John Mitchell’s announcement of his bigger Bulls Super Rugby training group for 2018 was slightly overshadowed last week by the final restructuring of the Blue Bulls coaching teams, which were also announced at the same time.

With the announcement the riddle was finally resolved about where the Bulls will use Nollis Marais in the future. Marais has been appointed as the new head coach of the Blue Bulls’ o.19 team.

However, a big riddle still remains after the controversial dismissal of the Bulls team manager, Tim Dlulane. According to the official press release of the Bulls, no team manager for the Super Rugby team has been appointed yet. It is of course a vital position that is sometimes completely underestimated in professional rugby.

Mitchell included a number of new faces to the squad as well as players still plying their trade in Japan, most notably locks RG Snyman and Jason Jenkins. Two Blitzboks, Tim Agaba and Stedman Gans, is also in the group, although preparing with the Springbok Sevens in Stellenbosch at the moment.

“We are all pretty excited to get the pre-season underway and start putting the hard yards in. The squad shows a good combination of old hands and young upstarts and they all know one thing, no spot in the final squad is guaranteed. Everyone will have to contribute and work very hard to make it into the final group and that will bring some competition in the squad, something that can only benefit us in the long run,” Mitchell said.

The Bulls will play three warm-up matches in 2018. The squad will be split to face the Lions in Johannesburg on 27 January, and the Sharks in Polokwane on the same day. They will then head out to a first-ever match in the USA, when they will face the Stormers at Stub Hub Centre in Los Angeles on 3 February.

The squad is: Props: Pierre Schoeman, Trevor Nyakane, Lizo Gqoboka, Conraad van Vuuren, John-Roy Jenkinson, Frans van Wyk, Mox Mxoli, Matthys Basson, Gerhard Steenekamp (apprentice, injured).

Hookers: Jaco Visagie, Adriaan Strauss, Edgar Marutlulle, Johan Grobbelaar, Jan-Henning Campher, Corniel Els (injured). Locks: Jason Jenkins, RG Snyman (both Japan), Lood de Jager, Aston Fortuin, Ruben van Heerden, Eli Snyman, Abongile Nonkontwana. Loose Forwards: Roelof Smit, Jacques Potgieter (Japan), Hanro Liebenberg, Ruan Steenkamp (injured), Jannes Kirsten, Nic de Jager (Japan), Hendré Stassen (injured), Tim Agaba (SA Sevens), Thembelani Bholi, Shaun Adendorff, Boom Prinsloo, Denzil Hill (apprentice), Eduan Lubbe (apprentice), Jaco Bezuidenhout (apprentice), Kwezi Mafu (apprentice), Ryno Pieterse (apprentice). Scrumhalves: Ivan van Zyl (injured), Andre Warner, Embrose Papier, Theo Maree, Rudy Paige. Fly halves: Handré Pollard, Marnitz Boshoff, Manie Libbok, Tony Jantjies, Tinus de Beer. Midfielders: Jesse Kriel, Dries Swanepoel, Johnny Kotze, Ulrich Beyers, Stedman Gans (SA 7s), Burger Odendaal, Francois Brummer (Japan), JT Jackson (injured). Outside backs: Warrick Gelant, Travis Ismaiel, Jamba Ulengo, Duncan Matthews, Jade Stighling, Franco Naude, Divan Rossouw, Andell Loubser (apprentice).

The Super Rugby Management team is: Head Coach and Defense: John Mitchell; Skills, attack and kicking: Hayden Groepes; Forward Coach & Lineouts: Pote Human; Forward Coach & Scrums: Gary Botha; Baggage and Kit Master: Elias Bennett; Team Doctor: Dr Herman Rossouw; Team Physios: Lance Lemmetjies & Pieter du Plessis; Senior Rehab specialist: Juandre Williams; Strength & Conditioning Coaches: Jacus Coetzee and Ghafoer Luckan; Technical Analysist at Super Rugby: John William Meyer

Management team for SuperSport Challenge and U21: Head Coach and Backline: David Manuel; Forward Coach: Anton Leonard; Scrum Coach: Gary Botha; Defense: John Mitchell; Team Manager and Technical Analysist: Vainon Willis; Baggage and Kit Master:  Zama Dyidi; Team Doctor:  Dr Gerhard Louwrens; Team Physio: Kyle Meyer; Junior Rehab specialist: Yusuf Vahed; Strength and Conditioning Coach: Shaun du Toit; SuperSport Challenge, U21 and U19 kicking: Divan Strydom.

Management for Blue Bulls Under 19: Head Coach and Forwards: Nollis Marais; Backline Coach:  Bevin Fortuin; Scrum Coach: Gary Botha; Defense: John Mitchell; Team Manager and Technical Analysist: Curtley Prins; Baggage and Kit Master:  Akhona Faleni; Team Doctor:  Dr Gerhard Lourens; Team Physio: Um’r Ismail; Junior Rehab specialist: Yusuf Vahed; Strength and Conditioning Coach: Henri-Charl Terblanche.

• All Professional Teams Coordinator Operations and Logistics: Hendy Seerane
• Admin P.A to all professional teams: Karin Visser
• Medical P.A to all professional teams: Heidi Visagie
• Mental Coach and Psychologist to all professional teams: Dr Jannie Botha
• Storeroom and Equipment Manager all teams: Andries Kabinde

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