really big thing for us,” Dry confirms, “as we weren’t traditionally all that flashy.It showed a bit more of who we are.”

But the defining element of the Blitzboks isn’t a flashy playing style or outspoken confidence; it’s the little frog. In Afrikaans, “little frog” literally means ‘little frog,’ and it’s the name given to the plain, battered, hand-me-down training jersey every new player receives before official induction. Frequently enough torn and unwashed, the jersey represents a crucial step in earning a place within the squad. “You don’t get the full Springbok training shirt until you’ve earned your place,” Dry explains.

This tradition flips the script on typical national team dynamics. While most players celebrate receiving their first match shirt,the true honor for the Blitzboks lies in the shared experience of training alongside their teammates – in being a teammate. the little frog signifies a commitment to the collective, a willingness to prove oneself through hard work and dedication.

Current Blitzbok player Christie Grobbelaar’s graduation from his little frog was a moment of particular significance.Chris Dry had the honour of presenting him with his full training shirt, a gesture that came full circle when Grobbelaar went on to wear dry’s old No.1 playing shirt on the HSBC SVNS Series. “You get to use that jersey for provided that you can or as long as you’re good enough. But when you hand it off, the next guy takes the responsibility. When you get it, you don’t take it for granted,” Dry says. he even reached out to Grobbelaar’s father upon his debut, expressing his pride.

This emphasis on camaraderie has fostered a brotherhood that transcends the societal divisions prevalent in South Africa.every Blitzboks star, irrespective of their background, begins their journey in that same torn shirt, united by a shared purpose and a common ethos.

The success of the Blitzboks is reflected in the impressive statistics of its key players:

Chris Dry – 74 SVNS tournaments, 98 tries, debut 2009-10 Adelaide. RWC 7s 2013, 2014 Comm Games, Tokyo 2020
White du Preez – 85 SVNS tournaments, 101 tries, debut Wellington 2010, 2020 Tokyo Olympics, 2014 and 2018 Comm Games, RWC 7s 2013
Cecil Africa – 66 SVNS tournaments, 179 tries, 1,462 points, debut 2009 Dubai.RWC 7s 2013 & 2022, Comm Games 2010, 2014, 2018, Rio 2016 olympics.

Beyond⁣ the Baseline:‌ Kaja Juvan’s ⁣Journey to ⁢Re-Wiring Her⁢ Tennis ⁢and Her Life

Kaja Juvan,⁤ a rising star in professional tennis, found herself facing a challenge far beyond the court – a debilitating condition stemming from chronic stress ⁤and​ pushing her nervous ‌system to its absolute limit. Recognizing she was constantly stressed and operating outside her comfort⁢ zone, Juvan realized she needed to fundamentally “reprogram her nervous system” to continue competing at‌ the highest level. This realization lead to⁢ an⁣ indefinite hiatus from ‍the ‌sport ​and a profound shift in⁢ her approach to training and ‍well-being.

The turning point came with the guidance of Sanz Amador, who offered a crucial ‌counterpoint ​to Juvan’s previously ⁢internalized “school ⁣of suffering.” Amador consistently highlighted that Juvan performed better when relaxed, rather then relentlessly pushing herself. Juvan herself acknowledged ⁢this, stating, “I didn’t know that the ⁢brain relaxes⁢ when you‍ have more fun. But if your feeling fear, your nervous ​system will tighten‌ up.⁣ Which is quite logical, but I didn’t think about⁤ it in that way.”

This‌ new understanding was further reinforced ‍by​ a shift in viewpoint regarding her‌ personal qualities. Previously, a coach had criticized Juvan for being “too nice” for tennis. However, ‍her experience proved the opposite; her ​support network rallied around her ‍when she stepped away from the tour to prioritize ‌her ⁣health. both Yonex and Adidas, her racquet and ⁣clothing sponsors respectively, offered unwavering​ support, granting her the time she needed for recovery. Crucially, her team – coach Nik Razborsek and physical trainer Miran ⁣Kotnik – ‍not only ‌remained committed but embraced the opportunity to learn alongside her, even‌ accepting reduced pay to do so.

