Sharks, Cheetahs to field stars at sevens event
6 Nov 2012
The Sharks and Cheetahs have confirmed that they will field some of their best Super Rugby players at the inaugural Sevens Premier League in December.
Five of South Africa’s Super Rugby franchises (Stormers, Sharks, Bulls, Cheetahs and Lions) will enter a team in the high-profile sevens event that will run in George on 14 and 15 December.
With a winners purse of R1 million, the coaches of these squads will take a serious aim at claiming the title.
Cheetahs team manager Arni van Rooyen said: ‘Coach Hawies Fourie will pick a team from our Super Rugby squad and once they assemble in two weeks, we will have a better idea of who will play. But the likes of Rayno Benjamin, Kabamba Floors, Boom Prinsloo, Sarel Pretorius and Willie le Roux should be core players.’
Sharks coach Roelof Kotze echoed Van Rooyen’s sentiments. The Durban union won the provincial tournament last weekend, beating the EP Kings in the final.
‘Some of those players [who played in the provincial tournament] will be part of our team traveling to George, but I am waiting to hear which of the wish list of Super Rugby players will be made available,’ said Kotze. ‘The likes of Keegan Daniel, Paul Jordaan and Cobus Reinach are amongst those. The prize money is a definite carrot for us as we can use that money to strengthen our sevens programme.’
There will also be five private teams taking part.
Pumas coach Jimmy Stonehouse will mentor the All Star team that will include the likes of New Zealand sevens star Zar Lawrence, world sevens top points scorer and former England captain Ben Gollings and Samoan powerhouse Alafoti Fa’osiliva.
10 Comments
6 Nov 2012, 15:23 pm
7 DRAGONS
6 Nov 2012, 15:25 pm
We – South Africa – need to start taking 7s seriously.
6 Nov 2012, 19:44 pm
That Cheetahs side could be pretty good. I can’t wait to see what a guy like Willie le Roux could do on the sevens stage. Add to that Rhule and Ebersohn running off of him and you’ve got one POTENT attacking unit.
I honestly reckon Willie le Roux, being overlooked for the national XV side, should consider 7s. He would be unstoppable.
6 Nov 2012, 22:12 pm
And I thought the players were tired and complained of too much rugby being played of late…$$$ dragons!!!
6 Nov 2012, 22:37 pm
@Diplomatic oeK-4: Also good to stay fit. Sevens rugby is mickey mouse stuff, glorified touch rugby. What a joke.
7 Nov 2012, 07:09 am
A cross between a Mardi Gras and a beer festival, someone once said!
7 Nov 2012, 08:44 am
Great news this. I hope the other SA franchises also pick their star players.
@Diplomatic oeK-4: Sevens is not that taxing on the body and it is just 2 days. Great kick starter for off season training.
Stormers will have a strong squad. The likes of Aplon, Habana, Joe Pietersen, De Jongh, Fourie, Siya, Taute, Schreuder, Timo Swiel, Van Den Heever
7 Nov 2012, 09:14 am
this is shaping up to be a lekker event, good thing the all blacks won’t be playing as the George capecrusaders are seriously unplayable!
7 Nov 2012, 12:22 pm
@Sasuke-7: you can add scarra and nizaam to that list, too.
9 Nov 2012, 12:36 pm
@Sasuke-7: Will the Lions allow Taute to play for the Stormers? Isn’t he just loaned for SuperRugby?
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