Blitzboks Co-Captain Zain Davids Eager to Bring Smiles in Cape Town

After a tough outing in Dubai, where the Blitzboks finished a disappointing sixth place, co-captain Zain Davids is determined to make amends at this weekend's Cape Town 7s. Playing in front of their home crowd, the Blitzboks will look to channel the energy of the fans to return to winning ways.

Shared Leadership for the Season

This season, Blitzboks coach Philip Snyman opted for a dual captaincy system to ensure consistent leadership on the field. Davids shares the captaincy duties with Impi Visser, supported by experienced players like Siviwe Soyizwapi and Dewald Human.

“It is an honour for me to be the captain in Cape Town—my home ground, basically,” said Davids. “Being the captain is not a big deal for me because we’ve got leaders in the squad to help. I’m definitely not alone. If I’m down, Impi will lift me, and I have a very supportive group around me.”

Reflecting on the Dubai Disappointment

The Dubai 7s was historically a successful tournament for the Blitzboks, but this year they stumbled early, losing to African rivals Kenya in the pool stages (22-17) and falling to Olympic champions France in the fifth-place playoff (17-15).

“Obviously, it’s a bitter pill to swallow for us as a team,” Davids admitted. “But we’ve regrouped. We know our work-ons and what we can do better. Things didn’t go our way last weekend, but I’m sure the guys will put their hands up and give their best this weekend.”

Addressing the Pressure of a Home Tournament

The Blitzboks last won their home tournament in the 2015/16 season, a drought that inevitably raises questions about pressure to perform in Cape Town.

“That question always comes up,” Davids acknowledged. “Personally, I don’t feel much pressure. We just need to take it game by game, hurdle by hurdle. If we get over the first hurdle, then the second, with the home crowd behind us, we’ll do well. It’s about focusing on ourselves and doing our best.”

Adapting to the New Sevens Format

This year’s tournament sees a significant format change, with teams playing only two pool games instead of three. The top team in each pool advances directly to the Cup Semi-Finals, reducing the overall number of matches.

“I don’t think much about the new format; I’m just here to play,” said Davids. “World Rugby probably introduced this to reduce injuries. For us, every pool game is now like a playoff game, so we’ll treat it as such and take it hurdle by hurdle.”

Harnessing the Home Advantage

For the Blitzboks, playing in Cape Town is more than just another tournament—it’s a deeply emotional experience.

“Every time we play here in Cape Town, we feel the ‘gees’ (spirit). The atmosphere gives us goosebumps,” Davids said with a smile. “The extra support from the public means a lot to us. We’re eager to make the people of Cape Town and South Africa proud.”

The Blitzboks head into the Cape Town 7s with a clear mission: to deliver a performance that will reignite their season and bring joy to their passionate home supporters. With strong leadership, valuable lessons from Dubai, and the backing of a roaring Cape Town crowd, the stage is set for a thrilling weekend of rugby.