Kwagga Smith turns his back on Sevens

Openside Kwagga Smith is turning his back on Sevens to pursue a career in XVs full time it has been revealed.

Smith will not appear in the Commonwealth Games for the Blitzboks, as it was decided that he couldn't risk injury at the Sevens while fulfilling a role for the Lions in Super Rugby.

Smith told Super Sport's Brendan Nel: "We all sat around a table and spoke about it. We said that if Jaco Kriel is ready to play then it makes sense, and I can go. But it doesn’t help I go there and I get an injury and then we are sitting here with a problem at the Lions.”

“So I said to coach Neil where my goals are, and what will happen if something like that happens. It is unlucky that Jaco had to get an operation again, so I think it is not going to happen that I will be released to play in the Commonwealth Games.”

If Smith is to fulfil his ambition of playing for the Springboks, he feels he must row in behind the Lions to be in with a shout of getting selected.

"Ja no, definitely that is why we sat around the table and made decisions. For me personally, it doesn’t help I want to become a Springbok but I already missed one game against the Bulls and then I don’t become a Springbok,” he concluded.

The 90kg backrow would become one of the lightest Springboks forwards in decades should he make the team.