Blitzboks take #PoweredbyUnity beyond the rugby field

As the Springbok Sevens team prepare to carry South Africa’s hopes into a new HSBC SVNS season, they are taking their message of #PoweredbyUnity into the communities that support them.

Furthermore, through its brand-new #BlitzNation campaign and the Seven-Minute Blitz challenge, fans are invited to create, complete or transform something in seven minutes to show their support of the Blitzboks, meet players, and participate in the energy of sevens rugby.

At Paulus Joubert Secondary School on Wednesday 7 October, a number of Blitzboks shared what holds their team together and challenged learners to bring that same respect and responsibility into their own lives.

#PoweredbyUnity has been the Blitzboks’ message for the last few seasons: their strength comes from people standing together. It reflects a team of players from different backgrounds who rely on trust, respect and shared responsibility to perform, supported by the families, coaches, communities and fans who help them along the way.

The visit to Paulus Joubert in Paarl – alma mater of Kurt-Lee Arendse, Springbok and former Blitzbok speedster, Renfred Dazel, a former Blitzbok and the team’s current assistant coach, as well as the late Tinus Linee, a former Bok centre – took that belief beyond rugby.

Through conversations about responsible masculinity, bullying and gender-based violence, the players encouraged learners to recognise that unity begins with how they treat others. Respecting women and girls, taking responsibility for their actions and speaking up when someone is being harmed.

“None of us gets to wear this jersey on our own,” said Impi Visser, who led the Blitzboks last season. “There are families, teachers, coaches and communities who help us get here. We wanted the learners to understand how much that support matters and that they can be that person for someone else.”

The visit connected the excitement of meeting national rugby players with a serious conversation about the influence young people have over one another. The players encouraged learners to challenge harmful behaviour, seek help when they need it and think about the kind of friend, teammate or leader they want to become.

“You can be strong and still ask for help; you can be confident and still respect someone else’s boundaries,” said Selvyn Davids, one of the Blitzboks’ main playmakers. “Being a good teammate means making others feel safe and valued. Those same choices matter in how we treat women and girls, our friends and everyone around us. What we do off the field says as much about us as what we achieve on it.”

Learners then joined the players for a seven-minute fitness exercise, experiencing the speed of sevens rugby alongside the teamwork it demands. The challenge recognised communication, encouragement and collective effort, giving learners a chance to put the earlier conversation into practice.

The school visit forms part of SA Rugby’s efforts to bring the Blitzboks closer to young supporters and strengthen their connection with grassroots rugby. It gives learners the chance to meet the people behind the jersey, hear their stories and see a place for themselves in the sport.

“For a young person, meeting someone who represents their country can make a dream feel possible,” said Springbok Sevens head coach Phillip Snyman.

“We want that moment to leave them with something they can carry into their own lives: the confidence to keep trying, the courage to ask for support and the understanding that their choices can make a difference to someone else.”

SA Rugby is also introducing #BlitzNation, the campaign bringing #PoweredbyUnity to life through opportunities for supporters to meet the players and participate in the energy of sevens rugby.

Inspired by the Blitzboks’ speed and intensity, its Seven-Minute Blitz challenge invites South Africans to show what they can create, complete or transform in seven minutes and share it using #BlitzNation.

School visits, community activities and fan challenges will bring supporters closer to the team as the new season builds towards the HSBC SVNS Cape Town on 5 and 6 December 2026.

The Blitzboks are #PoweredbyUnity and are excited to take the field with a nation behind them, asking South Africans to carry that same spirit into their schools and communities by showing up for one another.