Bok Women's Sevens determined to come back stronger after Madrid setback

The South Africans lost their status as a core team after Spain beat them in Madrid on Sunday, and the Bok Women's Sevens will now have to qualify for the World Rugby Challenger Series again via the continental route.

Head coach Renfred Dazel said they will have to take their relegation on the chin, regroup and give their season a fitting finish at their first appearance at the Olympic Games later this year.

"We will take a week or so off to clear our heads and then start our Olympic preparations in all earnest," said Dazel.

"As bad it is for us losing our core status, as exciting it is to go and compete as part of Team South Africa at the Paris Olympics and we need to make the most of that special moment."

With regards to the 2024 season, Dazel feels that the inconsistency during the series came back to haunt them on Sunday, when they had to beat Spain to retain their status as core team.

"Look, we can try and find excuses like the lack of a pre-season for the squad going into the series or the availability of some players, but that is not going to solve our problem of having to qualify again," said Dazel.

"This is not the first time we lost our status and I know how despondent everyone is feeling. Thanks to SA Rugby's support of the sevens programme, we can remain competitive and qualify to play in the Challenger Series by winning the Africa Cup Sevens in September. So, there is some light at the end of the tunnel."

The women's game in South Africa has taken some significant steps in recent years but it is clear more work is needed.

Dazel said the next cycle will involve finding new players to join the fray as well as creating opportunities to play sevens rugby.

"We need to find the next group of young players who can take the system forward and that is an exciting prospect.

"We will also need to sit down and look at our personnel for the Africa Cup and start preparing for that with enough time in hand. It was disappointing to lose like this today, especially as we lost our way in the second half again. That dogged us all season and cost us dearly today."

READ MORE: Heartbreak for Bok Women's Sevens as they lose core status