SA Sevens Academy player Marco Labuschagne will be the Blitzboks' reserve player for this weekend's London Sevens.

Tim Agaba has been ruled out because of a knee injury he sustained in Paris last weekend and replaced in the 12-man squad by Sandile Ngcobo, who travelled to Paris as the official reserve player. Labuschagne will now fill that vacancy in the touring squad.

The 19-year-old, who matriculated from Voortrekker High School in Bethlehem last year, has been with the SA Rugby Sevens Academy in Stellenbosch since the beginning of the year.

'I am so excited,' said Labuschagne. 'This is a massive opportunity for me, even if I don't get a chance to play. Just to be with the squad and experience the series is already a highlight for me.

'The Academy has been great for my development as player and amongst other things, taught me patience. Coaches Marius Schoeman and Paul Delport are really good in what they do and I have learned so much from them. We all want to play, but sometimes you have to wait your chance.

'The important thing though is to be make sure you are ready when offered that opportunity. Guys such as Stedman [Gans], Selvyn [Davids], Dewald [Human] and Ryan [Oosthuizen] all got opportunities and now it might be my turn,' enthused the former Griffons Coca-Cola Craven Week player.

SA Sevens Academy manager Marius Schoeman was pleased for Labuschagne.

'It is fantastic to have yet another one of our players being called up, as it shows that we are fulfilling our mandate to develop the next tier of potential Blitzboks. Marco will do well if called upon, he is a well-skilled player and has developed really nicely this year,' said Schoeman.