“They both accepted lower pay than they usually woudl have and said they’d be with me through the whole⁢ recovery ⁣process,” Juvan explained. “At the end, it’s about your relations with people.”

the experience fundamentally altered their training beliefs. The⁣ focus shifted from⁢ pushing Juvan to her physical and mental extremes to preventative exercises and maintaining a ​solid base, with adjustments made constantly to workload and intensity. This new system demanded a‍ high level of trust: Juvan needed to be⁣ honest about her limits, and her team needed​ to believe and hold ⁢her accountable.An‌ example of this trust was when Juvan requested five days ‍of rest, despite her coach believing ​at least one day of practice was necessary to prepare for an ⁢upcoming tournament.‌ The decision ultimately rested with Juvan, recognizing that rest meant perhaps ⁤withdrawing‍ from⁤ the event.

juvan emphasized that‍ her team trusted she⁢ wasn’t seeking an easy out, but genuinely needed⁢ to alleviate mental strain, driven ⁤by her ‌ultimate goal: “My priority is to be one of the best players in the world, or at‍ least reach ‌my personal potential ⁣- whatever‍ that is.”

This revised ‍approach‌ has contributed to Juvan’s swift return to the Top 100 rankings⁤ and an improved ability to navigate the complex psychological‍ dynamics inherent in tennis. She recognizes the need to balance attention to potentially distracting factors, such as finances and ranking points, without becoming consumed by them.

looking ‌ahead, Juvan is ​pursuing a psychology major‍ with a neuroscience minor through a partnership between the WTA ⁤and⁤ Indiana University east, inspired by her parents’ careers in medicine. She hopes to leverage her experiences ‌and education to help others in her community,⁤ exploring the intersection of psychology and medicine.​ Though, ​she remains grounded in the present, embracing‌ a step-by-step approach to her future, stating with ‍a laugh,‍ “I think if I learned anything from this, it’s to see⁢ how it goes step by step.”

Mitchell Starc Poised to Surpass personal Best in Brisbane Test

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – Mitchell Starc is on the cusp ⁢of ⁢achieving a new personal best for wickets‌ taken in a calendar year, with⁤ the‌ upcoming pink-ball Test at the Gabba presenting a prime opportunity ⁣to surpass his previous high of 60 wickets set in 2016. The left-arm fast ⁣bowler currently ‌has 58 wickets in 2024, needing just three ⁢more in the remaining three matches of the year to break⁣ his record.

Starc’s potential milestone arrives at a crucial juncture for Australia’s bowling⁤ attack, with‌ concerns surrounding the fitness of fellow pacemen pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. Cummins is⁢ working to return from⁣ a back stress injury, while Hazlewood is likely to miss the‍ second Test due to a hamstring strain, possibly sidelining him ‍for much of the summer for the second consecutive year.this situation elevates Starc’s importance,particularly at a venue where he has a strong past record.

Former Australian spinner ⁣Kerry O’Keeffe⁣ lauded Starc’s enduring ‌quality, stating, “This guy is a bowler of ‍the ages and we’ve taken him for granted for so long.” ⁢O’keeffe also highlighted Starc’s continued ⁣pace ‍and effectiveness⁤ despite being⁣ in what is traditionally a fast bowler’s twilight period at age 35, noting his strike rate⁢ remains exceptional.

The second Test of the 2025-26 NRMA Insurance Men’s Ashes series is scheduled for December 4-8 at the Gabba in Brisbane, a day/night match beginning at 3pm AEDT. Australia currently leads the series‍ 1-0 ‌after winning the frist ‍Test by‌ eight wickets.

FC Barcelona extended its winning streak to 18 consecutive games across all ⁣competitions with a dominant 45-25 victory over Nava in ASOBAL‌ league play. The win solidifies Barça’s position atop the league ⁣standings as they continue their pursuit of further titles this season.

The Catalan club established control early, racing to a 9-1 lead fueled by strong goalkeeping. Barça’s keeper recorded 12 saves⁣ from 15‍ attempts within ⁤the ‍first 19 ⁤minutes, contributing to ‍a commanding‍ 25-8 advantage at halftime. ⁣Despite a brief resurgence ⁣from Nava in ‍the second‌ half-a 10-8 run-Barça maintained a comfortable ‍lead, ultimately securing the 45-25 ‌win.

