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Latest News
Andy Vilk, head coach of Italy men's sevens
4 min read

RWC Sevens 2022 qualifying

Italy men’s sevens team seeks return to the big stage

The European men's qualification tournament for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 is on the horizon with the prize of four tickets to Cape Town, South Africa at stake in July.

RWC Sevens 2022 qualifying

Thu 19 May, 2022
4 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
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HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Black Ferns Sevens renew riveting rivalry with Australia on HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia wrapped up the 2022 Series title in Langford, but the Black Ferns Sevens left Canada with plenty to celebrate as they begin a busy period.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 3 May, 2022
4 min read
Madagascar Women's Sevens
3 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: Madagascar latest team to book ticket to Cape Town

Following another intense weekend of qualifying action we now know the identity of 12 women's and 20 men's teams who will compete at RWC Sevens 2022.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Mon 2 May, 2022
3 min read
HSBC Spain Sevens Seville 2022 - Women's
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe keen to drive Ireland onto Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

We spoke to the prolific Ireland star about backing up the team’s success in Seville and plotting their path to Cape Town in September.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 26 April, 2022
4 min read
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
5 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Everything you need to know about Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Your guide to RWC Sevens 2022, which will take place in Cape Town between 9-11 September this year.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Fri 8 April, 2022
5 min read
2018 Highlights
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
08:29 mins

Highlights: New Zealand win big in San Francisco

New Zealand retained their Rugby World Cup Sevens title in San Francisco
Mon 23 July, 2018
08:29 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
07:03 mins

Highlights: New Zealand women's win Rugby World Cup Sevens

Check out all the top action as New Zealand win The Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco
Sun 22 July, 2018
07:03 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
06:30 mins

HIGHLIGHTS: Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two

Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two of action at Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 #RWC7s
Sun 22 July, 2018
06:30 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day One
06:51 mins

Highlights: Men's quarter-finals decided

Men's quarter-finals of Rugby World Cup Sevens decided after incredible first day at AT&T Park
Sat 21 July, 2018
06:51 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
06:26 mins

Highlights: Women's semi-finals confirmed at Rugby World Cup Sevens

Championship semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day one of action
Sat 21 July, 2018
06:26 mins
Women in Rugby
Sunday 24 October, 2021
4 min read

Tanya Scholtz on potential Springbok Women debut: “I hope my dad is looking down super happy and proud”

We caught up with the Guernsey-based hooker to discuss her call-up to the Springbok Women squad and the importance to her career of late father, Ronald.
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When Tanya Scholtz meets up with the Springbok Women squad in the UK next month, she will hope to achieve something her late father, Ronald never had the opportunity to.

Uncapped hooker Scholtz only took up rugby in 2014 as a means to acclimatise to life in Guernsey, where the chartered accountant had moved for work.

However, she  grew up surrounded by the game in the Western Cape. Dad Ronald was an accomplished number eight who captained the non-racial South African Rugby Union team during a playing career that spanned 11 years (1970-81).

Under the oppressive apartheid regime, Ronald was unable to represent the Springboks, but his achievements were honoured in December 2017, eight months before he passed away from cancer, when he was recognised as a Sport Legend by the Western Cape Government.

“He was a brilliant, brilliant rugby player and didn't necessarily get the recognition that he deserved because of apartheid,” Scholtz told World Rugby.

“If you don’t ask, you’ll never know”

Scholtz could make her international debut when the Springbok Women take on Wales and the Barbarians Women next month, something that would have made Ronald ecstatic.

“I definitely think my dad would be super proud. He was the biggest supporter of his family and whatever achievements we had, even if they were quite small,” she said.

“So, he would be super proud, and it would be really an emotional thing for him as well, I think, because rugby was my dad's sport, and it was what he was really good at.

“You know, growing up the things that people would say about him… when I was a child hearing what other people said about my dad really definitely impacted me.

“What they would say about his ability on the rugby pitch and his stubbornness. My dad wouldn't like losing, so put in 100 per cent every time he was on that pitch.

“So, I definitely hope that my dad is looking down and super happy and proud of not only what I've achieved with, but the rest of my family.

“I definitely think I have a lot of aspects of my dad [in my game] and that competitive spirit, I think, is something that he's definitely handed down to me.”

