NATIONAL NEWS - The Bok Women’s Sevens will kick off their 2016 season this week with a series of matches against their counterparts from Brazil in Stellenbosch as they build towards trying to reclaim their place on the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series this year.

Springbok Women’s Sevens coach Renfred Dazel and his team returned to their training base in Stellenbosch two weeks ago after the festive season break, and have been working hard to improve their conditioning before the season begins.

The team will face the Brazil Women’s Sevens team in matches on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday as part of the visitors’ preparations for the Olympic Games in August this year.

“This is a very important season for us, with our main goal being to reclaim our place on the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series,” said Dazel.

“Unfortunately we did not make the cut during the World Series Qualifier last year and we also received the disappointing news that we would not participate in the Olympic Games. But this is a new season, with new opportunities and challenges and we are looking forward to making our presence felt against quality teams.

There are a few new faces in the Springbok Women’s Sevens squad this season with Chané Stadler, who made her Bok Women’s Sevens debut in the Emirates Airlines Dubai Invitational in December, and Megan Comley from Tuks having joined the squad.