Ricardo Duarttee’s sevens career is hanging in the balance after the Blitzboks star reportedly stood himself down from duty during the Vancouver Sevens.
Duarttee was released from the Springbok Sevens squad after the Vancouver Sevens, to return to South Africa for “personal reasons”, according to a media statement from SA Rugby. He was replaced by James Murphy in the squad that played in the Los Angeles Sevens a week later.
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However, according to a report by Netwerk24, Duarttee has become disillusioned with his role in the Blitzboks team and was “unhappy” that he was mostly used off the bench in Canada. He reportedly told coaches over that weekend that he was no longer available to play.
This comes after a weekend report by Sport24 revealed that the Blitzboks’ environment under head coach Sandile Ngcobo has become “toxic”, with a disgruntled player – a winner of last year’s Sevens Series Rookie of the Year – confronting coaches about his game time.
Duarttee burst onto the scene in 2022, making his debut in that year’s Dubai Sevens and earning the 2022-23 World Rugby Sevens Series Rookie of the Year award.
The 25-year-old, who has a national contract that runs until the end of 2024, was overlooked for the first two tournaments of the current season in Dubai and Cape Town, but returned to the squad for the Perth Sevens in January.
When approached by Netwerk24, Duarttee refused to comment on the situation, but said that “there are issues that have nothing to do with rugby”. SA Rugby have also not commented on the situation, citing confidentiality between player and national body.
SA Rugby are reportedly considering standing Ngcobo down from his position, following another poor campaign that has seen the Blitzboks sitting in seventh place on the overall standing after five tournaments.
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The post Duarttee’s Blitzbok career in tricky situation appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Src: sarugbymag.co.za