Fernández led Barça‍ in scoring with 14 goals,⁢ supported by Makuc‌ (6), Mem (5), and ‌Janc (4). For Nava, Bandeira and ⁢Herranz ​each contributed 4 goals.

Barça will‌ aim ⁢to extend their winning run to 19 games on Thursday against GOG.

MATCH STATS

Barça,​ 45
Nava, 25

Barça: ⁢Hallgrímsson (), Janc (4), D. Mem (5), Carlsbogard (1), Bazán (4), Elderaa (2),⁢ Fernández (14)‌ – starting seven – Saric⁤ (), Òscar‌ grau (3), D. ​Cikusa (3), Sola (2), P. Cikusa ⁢(1), makuc (6)
Nava: Patotski (), Reig (3), Gonzalo‌ Carró (-), Brais González (4), Josu Arzoz (2), David Fernández (-), Tahu Lufuanitu (1) – starting seven – Mateus​ Martins‌ (-), Rui Miguel (-), Javier Carrión (5), Pablo Herranz (4), Joao⁢ Bandeira (4), davide Pugliase ⁣(2), Óscar Marugán (-),​ Otero (-), Alejandro Ferrero (-)

Track Watch: Pre-Season Week Two

Pre-season training continued‌ for the team⁢ this week, ​wiht a​ focus on⁣ building endurance and honing skills ⁢ahead of a community ​and training camp in Yarrawonga.

Monday’s session featured a simulated match drill, dividing players into teams wearing black and grey training tops.⁣ The drill centered on a contest for possession on the wing, aiming to ⁤move the ball into the‍ attacking​ 50. A notable play saw Kaleb smith win the ball cleanly and deliver an accurate kick, setting up⁤ a lead taken by Jonty Fowl,‌ the team’s new No.8.

Young player Luke Trainor, 19, continued to impress, maintaining his form from ‍his debut ⁢season with strong performances in⁣ sprinting drills. He was easily identifiable‌ sporting ⁣new ⁤bright orange Puma boots.

Later in the week,Noah Balta rejoined the group for an early⁤ morning running session alongside ‌ tom Lynch,demonstrating impressive endurance that will excite fans. ‍On Friday morning, before 8:30am, Hugo Ralphsmith, Jack Ross, Ben Miller, Lynch, and White ‍participated in further endurance⁢ training with a determined focus.

The ⁣week also included celebrations for Kaleb Smith, who turned 21, with the entire squad marking⁢ the​ occasion before training.

On the track, Samson Ryan,⁣ 24, showed strong recovery from a ​foot injury that ​previously sidelined him, moving well and completing​ strong kicks and ​overhead marks during skills drills.

High Performance Manager Ben Serpell ‍led a sprint session at Punt Road Oval with‌ Sam Lalor, Harry ⁣Armstrong, ⁤ Luke Trainor, Jasper Alger, Liam Fawcett, and Jonty Fowl, pushing the younger players⁤ with fast-paced drills.

Rhyan Mansell, coming off an 18-goal season,‌ impressed‍ with his precise kicking and ⁣clean handling in basic patterns drills, demonstrating effortless ball movement.

A‍ lighthearted moment occurred during ‌a drinks break when Seth Campbell playfully squirted Assistant Coach Chris newman ​with his drink bottle, who took it in stride.

Tom Brown showcased his strong work rate and spatial awareness ‌in a seven vs five keeping-off drill, effectively moving ⁤into space, commanding the ball, and‌ delivering accurate kicks in transition.

Injury recovery⁣ continued for Judson Clarke and ​ Tom Sims, who were ​working through rehabilitation in the Club ‍gym.

tyler Sonsie applied strong defensive pressure during a‌ diamond drill, making two intercept plays while working hard off the ball.

The​ week concluded with a light full oval scrimmage, ​where new recruit Patrick Retschko, ‍19, demonstrated his elite running ability off the wing.He then moved forward, gathered the ball ⁢from a⁢ contest, created space, and calmly kicked⁢ a goal.

The‍ team will‌ now prepare ⁤for‍ a‍ pre-season camp‍ in Yarrawonga and surrounding ‌areas,⁣ with the entire playing squad expected to participate.