Mastriet headlines Bulls squad
Bulls and Springbok Sevens flyer Sampie Mastriet headlines the Blue Bulls team that will travel to Outeniqua Park in December to play in the George 7sPL tournament.
Mastriet, currently with the Springbok Sevens squad for their next two IRB Sevens World Series tournaments in Dubai and Port Elizabeth, will join his teammates after the tournament in the friendly city.
The Blue Bulls are one of 12 high profile teams participating in the Garden Route showpiece and will be joined by other Super Rugby franchises like the Cheetahs and the Sharks.
Soccer giants Kaizer Chiefs already confirmed their presence after being one of the crowd favourites in 2012 and according to tournament promoter Willem Strauss, another famous South African sporting brand is due to confirm their participation in the tournament, where ZAR1-million is up for grabs as prize money.
"We will make an announcement with regards to that in the next day or two," Strauss said.
"I am very pleased to see the Blue Bulls line-up containing some of the best young players in the country, as well as some established sevens stars like Mastriet and Clayton Blommetjies. We want to see tries at Outeniqua Park on December 13 and 14 and with pacemen like them, the Blue Bulls will certainly be looking to score plenty."
The Blue Bulls side shows plenty of sevens experience, with former Springbok Sevens rep Blommetjies as playmaker and Roelof Smit, a regular of the SARU Elite Player Development Squad, on the roster. Under-21 flank Nardus van der Walt also participated in the recent Springbok Sevens training camp, whilst scrumhalf Andrè Warner is an acclaimed player in the shorter version of the game. Junior Springboks Dries Swanepoel and Ruan Steenkamp will also add some class.
The Blue Bulls coach Nollis Marais will also bring three former schoolboys from George along. Warrick Gelant, Remu Malan and Dewald Human, are all South African representatives who will be keen to showcase their talents in the senior ranks.
"This is a great initiative by them, as we have always said that this tournament should also be a pathway for younger players ahead of the Olympic Games in 2016. We want to contribute towards that and it is good to see teams agreeing with our vision," Strauss said.
Blue Bulls: Juan Schoeman, Jaco Visagie, Roelof Smit, Nardus van der Walt, Dries Swanepoel, Carlo Engelbrecht, Andrè Warner, Clayton Blommetjies, Sampie Mastriet, Kobus Marais, Jade Stigling, Kefentse Mahlo, Ruan Steenkamp. Schoolboys: Warrick Gelant, Remu Malan, Dewald Human.
