SA Rugbymag

South African rugby news, fixtures, results, video, interviews, and more. Covering the Springboks, Bulls, Stormers/Western Province, Sharks, Cheetahs, Kings and Lions, as well as schools and club rugby.

Primary Menu Search
  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • British & Irish Lions
  • Videos
  • Supabets
  • Cars
    • Motoring News
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Daddy’s Deals

You are here: Home ∼ Super Rugby franchises show reliance on Varsity Cup graduates

Super Rugby franchises show reliance on Varsity Cup graduates

Edwill van der Merwe Stormers wing Edwill van der Merwe played Varsity Cup
Published on January 29, 2020

With the 2020 Vodacom Super Rugby season getting under way, South Africa’s four franchises have named squads heavily laden with Varsity Cup and Shield alumni.

As it happens, among the 23 ‘graduates’ new Stormers coach John Dobson – who coached UCT from 2008-10 – has named, seven are still eligible to play Varsity Cup in 2020.

They are Maties captain Ben-Jason Dixon as well as loosehead prop Leon Lyons, Dan Jooste, Schalk Erasmus (both hookers) and tighthead prop Sazi Sandi. Meanwhile, Nama Xaba (flank) and David Meihuizen (lock) could feature for UCT this term.

ALSO READ: Three Sharks rookies to watch

The Maties players follow in the footsteps of Ernst van Rhyn and Edwill van der Merwe, who helped Maties to their second straight title in 2019 but are now fully focused on the Stormers.

While the Sharks haven’t named any players registered to play at UKZN in the Varsity Shield, they do have two recent graduates among their 20 varsity rugby alumni.

Flyhalf Jordan Chait (23) and lock Jordan Sesink-Clee (22) have traded Stellenbosch for the Durban-based franchise.

The Lions have 24 former Varsity Cup and Shield stars in their squad – 25 if you include new flyhalf James Mollentze, who spent so much time with the Junior Springboks last year that he didn’t get to play for Shimlas. His national teammate, Keagan Glade, did play the odd game for Wits and the tighthead remains among the Witsies’ ranks for this year’s tournament.

Nowhere is the progression of Varsity Cup and Shield players more evident than at the Vodacom Bulls. As much as 73% of their squad, 30 of 41, have trodden on varsity fields up and down the country. Among them are Louis van der Westhuizen, last year’s NWU captain who went to the Rugby World Cup with Namibia, as well as UP-Tuks 2019 duo Johan Grobbelaar (hooker) and Ruan Nortje.

SOUTH AFRICAN SUPER RUGBY SQUADS

Bulls: Tim Agaba, Corniel Els, Andries Ferreira, Warrick Gelant, Lizo Gqoboka, Johan Grobbelaar, Ian Groenewald, Cornal Hendricks, Wiehahn Herbst, Marco Jansen van Vuren, Johnny Kotze, Richard Kriel, Juandré Kruger, Manie Libbok, Simphiwe Matanzima, Franco Naude, Abongile Nonkontwana, Ruan Nortjé, Trevor Nyakane, Burger Odendaal (c), Embrose Papier, Ryno Pieterse, Marnus Potgieter, Divan Rossouw, Jeandré Rudolph, Dylan Sage, Chris Smith, Rosko Specman, Gerhard Steenekamp, Ruan Steenkamp, Morné Steyn, Jade Stighling, Josh Strauss, Nafi Tuitavake, Muller Uys, Dayan van der Westhuizen, Louis van der Westhuizen, Marco van Staden, Ivan van Zyl, Jaco Visagie, Wian Vosloo.

Lions: Willem Alberts, Cyle Brink, Jan-Henning Campher, Andries Coetzee, Ross Cronje, Hacjiivah Dayimani, Jannie du Plessis, Tyrone Green, Rhyno Herbst, Francke Horn, Pieter Jansen, Marko Jansen van Rensburg, Elton Jantjies (c), Johannes Jonker, Dan Kriel, Gianni Lombard, Malcolm Marx, Len Massyn, Duncan Matthews, Nathan McBeth, James Mollentze, Reinhard Nothnagel, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Marvin Orie, Stean Pienaar, Manuel Rass, Shaun Reynolds, Carlu Sadie, Marnus Schoeman, Ruben Schoeman, Wandisile Simelane, Sti Sithole, Courtnall Skosan, Dillon Smit, Roelof Smit, Dylan Smith, Tiaan Swanepoel, Vincent Tshituka, Jamba Ulengo, Morne van der Berg, Louritz van der Schyff, Wilhem van der Sluys, Frans van Wyk, Ruan Vermaak, Andre Warner.

