Hacjivah Dayimani has confirmed that he will return to the Lions in time for the start of their 2020 Vodacom Super Rugby campaign. DYLAN JACK reports.

Dayimani will make his professional sevens debut after being named in a strong Sevens Academy side to play in an invitational tournament in Dubai next weekend.

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The No 8 has been training with the sevens set-up since August, with a view of making the Blitzboks squad to play in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

There have been concerns that this may cause him to miss parts of the Lions’ Super Rugby campaign next year, but Dayimani will be back in Johannesburg to link up with the team before their first game against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires on 1 February.

‘Basically, I am completing my six months in January,’ the 22-year-old said.  ‘I have been here since August. I will go back to Super Rugby in January. Then hopefully, I will be back in March for another tournament or two. Then I will go back to Super Rugby before trying to make the Olympics.’

The Lions will be without captain and senior No 8 Warren Whiteley, as  he will sit out the whole of next season to try to fully recover from a knee injury. Kwagga Smith will also be unavailable due to his commitments to Japanese side Yamaha Jubilo.

That currently leaves the side with Dayimani as their next most-experienced option at No 8, while they also have a youngster in new signing Francke Horn and could bring in a veteran as they are in talks with Willem Alberts.

Photo: Johan Rynners/Gallo Images