Spanish experience one to behold for Blitzboks

The Spain Sevens double was a remarkable feat for the Blitzboks squad they returned to South Africa on Tuesday with the knowledge that their four-tournament winning streak in the 2022 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series has given them the perfect start to the season, that culminates in Los Angeles in August.

Despite the silverware, Blitzbok coach Neil Powell complimented the contributions of the younger group of players in the squad afterwards, saying the future looks bright with players such as Shaun Williams, Darren Adonis and Christie Grobbelaar coming through the ranks.

Williams for one had huge shoes to fill in Seville, where he joined the squad to replace Siviwe Soyizwapi, who returned from Malaga with a shoulder injury.

Coming in for an inspirational captain with 35 tournaments of experience was one thing; to replace a try-scoring winger who dotted down 13 times in 13 matches was another.

The 23-year-old Williams hails from Mooinooi in North West, was schooled at Garsfontein High School in Pretoria and studied at the University of Johannesburg before joining the SA Rugby Sevens Academy.

For Williams it was week that will live in the memory bank for a long time, despite it being so busy.

"Yes, it was quick – flying out to Spain last week and joining the team made me nervous, but in a good way,” he said.

“I was glad that the preparation done in Stellenbosch was so hard, because that allowed me to adapt quickly once I joined the team.”

Williams did not start the opening match on Saturday against Spain, but when the USA ran out, he was out on the wing. At the end of the match, Williams scored two tries and repelled the threats of Carlin Isles and Perry Baker, two of the fastest players on the circuit.

“When coach called me in to