World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year Seabelo Senatla was one of the few bright lights on the South African rugby landscape last year, writes CRAIG LEWIS.

Back in August, one of the most memorable moments of the Blitzboks’ Olympic campaign undoubtedly came off the pitch. In a cruel twist of fate, Senatla was ineligible to receive one of the team’s 12 bronze medals after suffering a serious wrist injury on day two of the three-day tournament.

His absence saw Francois Hougaard called into the squad as South Africa went on to defeat Japan in the third-place playoff. IOC regulations stipulated that only the final 12 squad members would be awarded a medal on the podium.

Despite Senatla having played a starring role for the Blitzboks throughout the year, it appeared as if he would leave the Olympic village empty-handed. However, Hougaard was having none of it.

Without a second thought, he insisted that his medal go to Senatla, who he believed was more deserving of it. It was a gesture that not only epitomised the special team culture of the Springbok Sevens side, but also aptly recognised the impression the superstar had made during a prolific 2016 season. 

The gifted youngster – who has a personal best time of 10.6sec for a 100m sprint – was in unstoppable form during the 2015-16 World Rugby Sevens Series, scoring a whopping 66 tries in 10 events – the second-highest in the 17-year history of the series.

Senatla would go on to score four more at the Rio Olympics before injury struck, which cruelly ruled him out of action on the final day of competition.It robbed the Blitzboks of their most lethal strike weapon, with Senatla having to watch from the sidelines as the team slipped to an agonising defeat in their semi-final clash against Great Britain.

Nevertheless, the 23-year-old said he would forever treasure the medal he was able to take home, thanks to Hougaard.

‘Francois is definitely going to be first on my Christmas list,’ he laughed. ‘That gesture shows what sort of people we have in the system. We are a band of brothers, and that really meant so much to me.’

Senatla was fully deserving of an Olympic medal that will serve as another reminder of an unforgettable 2016 season that led to him being named the South African and World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year.

Blitzboks coach Neil Powell said there could be no denying the impact that Senatla had made to the team environment on and off the pitch.

‘Seabelo had an incredible season and he brings so much to our system, not just as a player, but as a person too. It’s very special. He’s got a great culture about him, amazing values, and he’s very well respected by his teammates and all those in world rugby. We’re really proud of what Seabelo has achieved, he’s a proven match-winner who is able to create something from nothing.’

In becoming the third South African to be crowned the World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year, Senatla followed in the footsteps of widely-respected teammates Cecil Afrika and Werner Kok. He also received the top award in spite of considerable competition from Fiji’s Osea Kolinisau and Frenchman Virimi Vakatawa.

Yet, despite receiving this honour, Senatla humbly opted to deflect all praise to those around him.

‘I pride myself so much on the team. Winning something with them is what feels so incredible, and I really think this is an award for them because they are the ones who really did all the hard yards and put me in positions to score. All the work was done when I got the ball, so this is their award more than mine.

‘I’d also like to thank everyone who supported me and the team,’ he added. ‘It hasn’t always been an easy road, but the backing really encourages me to push the boundaries.’

Over the past couple of years, Senatla’s success has seen his market value skyrocket, and he is now set to take on a new challenge that will see him turn more attention to the fifteens game with the Stormers and Western Province.

Having recently signed a three-year tripartite contract with Western Province and SA Rugby, it certainly appears as if Senatla is set to continue breaking down new barriers as he attempts to achieve the ultimate dream of representing the Springboks.

– This article first appeared in the January 2017 issue of SA Rugby magazine