Sharks: Thaakir Abrahams, Lukhanyo Am (c), Hyron Andrews, Curwin Bosch, Craig Burden, Phendulani ‘Phepsi’ Buthelezi, Jordan Chait, Henry ‘Boeta’ Chamberlain, Thomas du Toit, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Celimpilo Gumede, Murray Koster, Michael Kumbirai, Marius Louw, Mzamo Majola, Makazole Mapimpi, Fezokuhle Mbatha, Khutha Mchunu, John-Hubert Meyer, Lubabalo ‘Tera’ Mtembu, Lwazi Mvovo, Ox Nche, Sanele Nohamba, Sbu Nkosi, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Andisa Ntsila, Tyler Paul, JP Pietersen, Dylan Richardson, Le Roux Roets, Evan Roos, Louis Schreuder, Juan Schoeman, Jordan Sesink-Clee, Madosh Tambwe, JJ van der Mescht, Emile van Heerden, Ruben van Heerden, Kerron van Vuuren, Henco Venter, James Venter, Jeremy Ward, Grant Williams, Cameron Wright.

Stormers: Juarno Augustus, Kwenzo Blose, Jaco Coetzee, Paul de Wet, Ben-Jason Dixon, Dan du Plessis, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Johan du Toit, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Schalk Erasmus, Neethling Fouche, Michal Haznar, Lyle Hendricks, Herschel Jantjies, Dan Jooste, Steven Kitshoff, Siya Kolisi (c), David Kriel, Dillyn Leyds, Wilco Louw, Leon Lyons, Godlen Masimla, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, David Meihuizen, Salmaan Moerat, Matt Moore, Ruhan Nel, Scarra Ntubeni, Sergeal Petersen, Rikus Pretorius, Jamie Roberts, Sazi Sandi, JD Schickerling, Seabelo Senatla, Chad Solomon, Edwill van der Merwe, Ernst van Rhyn, Abner van Reenen, Chris van Zyl, Ali Vermaak, Cobus Wiese, Damian Willemse, Nama Xaba, Leolin Zas.

Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix

Posted in Super Rugby, Top headlines, Varsity Cup Tagged Bulls, Lions, Maties, sharks, Stormers, Super Rugby, UCT, UP-Tuks, Varsity Cup

Post by SA Rugby magazine

SA Rugby magazine

MPU #1 - (DESKTOP SIZE 300x250 / MOBILE SIZE 320x50, 300x250, 320x100)
← Previous Next →

Ratings: Du Toit one of the few standouts for Boks

The Boks faded in the second half to slump to a 22-17...

Five key areas the Boks need to dominate for first victory

SA Rugby magazine highlights five crucial areas the Boks will need to...

Duhan should be celebrated for his Lions success

Duhan van der Merwe’s achievements should be truly appreciated by South Africans,...

JdV: Boks-Lions have everything to play for

Performing in empty stadiums will be a key factor in the series...

Dynamic Dayimani: Forward to back

While he has been signed as an ‘edge’ forward, Hacjivah Dayimani could...

Boks have muscle memory to rely on

Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber are experts at finding solutions to tricky...

Top six: Best and worst foreign imports

SARugbymag.co.za identifies six of the best and worst foreign players to play...

Column: When context is needed

As highlighted by the Argentina controversy, ‘cancel culture’ needs a spoonful of...

Dark cloud hangs over WP Rugby

The problems at Western Province Rugby are layered, and everyone involved needs...

From the mag: Foreign Favourites

As Vodacom Super Rugby turned 25 this year, JON CARDINELLI picks an...

Bulls rookies to watch

After a massive exodus of players the Vodacom Bulls will be eager...

Analysis: The new suffocate-and-strangle game

For the Boks to emerge as World Cup winners, they need to...

VIEW MORE
  • Team graphics: Springboks vs B&I Lions
  • Boks vs Lions (1st Test): Predict and WIN!
  • Lions team announcement: Duhan to front Boks
  • Teams: SA A vs Bulls
Boks

Why the Boks should be bullish

There is good reason for the Springboks to enter the British & Irish Lions series with confidence, writes MARK KEOHANE in the latest SA Rugby magazine.

  • Watch: Did Gatland’s words influence Jonker?


COVID-19 Corona Virus
South African Resource Portal

ABOUT

  • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Videos
  • Player Features
  • Subscribe
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy Policy

TOURNAMENTS

    • Rugby Championship
    • Super Rugby
    • Currie Cup
    • Varsity Cup
    • Gold Cup
    • Schools
    • Six Nations
    • Champions Cup
    • World Cup

OPINION

  • Mallett on SuperSport
  • Cardinelli column
  • Lewis column
  • Xabanisa column
  • Borchardt column
  • Superbru

Primary Menu

  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • British & Irish Lions
  • Videos
  • Supabets
  • Cars
    • Motoring News
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Daddy’s Deals
×