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The Men’s Sevens Rugby team was off to a rocky start when they lost against Ireland in the group stage of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games on Wednesday.
The women’s team says even though they don’t expect to win any medals they are optimistic about competing and making their mark at the global games.
The women are expected to debut at the Olympic Games after they were snubbed by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) twice in the past.
Marlize de Bruin, a well-known Netball centre in her previous careers, now plays in the wing position of the Springbok Women’s Sevens team.
The 29-year-old is confident they will punch above their weight against the best in the world.
“I always think you need to back yourself up, the team, the system and the country that you play for, obviously we will say we want to medal we want to be in the Top 6 so for me stick to the process and give your best and the results will take care of itself”
South Africa will be in Pool B alongside Australia, Ireland and Great Britain.
Zandile Masuku, who hails from Limpopo, competed for South Africa at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
She says they are not intimidated by their opponents because they have met them before.
“We have played them before at the World Circuit it wasn’t easy but we are well prepared for it was a tough one. We played against them at the World Circuit we are ready to face them we have been training.”
📸 Our Sevens Rugby Captains had an amazing photoshoot at the Plaza in the Olympic Village! 🌍 Men and Women’s Captains mingled, catching up and showcasing true Olympism. 🏉🇿🇦#TeamSA#ForMyCountry pic.twitter.com/5nCjJ3YbHJ
— Team South Africa (@OfficialTeamRSA) July 22, 2024
Maria Tshiremba used to compete in athletics before making the switch to rugby. She now plays the wing position.
Tshiremba says being part of the Olympics is her lifelong dream.
“I am so happy it was my dream to be an Olympian because I used to do athletics so everyone who did athletics it’s their dream to be an Olympian”
For loose-head Liske Lategan, rugby runs in her family.
She is the niece of former Springbok winger, Pieter Hendricks, who scored the first try of the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
She only began playing competitive rugby at university.
Now, seven years later, she will represent her country at the pinnacle of sport, the Olympics.
“It’s truly a proud moment it’s something everyone dreams of. The Olympics is the pinnacle of sport so just to go there and enjoy every moment you never know what’s going to happen that side, like I said it’s a proud moment”
The women’s sevens will kick off their campaign against Australia and Ireland on Sunday followed by Great Britain on Monday.
2024 Olympics | Women’s Sevens hope to make their mark in Paris