SuperSport Rugby Challenge kicks-off
The new SuperSport rugby tournament, which will precede the Currie Cup this year, starts this weekend and the Blue Bulls have a hard nut to crack in their first game.
Provincial rugby action will burst into life this weekend with six fixtures in the new SuperSport Rugby Challenge being played across the country.
The recently launched competition will see all 14 provinces and a team from Namibia battle it out in three regional pools, with the top eight sides continuing to contest for the trophy in a number of knock-out matches later in the tournament.
The exiting new innovation to the rugby calendar will also see the first of five Rugby Festivals being played in Port Elizabeth’s Wolfson Stadium on Sunday, 23 April. This will include a local club match, which will be televised live, followed by two provincial matches in a day full of rugby action.
In Pretoria, the Blue Bulls will host the Pumas at Loftus Versfeld in the first match of the tournament. The home team will be coached by the experienced Pote Human, fresh from leading Tuks to the title in the Varsity Cup on Monday night, while the visitors will have new coach Brent Janse van Rensburg in charge for the first time. Kick-off is at 14:30.
Blue Bulls coach, Pote Human, named a number of UP-Tuks stars in his team to play the Pumas.
Human not only had the luxury of including the likes of Divan Rossouw, Joshua Stander, Rabs Maxwane, Marco van Staden, Aston Fortuin and Andrew Beerwinkel, into his starting team, but also included Bulls regulars Ivan van Zyl, Renaldo Bothma and Edgar Marutlulle, in the run-on team.
Corniel Els, Brian Leitch, Clyde Davids, Tinus de Beer and Andre Warner, who all starred on Monday, will play off the bench.
The team is: Duncan Matthews, Jade Stighling, Divan Rossouw, Joshua Stander, Rabs Maxwane, Tony Jantjies, Ivan van Zyl, Renaldo Bothma, Abongile Nonkontwana, Marco van Staden, Aston Fortuin, Freddy Ngoza, Andrew Beerwinkel, Edgar Maratllule, Njabulo Gumede. Replacements: Corniel Els, IG Prinsloo, Brian Leitch, Clyde Davids, Andre Warner, Tinus de Beer, Kefentse Mahlo.
The opening round fixtures are:
Saturday 22 April:
Blue Bulls vs Pumas
Venue: Loftus Versfeld. Pretoria
Kick-off: 14:30
Referee: Jaco van Heerden
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Sharks XV vs Griquas
Venue: Growthpoint Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 17:00
Referee: Stuart Berry
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Valke vs Welwitschias
Venue: Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park
Kick-off: 15:00
Referee: Quinton Immelman
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Griffons vs Leopards
Venue: HT Pelatona Projects Stadium, Welkom
Kick-off: 15:00
Referee: Pro Legoete
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Sunday 23 April:
African Bombers vs PE Harlequins (club match)
Venue: Wolfson Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Kick-off: 10:30
Referee: Ruhan Meiring
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Border Bulldogs vs Boland
Venue: Wolfson Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Kick-off: 13:00
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
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Eastern Province vs Western Province
Venue: Wolfson Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Kick-off: 15:00
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
• The Toyota Free State Cheetahs, Xerox Golden Lions and SWD have byes this weekend.
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