The future of Springbok Sevens rugby is about to take centre stage on the world’s biggest youth sporting platform. SA Rugby has unveiled the 12 young guns who will represent the green and gold at the 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, and if their preparation form is anything to go by, Africa is in for a treat.
The Rugby Sevens competition runs from 1 to 3 November, slotted into the broader Games schedule of 31 October to 13 November, and South Africa’s U17 squad arrives battle-hardened and hungry after an extensive talent identification process that has scoured the nation’s rugby heartlands.
Ngcobo Returns to guide the next generation
SA Rugby has handed the reins to former Springbok Sevens player and coach Sandile Ngcobo, a man who knows exactly what it takes to succeed in the format. He’ll be joined by Bongani Qumbu, a familiar face from the Springbok management team at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, who takes on the dual role of team manager and strength & conditioning coach.
It’s a coaching combination that blends sevens expertise with World Cup pedigree.
From 30 to 12: The road to Dakar
The final dozen were whittled down from an extended squad of 30 players who attended a week-long preparation camp earlier this month. This wasn’t a case of throwing darts at a board, SA Rugby’s national talent identification network has been working overtime, tracking prospects through the FNB Youth Weeks, SA Schools programmes, and an array of elite school competitions.
Also read: SA rugby’s 30 man sevens U17 youth olympics squad announced
“Players were monitored through the FNB Youth Weeks and SA Schools programmes, while we also keep an eye on leading school fixtures, tournaments such as North-South and Wildeklawer tournaments, as well as other major rugby festivals and competitions staged throughout South Africa,” Ngcobo explained.
Two players in the final squad, Siphesihle Marule and Werner de Bruin, have already tasted representative honours, having featured in the SA Schools ‘A’ squad earlier this year following the FNB U18 Craven Week.
Unbeaten and ready
The proof of the pudding came at a tournament hosted by Paarl Gimnasium a few weeks ago, where the squad put their sevens skills to the test in competitive match situations. The result? A clean sweep.
“It was great to see the group go through the tournament unbeaten, and we feel that the final 12 players who were selected, based on their performances during the camps and competition, will do the country proud in Senegal,” said Ngcobo.
Provincial powerhouses and school stars
Western Province dominates the provincial representation with six players making the cut, showcasing the depth of talent in the region. Traditional rugby schools feature prominently, with Paul Roos Gymnasium contributing two players (Albert Nel and Werner de Bruin), as does SACS (James Sale and Jake Dave) and Uplands College with the Marule brothers, Thubelihle and Siphesihle.
The geographic spread is impressive: Blue Bulls, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Southwestern Districts, and Mpumalanga all have representation, underlining the nationwide reach of SA Rugby’s talent identification programme.
The Squad in Full
SA U17 Sevens Squad for 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games:
- Dandré Brink (Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool, Blue Bulls)
- Divan Meyer (Boland Landbou, Western Province)
- Rosco Williams (Glenwood High School, KwaZulu-Natal)
- Kingsley Pule (Grey College, Free State)
- Darnell Delport (Hoërskool Outeniqua, Southwestern Districts)
- Albert Nel (Paul Roos Gymnasium, Western Province)
- Corné Ferreira (Paarl Gimnasium, Western Province)
- Werner de Bruin (Paul Roos Gymnasium, Western Province)
- James Sale (SACS, Western Province)
- Jake Dave (SACS, Western Province)
- Thubelihle Marule (Uplands College, Mpumalanga)
- Siphesihle Marule (Uplands College, Mpumalanga)
Olympic dreams meet sevens reality
The Youth Olympic Games represent more than just another tournament for these teenagers. It’s the ultimate finishing school, a chance to measure themselves against the world’s best young talent, to experience the Olympic environment, and to take their first steps on a pathway that could lead to HSBC SVNS Series glory and, eventually, the Olympic Games itself.
