Six NNC Pumas players will compete in the United Rugby Championship (URC) which kicks off this weekend.

Pieter Jansen van Vuren, Eddie Fouché, Matt More, Morgan Naudé and Ginter Smuts are on loan to the Emirates Lions and were included in the 33-man touring squad announced last week.

Naudé is an alumus of Laerskool Bergland and Hoërskool Nelspruit.

The Lions are currently in Italy preparing for their first match on Friday.

Head coach Ivan “Cash” van Rooyen believes the travelling group has what it takes to negotiate the unfamiliar conditions the men in red and white will encounter over their four-week tour.

Commenting on the selections, coach Van Rooyen said, “We’re pretty excited about this group. As a coaching, unit we’ve been fortunate enough to have time to discuss and plan how we want to approach the URC. This was coupled with a few on-field sessions before settling on a final 33.”

Willie Engelbrecht has joined the DHL Stormers on loan.

He played five Super Rugby matches for the Stormers earlier this year, also on loan.

“Engelbrecht is a proven performer who will complement the resources we already have going forward,” said John Dobson, head coach of the Stormers.

“Willie was with us earlier this year and showed that he is not the type to take a backwards step.”

The Stormers will start their campaign in Italy on Saturday.

Emirates Lions tour fixtures

• September 24: Zebre vs Lions (Parma, Italy)
• October 1: Scarlets vs Lions (Llanelli, Wales)
• October 9: Glasgow Warriors vs Lions (Glasgow, Scotland)
• October 15: Ulster vs Lions (Belfast, Ireland).

DHL Stormers tour fixtures
• September 25: Benetton vs Stormers (Treviso, Italy)
• October 2: Munster vs Stormers (Limerick, Ireland)
• October 9: Edinburgh DHL Stormers (Edinburgh, Scotland)
• October 15: Dragons vs Stormers (Newport, Wales).