CYLE Brink, who hails from Alberton, together with eight Emirates Lions players, are part and parcel of the Springbok squad.
Rassie Erasmus, South Africa Rugby’s director of rugby, announced the Springbok squad of 35 players on August 6 for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.
The first match will be played on August 18 against Argentina at Jonsson Kings Park. The two sides meet again a week later in Mendoza.
Brink, who is one of three uncapped players in the squad, is joined by Lions teammates Malcolm Marx, Franco Mostert, Marvin Orie, Warren Whiteley, Ross Cronjé, Aphiwe Dyantyi, Elton Janjies and Lionel Mapoe.
Brinks’ regular position is flanker and he went to school at King Edward VII School, KES. He was called up in 2012 for the u-18 Golden Lions Craven Week and followed that up playing the next year in the Golden Lions u-19 team during the 2013 u-19 provincial championship.
In September that same year he was included in the u-21 Golden Lions team playing in the 2013 u-21 provincial championship.
His big year came when he was included in the South African u-20 squad for the 2014 International Rugby Board, IRB, Junior World championship in New Zealand.
Subsequently, he made his appearance for the Golden Lions during the 2014 Vodacom Cup and was capped for his provincial team against the Leopards. He scored his first class senior try against the Blue Bulls after which he went over the whitewash many times in his career such as the try he scored against the Crusaders in the finals of the Vodacom Super Rugby for the Lions over the weekend.
He made his debut for the Lions Super Rugby team against the Cheetahs in 2016.
Brink is a hard working flanker and received the highest recognition for his efforts being selected for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.
The other two uncapped players are loose forward from the Vodacom Bulls’ Marco van Staden and SA u-20 flyhalf the 20-year-old DHL Stormers, Damian Willemse.
Returning to the Springbok squad are Warren Whiteley and the experienced Eben Etzebeth (lock), who both recovered from long-term injuries, while Malcolm Marx has shrugged off his hamstring troubles, which forced him to miss the June Internationals.
Also returning to the Springbok squad are Francois Louw, the experienced flanker who plays for English club side Bath, Lwazi Mvovo (outside back), as well Mapoe (centre) and Cronje (scrumhalf), both of whom missed the mid-year tests because of injury.
Louw has represented the Boks in 57 tests and Erasmus said he will add a lot of experience to the group.
Siya Kolisi retains the captaincy. The bulk of the players have been training in Stellenbosch for a few weeks, with the Emirates Lions contingent set to join them on Wednesday. The men from Johannesburg returned to South Africa on Monday after their Vodacom Super Rugby final appearance on Saturday against the Crusaders in Christchurch.
The squad will continue with preparations in Cape Town until Friday and, following a two-day break, will then reassemble in Durban next Sunday to continue with their build-up towards the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.
Players who were not considered because of injury include Damian de Allende (DHL Stormers), Warrick Gelant, Lood de Jager, Trevor Nyakane (all Vodacom Bulls), Coenie Oosthuizen and Sbu Nkosi (both Cell C Sharks).
Also Read:
Wits send UWC packing at the death
Clapham High School Gauteng Copa Coca-Cola champions
Xaba in pole position at challenge
Big money up for grabs at CITYRUN
For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. You can also email our offices on cvdwalt@caxton.co.za, juliem@caxton.co.za or luckyt@caxton.co.za
Add us on WhatsApp today! Comaro Chronicle: 079 427 8074 and Southern Courier: 079 404 5789.
