Raymond can Rhule in Sevens
Springbok fans might have been disappointed at not seeing Cheetahs flyer Raymond Rhule get a run on the year-end tour, but they will be able to see him in action at the inaugural Sevens Premier League tournament in George next month.
The tournament's ZAR1-million prize money certainly attracted the attention of the Cheetahs and they will travel to tournament on December 14 and 15 with a team packed with talent and big names.
The uncapped Bok, Rhule, tops the list of high-profile Cheetahs that will be on display at Outeniqua Park.
The Cheetahs line-up also include the likes of Willie le Roux, Ryno Benjamin, Boom Prinsloo, Sarel Pretorius and new recruit Johann Sadie.
"I saw Raymond [Rhule] in action as a schoolboy playing for HTS Louis Botha in the schools Sevens series and it was clear then that he would become a great player," tournament promoter Willem Strauss said.
"I expect him to be a sensational Sevens player,” Strauss added.
"It is no secret that Willie le Roux is a great Sevens player and I am very keen to see someone like Johann Sadie in this code.
"What is very pleasing is the fact that the franchises are coming here to win the tournament and I expect a whole range of big name Super Rugby players playing in the tournament.”
The Lions will also travel to George with a number of Super Rugby players.
The likes of Derick Minnie, Andries Coetzee and Ruan Combrinck showed their class during this year's Super Rugby and Currie Cup seasons and now will have another platform to showcase their skills.
More big names will be populating the six privately owned teams, amongst them soccer giants Kaizer Chiefs.
The famous yellow and black kit will be a popular one and with former Springboks Breyton Paulse and Gcobani Bobo named as captain and coach respectively, there is great excitement about their participation. Their squad announcement will certainly create some interest, with names like Springbok flyer Jongi Nokwe and Kenyan ace Daniel Adongo been mooted.
The All Stars team has already confirmed world stars like New Zealand ace Zar Lawrence, IRB World Series points record holder and former England captain Ben Gollings, as well as Samoan powerhouse Alafoti Fa'osiliva.
Welsh legend Shane Williams is another expected to light up the Outeniqua Park sky.
Other confirmed teams, like the Vikings from Pretoria and the Living Ball team, will have players like Fabian Juries, Stefan Basson, Brent Russell, Stefan Terblanche, Mzwandile Stick, Jonathan Mokuena and Marius Delport in their midst.
The Sharks, Blue Bulls, Western Province and Kaizer Chiefs are expected to name their teams later this week.
"This is going to be a fantastic mix of teams, styles, brands and sporting icons,” Strauss said.
Confirmed teams:
Lions: Willie Brits, Ruan Combrinck, Derick Minnie, Claude Tshibidi, Andries Coetzee, Whestley Moolman, Morné Laubscher, Ruhan Nel, Jacques Nel, James Bester, Senzo Shabalala, Gideon Meiring.
Cheetahs: Ryno Benjamin, Robbie van Schalkwyk, Marnus Schoeman, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Leon Karemaker, Boom Prinsloo, Pieter van Zyl, Sarel Pretorius, Willie le Roux, Riaan Smit, Barry Geel, Cameron Jacobs, Raymond Rhule, Philip Burger, Kevin Luiters, Johann Sadie.
