When former Springbok sevens forward-turned-World Rugby commentator Chris Dry talks about the history of the Blitzboks, he doesn’t begin with tales of medals won or trophies lifted.
He begins with something more difficult to describe, and far more interesting: the life experiences of South African players, long before they ever touched a ball.
“In South Africa, we are always fighting for something,” he says. “Some people are fighting for food on the table, others are fighting to get their kids through education, or just to better themselves.”
Dramatically different lives exist side-by-side in South Africa as in few other places, and in the Springboks’ Sevens programme these lives come together and mix in ways that are often invisible to fans. This unique rugby culture, drawn from true national diversity (and adversity), forms the bedrock of a high-performance environment that has consistently produced Series’ champions and Olympic medallists.
“We had guys in our team who barely had one-and-a half meals a day growing up,” Dry explains, “and they’d be standing next to someone who came through a top rugby school, with three cooked meals, new boots, protein shakes and a scholarship.”
In many cases – likely in most – such different realities could prevent a coherent team forming. How can common ground be found between one young man who had every luxury, every support, and every chance, next to another who spent his entire childhood hungry?
But in the Blitzboks, these realities bond the squad into something formidable.
Dry recalls Frankie Horne, who was never one for over-statement, saying to the rest of the team after a poor performance in Wellington: “Just by being here, each one of us is literally taking food out of someone else’s mouth.” It wasn’t said to provoke guilt or hand-wringing; it was to remind every player that every moment – whether it be a missed tackle, a casual attitude, or a winning try – was a privilege.
“You start to care in a different way,” Dry says. “You understand how much this opportunity means to the guy next to you and to his family.”
Branco du Preez grew up far away from rugby’s power structures in Blanco on the Eastern Cape, and ended up in a small mining town of Virginia, in the Free State.
A lifeline came in the form of the Harmony Academy, a sports college focused on the development of talented sportsmen from disadvantaged backgrounds. From there, du Preez went on to become the most capped Springboks Sevens player in history.
“He came from a place where opportunity barely existed,” says Dry. “Now he’s a legend of the game.” Today, du Preez coaches and mentors young players, many of whom see their own lives reflected in his story.
The life of the great Cecil Afrika, South Africa’s all-time sevens points scorer, was also transformed by the Harmony Academy. Afrika would go on to win the World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year award in 2011 and is now head coach of the national women’s sevens team, who are pushing for promotion back into the top tier.
“Cecil,” Dry remembers, “told me he wouldn’t buy anything for himself until he had made sure he had provided for family.”
This team culture, defined by its diversity, graft and sense of gratitude, has also provided a launching pad for players initially overlooked as being too small for the traditional South African power game over the years. Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Kwagga Smith might never have been noticed in a 15-a-side system: in sevens they got the chance to shine. Now, they’re World Cup winners.
The modern Blitzboks culture began under Paul Treu, who understood that success required more than physical preparation. It needed a strong, shared identity. He would make a lasting imprint on South African Sevens in his near 10-year stint as head coach.
“Paul Treu was massive on culture,” Dry says. “On day one, before you touched a ball, you had to understand what the team stood for.”
Treu created a cultural manual which each new player was required to study when they arrived in camp, an expectation which startled incoming player Warren Whiteley.
Dry laughs remembering this: “Warren phoned me the day before he arrived to join us for the [2014] Commonwealth Games camp. He said, ‘Chris, the coach says I need to speak to you about this team culture thing before I’m even allowed to train!’. The Blitzboks won gold that year in Glasgow. And Whiteley later captained the Springbok 15s.
After Treu built that essential structure, “Neil [Powell] evolved things quite a bit,” Dry explains. “He allowed us to express ourselves a bit more.”
That individual freedom of expression showed in small but meaningful ways when players like du Preez, Afrika and later Justin Geduld started wearing coloured dreadlock braids in their hair. In the rigid ethos of South African rugby, this was something of a quiet revolution. “That was a really big thing for us,” Dry confirms, “because we weren’t traditionally all that flashy. It showed a bit more of who we are.”
But if there is a single thing, Dry agrees, that defines the team, it is the paddatjie.
“Paddatjie in Afrikaans literally means ‘little frog’” says Dry. It is the plain, battered, hand-me-down training jersey given to new members before they are officially inducted into the squad.
It carries no Springbok emblem, is often torn and unwashed – and is symbolic of the whole team ethos. “You don’t,” Dry continues, “get the full Springbok training shirt until you’ve earned your place.”
In most national teams, players celebrate when they receive their first match shirt, but in the South African Sevens, the true honour lies in training with your squad. The honour is being a teammate.
When current Blitzbok player Christie Grobbelaar graduated out of his paddatjie, Chris Dry had the honour of presenting him with his full training shirt — Grobbelaar went on to wear Dry’s old No.1 playing shirt on the HSBC SVNS Series.
“You get to use that jersey for as long as 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.”
I sent Christie’s dad a message when he made his debut,” says Dry, “to say that I was proud of him.”
So this team is a brotherhood, which has crossed the gulfs that in so many parts of South African society appear unbridgeable. Every Blitzboks star, no matter their name, their language, their ethnicity or history, begins the journey in that torn shirt.
Just the stats
Chris Dry - 74 SVNS tournaments, 98 tries, debut 2009-10 Adelaide. RWC 7s 2013, 2014 Comm Games, Tokyo 2020
Branco du Preez - 85 SVNS tournaments, 101 tries, debut Wellington 2010, 2020 Tokyo Olympics, 2014 and 2018 comm games, RWC 7s 2013
Cecil Afrika - 66 SVNS tournaments, 179 tries, 1,462 points, debut 2009 Dubai. RWC 7s 2013 & 2022, Comm Games 2010, 2014, 2018, Rio 2016 Olympics