Touring Sharks squad announced

THE Cell C Sharks Director of Rugby, Gary Gold, has named a 32-man squad who will depart for France for a two match pre-season tour.

The first match on tour is against Toulon on Friday 5 February and on 11 February the tour will conclude with a match against Toulouse.

The players who will form part of the touring squad to France are Christiaan de Bruin, Andre Esterhuizen, Coenie Oosthuizen, Cobus Reinach, Daniel du Preez,

Garth April, Dave McDuling, Heimar Williams, Etienne Oosthuizen, Joe Pietersen, Franco Marais, Johan Deysel, Francois Kleinhans, Lwazi Mvovo, Gerhard Engelbrecht, Michael Claassens, Hyron Andrews, Odwa Ndungane, Jean-Luc du Preez, Patrick Lambie, Juan Schoeman, Paul Jordaan, Kyle Cooper, S’bura Sithole,

Lourens Adriaanse, Stefan Ungerer, Marcell Coetzee, Wandile Mjekevu, Philip van der Walt, Willie le Roux, Ruan Botha and Tendai Mtawarira.

“We looking forward to this tour. We’ve had a good pre-season and we eager to test combinations and get some game time under our belt. The quality of opposition we will be facing will ensure that we get the necessary preparation we require ahead of the start of our Super Rugby campaign,” said Gold.

He said there were certain players who form part of the provisional Super Rugby squad that have not been considered for selection, due to injury or rehab.