Nell enjoys rookie season with the Blitzboks

Jayden Nell enjoyed his rookie season with the Blitzboks after joining the Springbok Sevens set-up straight out of school. The 22-year-old felt right at home playing in the HSBC SVNS World Championship and winning tournaments. Having joined the Blitzboks in 2023, Nell faced challenges early on due to a rash of injuries, which limited him to only two appearances for the Springbok Sevens ‘A’ side in the Rugby Africa Sevens Cup in Mauritius in 2024 and 2025.

In 2026, Nell finally tasted top-flight sevens rugby, making four consecutive tournament appearances in France. He aimed to contribute to the squad's winning momentum, as the Blitzboks led the HSBC SVNS World Championship race with one tournament remaining. Reflecting on his debut international season, which began at the HSBC SVNS New York, where South Africa clinched their fourth title in six tournaments, Nell expressed confidence in the team’s abilities. "We know what to do and it all boils down to how we play together as a team. We have seen this year that if the guys do that, we are a tough team to beat," he stated.

Nell felt both excitement and surrealism at the start of his journey, stating, "I am still pinching myself at times." He cooperated with teammates, doing his best to meet coaches' expectations. As an outside back in fifteens, Nell transitioned successfully to a Blitzbok forward and scored his first try against Spain in a quarter-final match in Valladolid. Afterward, he noted the lack of traditional team celebrations for his maiden try but requested that his teammates celebrate with him whenever he scores again.

This weekend, the Blitzboks will face pool opponents Great Britain, Kenya, or Fiji, but Nell emphasized a focus on team performance over personal scoring. "We know what we have to do; it is just a matter of going out there and doing it," he remarked after a training run in Bordeaux.

In team changes, Donavan Don joined the Blitzbok squad in Bordeaux following a knee injury to Dewald Human, who returned to South Africa. Don, who has already participated in six tournaments and was part of the winning squad in Hong Kong, is expected to seamlessly reintegrate into the team. With this addition, the squad returned to 14 players, pending coach Philip Snyman's decision on the final tournament squad on Thursday.

The Springbok Sevens Pool A schedule (SA times, live on SuperSport) is as follows:
Friday, June 5: 15h06: Great Britain
20h36: Kenya
Saturday, June 6: 11h06: Fiji