SA Rugby haven’t had an easy time of it of late.  In fact I can’t really remember the last time that they did something that really deserved a pat on the back and a ‘well done’ from the media.

However, in Cape Town on Thursday they made some positive strides with the launch of the Springbok Sevens team.  Backed by teams from their main sponsors, Sasol and Canterbury, they unveiled a core group of centrally contracted players to contest the upcoming IRB Sevens Series.

A group of 15 players was unveiled to the media along with a presentation and a few words from coach Paul Treu, Saru CEO Johan Prinsloo and Richard Hughes of Sasol.  From the presentation - which included footage of last season’s highs and lows - and the enthusiasm of the speakers it was plain to see that the Springbok Sevens team are a group that are going places.

Jake White is on record to say that he doesn’t envy Paul Treu’s position as Sevens coach.  Every time Treu identified a new talent last year they were whisked away for Super 14 or Vodacom Cup duty.  Only three players that won the opening tournament in Dubai last season were available come the final two tournaments of the season.  It was a ridiculous situation and it made the Springboks an inconsistent side.

So while the likes of Kabamba Floors and Ryno Benjamin were missing, the formation of a core group seems to be an real coup for the Sevens team.  Fabian Juries is back from a long term injury while Schalk van der Merwe, Mzwandile Stick and Danwel Demas have all signed on two-year deals.  Those four players, along with captain Neil Powell and the un-contracted Marius Schoeman and Jonathan Mokoena, will form the nucleus of the side for the upcoming season.

Treu has been campaigning for a core-group of contracted players since he took over from Chester Williams as coach.  SA Rugby have finally granted him his wish.  It’s a move that will allow the squad to develop and grow without disruption.  The squad have set up camp in Stellenbosch and will be based there between tournaments - another improvement on the way things were done in the past.

Sevens rugby is attracting a massive global audience and the Springbok team is a massive player on the IRB circuit.  They might struggle to win the whole series in the next couple of years (they finished fourth last season) with Fiji and New Zealand still the some way ahead in terms of consistency.  If they continue to attract the crowds and continue to receive the backing and support from their sponsors then there is no reason that they shouldn’t be on a par with those two heavyweights within the next few years.

I also got the feeling that Paul Treu is destined for great things as a coach in South Africa.  I won’t be surprised to see him coaching the full Springbok team a couple of years down the line.