Shaun Williams and Mfundo Ndhlovu say winning gold at the Commonwealth Games was the first step of the Blitzboks’ journey to end a tough 2022 season as World Sevens Series and World Cup champions.

Neil Powell’s troops, the current Sevens Series front-runners, are now fired up to dominate the circuit with the tournament in Los Angeles coming up, followed by the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town.

“This was very big for me, and I was quite emotional before the game, as this was my first Commonwealth Games, and I feel very privileged to be part of this team that won the gold medal,” said Williams, who missed several World Series events in 2022 due to injury.

“I don’t really have the words to say what this means to me, but considering the buildup we’ve had to this tournament and the hard work everyone put in, all I can say is that I’m very proud – not only of the guys in England, but also of those back home that have missed out.

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“We fought very hard for this and I’m so glad we could pull it off. We’re taking things one tournament at a time, and I believe this is a good foundation for Los Angeles and the World Cup in Cape Town.

“Personally, after missing a number of tournaments due to injury, I’m just privileged to have been here, especially after the hard work I put in to make it. I’m grateful and I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”

Ndhlovu also had a tough time with injuries and when he took a massive knock against Tonga on the opening day in Birmingham, leaving the field on a stretcher, there were fears that his season may be over.

Luckily for the 25-year-old, he was back in action the next day in the final pool match against Scotland, and later on the same day, Ndhlovu scored a try in the quarter-final win over Canada.

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Fast forward 24 hours, and he scored the final try in the last movement of the game in the gold medal match as the South Africans thumped Fiji 31-7 for one of the greatest Blitzbok victories in the history of the team.

“It’s been an up-and-down journey, considering how things started for me at the tournament, but I’m just glad that I got the opportunity to play again,” said Ndhlovu.

“It could have gone south in that Tonga game and I feel blessed to be in a position where I am now, to have actually played a part for the team and to win it with my teammates.

“Every tournament is part of our preparation for the end of the season, which is the World Cup in Cape Town, and our next job is Los Angeles, so we need to take care of business there and keep on preparing for the World Cup.”

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