POLOKWANE – Polokwane resident and Free State Cheetahs player, Arno van Staden was invited to the Blitzbokke Academy sevens trials in Stellenbosch recently.

The trials were held to select players who will form part of the team that will tour Rome and Geneva. The players who were invited to the trials were selected from the Varsity Cup 15 men and sevens rugby teams during matches that were played in Cape Town in April.

Unfortunately Van Staden did not make the team that will go on tour.

He said the trials went well and he learnt a lot from the training sessions.

“We did sprint, strength and fitness tests. I gave my all and one of the scouts, Marius Schoeman said I did well for my age. All of the other players were aged between 23 and 25 and I am only turning 20 this year,” he said.

He added that after the 2016 Olympic Games, a lot of Blitzbokke players would retire and that was when younger players would get their chance. He added that one of the scouts advised him to continue working hard and to stay focused.

“I am positive that doors will open for me in the near future and I will get my turn to wear the national jersey. “Only six players out of the 21 who were invited to the trials were selected, the rest of the players who will form part of the team that will tour Rome and Geneva are from the Blitzbokke Academy,” added Van Staden.

He said the training sessions were very tough which is why he had respect for every man who has played for Blitzbokke. “The games seem short and not so physical when one is watching on television, but it is the toughest game ever,” explained Van Staden.

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