Maties dominate SA Universities squad

Eight FNB Maties players have been named in a 25-man SA Universities squad for a series of matches against a touring American student team in early August.

The 2009 Varsity Cup Player of the Tournament, Donald Stevens (pictured, far right), heads up the eight Maties players on display and he will be joined by – amongst others – his Varsity Cup skipper Wesley Wilkins.

Pukke captain Willem van der Wal (pictured, middle) – the Varsity Cup Forward of the Tournament – is one of four representatives from Potchefstroom, whilst UCT’s Therlow Pietersen (pictured, left) – the Back of the Tournament – is one of three Ikey Tigers players in this talented squad.

Pietersen will be joined by Ikeys teammates, flyhalf Matt Rosslee – who played Currie Cup rugby for Western Province last season, and lock Martin Muller, who played for the Stormers earlier this year.

There are also four UJ stars in the mix – including star Sevens exponent (and 15-a-side fullback) Earl Lewis, who has featured in various Sevens tournaments, with much success, this year.

Another of UCT’s Super 14 players this year, Tiger Bax, is not available for the SA Universities squad, whilst the likes of Johan Roets (Maties – now Boland), Grant le Roux (Pukke – now Boland) and Johan Jackson (Tuks – now Lions) have all signed provincial contracts elsewhere since the 2009 Varsity Cup.

Twenty-three out of the twenty-five players named in this SA Universities group played in the 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International – except for Fort Hare stars Sokana Mokana and Ziniko Dumaphi, both of whom will no doubt relish the opportunity of rubbing shoulders with players that they will be hoping to compete against in 2010.

The Maties, of course, have won two successive Varsity Cup titles and their head coach, Chean Roux, will once again be in charge of the SA Universities outfit – as he was last season. FNB Tukkies head coach Freddie Grobler will assist Roux, the Tuks mentor having also coached the SA Students Sevens team earlier this year.

The SA Students will play two matches against a Collegiate All-American outfit – on Wednesday, August 5 at Stellenbosch’s Danie Craven Stadium and on Saturday, August 8 in Cape Town.

The second fixture will see the teams play the official curtain-raiser to the Springboks-Wallabies Tri-Nations match at Newlands.

The SA Universities squad – 25:

Forwards:
Willem van der Wal (Pukke, No.8)
Jonathan Adendorf (Maties, flank)
Wesley Wilkins (Maties, flank)
Cameron Peverett (Maties, flank)
Sokana Mokana (Fort Hare, loose forward)
Martin Muller (UCT, lock)
Jaco Nepgen (Maties, lock)
Rob Andrew (UJ, lock)
Lourens Adriaanse (Maties, prop)
BG Uys (Pukke, prop)
Jaco Koch (Pukke, prop)
Pierre Hammond (NMMU, prop)
Stoffel Duvenhage (Pukke, hooker)
Edgar Marutlulle (UJ, hooker)

Backs:
Therlow Pietersen (UCT, fullback)
Earl Lewis (UJ, fullback)
Clayton Blommetjies (Tukkies, wing)
Ziniko Dumaphi (Fort Hare, wing)
Morné Jooste (Maties, wing)
Cameron Jacobs (Shimlas, centre)
Paul Bosch (Maties, centre)
Matthew Rosslee (UCT, flyhalf)
André Smith (UJ, flyhalf)
Donald Stevens (Maties, scrumhalf)
Marlin Ruiters (Shimlas, scrumhalf)