Although Scholtz only started playing rugby seven years ago, it was when she “started standing out a little bit” that she made the decision to reach out to Springbok Women coach Stanley Raubenheimer.

“I just thought to myself, ‘Well, I'm very similar to my dad’. My mum always says that I play like he did,” she said.

“There's a lot of effort and time being put into developing rugby for women [in South Africa] and I just thought, well, this is probably the best time for me to contact the coach and to try because I had been in really good form before the pandemic started.

“I thought I might as well ask because if you don't ask, you'll never know. I'm really, really glad that coach Stanley was able to see that I am quite serious about being part of the team, and that he gave me this opportunity and he was open to listen to me and just see what potential I may have.”

International ambitions

Having emailed Raubenheimer with her playing CV, newspaper clippings and video footage, she was delighted to be invited to a training camp in South Africa.

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic meant she has been unable to take part in any of the team’s camps since, while travel restrictions mean she will only join up with the squad for the UK leg of their European tour next month.

“I’m looking forward to meeting the team-mates that I have in the squad [and] people on the team that I haven't met before,” Scholtz added.

“Also, the ones that I did meet, because they really made a big impression on me, and the talent and the love of rugby is really so clear to see within the squad.”

The ongoing pandemic has also impacted the number of matches Scholtz has been able to play for her club, Guernsey Raiders.

A travel corridor between the Channel Island and the Isle of Man ensured the team at least had some fixtures, while training tips for Scholtz arrived from South Africa.

The Raiders have returned to action in the fourth tier of English women’s rugby this month and are scheduled to take on Blackheath Ladies II on Sunday.

Scholtz will hope to use the match to gauge her form and fitness ahead of joining up with South Africa. So how does it feel to be only a few weeks away from a potential international debut?

“It’s crazy, I'm so excited and ecstatic about it,” she said. “I never actually thought that this opportunity would come my way and now that it has, I'm really grateful and humbled to be part of the squad.

“If I do get to play in a test, that's like my dream come true. But, if I don't get to play in a test, if I don't get capped, I'm still so grateful because it's just more than anything I ever thought possible.”

Crazy though the ambition may be, but Rugby World Cup 2021 is less than one year away – does Scholtz harbour ambitions of appearing in New Zealand?

“Absolutely, that would be my ultimate dream… it’s the best experience that you could have playing rugby,” Scholtz said.

“I know that there are a lot of things that I can still work on and improve and I'm definitely doing that and looking to get better and better every time I train and go out on that rugby pitch.

“I think this experience with the rest of the South African women's squad, it's going to enable me to assess what I need to do to ensure that I can form part of that squad.

“It would be such an honour and a privilege for me to wear the green and gold at that tournament.”

READ MORE: November internationals: Six matches to get excited about >>

(Main photo credit: Martin Gray)

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South Africa, Australia and Argentina were all beaten on the opening day of the HSBC France Sevens men’s event, while New Zealand and Australia caught the eye with some big wins in the women’s competition

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Thu 19 May, 2022
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Gold and silver medals in their last two HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series outings have Fiji feeling good ahead of French tournament

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Toulouse welcomes a full line-up of 16 men’s and 12 women’s teams for the first time in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series on 20-22 May

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Wed 18 May, 2022
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Now that the line-ups are complete in both the men’s and women’s tournaments, we take a look at who has won gold in the past and the sides competing to add their names to the roll call of honour in July.

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Wed 11 May, 2022
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Discipline and hard work at the heart of Madagascar's success on the road to Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

The Madagascar women's sevens team has achieved their historic dream of qualifying for a Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament for the first time. At the heart of this achievement lies a lot of hard work, determination and discipline.

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Wed 11 May, 2022
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HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
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Following an exciting weekend in Langford we look at seven women’s stars who could light up Toulouse between 20-22 May.

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Thu 5 May, 2022
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Black Ferns Sevens renew riveting rivalry with Australia on HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia wrapped up the 2022 Series title in Langford, but the Black Ferns Sevens left Canada with plenty to celebrate as they begin a busy period.

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Tue 3 May, 2022
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Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: Madagascar latest team to book ticket to Cape Town

Following another intense weekend of qualifying action we now know the identity of 12 women's and 20 men's teams who will compete at RWC Sevens 2022.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Mon 2 May, 2022
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