Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu has announced the Bok side for the first two IRB Sevens Series tournaments.

The South Africans’ Series defence starts in Dubai on December 4 and 5 and moves on to George the next weekend.

South Africa are also the defending champions in both tournaments and the sevens code is expected to get more attention after it was included in the 2016 Olympic Games line-up. South Africa also won a bronze medal in the World Games in Taiwan earlier this year.

Sapa reports that what is effectively a second string national side was also announced and leaves on Tuesday to play in a tournament in Sri Lanka this weekend and in the Invitational competition in Dubai next Friday and Saturday.

Two new caps mark the selection of the Springbok team for the first two tournaments while the return of experienced Sevens Bok MJ Mentz is also noteworthy in a side that includes nine of the 17 players who represented the Springboks in last year’s triumphant IRB Series.

Free State centre JW Jonker and Griffons speedster Cecil Afrika will make their Series debut in Dubai. Mentz returns after playing overseas and representing the Pumas in the Currie Cup this year.

A noticeable omission from the Springbok side is Renfred Dazel. The playmaker has not played for the past three months and has been included in the touring squad to Sri Lanka and Dubai to regain fitness and form, Treu said.

The Springboks depart for Dubai on Wednesday. They will have more than a week for preparation in Dubai, and return on the Sunday after the tournament. That gives them a full four days in George to prepare for the defence of the first-ever title defence on South African soil on December 11 and 12.

“It will be a difficult series,” predicted Treu. “The other sides have stepped up in their preparation this year; we have lost a few players and must see how the new guys slot in; and as champions we will be everyone’s target.”

The Boks will begin the defence of their IRB campaign with a new captain in Paul Delport and three former Springbok captains in the squad, namely Mzwandile Stick, Mpho Mbiyozo and Neil Powell.

The teams to contest the Sri Lanka tournament this weekend include players in the framework of selection for their countries that will play as the Australian Legends, Fiji Barbarians, New Zealand Legends, Papua New Guinea and Western Samoa Barbarians – and of course the SA Vipers, who will however play as the Marauders in Dubai.

The young South African team will meet up with the New Zealand Legends, Force XV Froggies Club and the Olurun Identity in their pool in Dubai.

The Springbok side for the Dubai and George tournaments is: Kyle Brown, Mpho Mbiyozo, Frankie Horne, Neil Powell, Chase Minnaar, Marius Schoeman, Paul Delport (capt.), Mzwandile Stick, Cecil Afrika, Ryno Benjamin, JW Jonker, MJ Mentz.

The team for the tournaments in Sri Lanka and Dubai (Invitation Tournament) is: Chris Dry (Cheetahs), Gideon Helberg (Bulls), Brian Shabangu (Sharks), Khalo Ramashala, Renfred Dazel (SA 7s), Hoffman Maritz (Cheetahs), Marlin Ruiters (Cheetahs), Divan Ferguson (Lions), Bernardo Botha (Lions), Shannon Rick (Sharks), Shaun Venter (Pumas), Rosko Specman (Sharks).