THE XEROX Golden Lions squad has been named to face the Blue Bulls in the Provincial Cup over the weekend.
Both teams who have been playing winning rugby thus far will have a face off at the Alberton Rugby Club this coming Saturday, April 23.
The match will start at 15:00 with the supportive match between local clubs Alberton Rugby and Union Bulldogs from the South. This match will start at 17:15.
But all the fun will start on the Friday evening at 18:15 when near neighbours will send out their u.20, third and second sides. School rugby will be at its best from 10:00 on Saturday.
The main attraction of course will be between the Lions and Bulls. The Golden Lions Rugby Union (GLRU) has raked in the services of Varsity Cup winning team NWU-Pukke team fullback Sylvian Mahuza. He has been included in the strong Xerox Golden Lions team and will have a starting birth.
“I don’t have words to describe how I feel. I am just so thankful for the opportunity to join the Lions. I will make the most of this chance that has come my way. I just have to mention the NWU-Pukke as they were the cornerstone of my career up to now. I didn’t have any resources to build a future and Pukke made everything possible. They developed me and gave me the skills that I currently have,” Mahuza said.
Derick Minnie from Alberton will also make his welcome return to provincial rugby after a long-term injury sidelined him.
In the meantime the Emirates Lions will play an away-match in the Vodacom Super Rugby competition on Saturday against the Kings in Port Elizabeth. This match will start at 17:15.
The Emirates Lions team is currently struggling with injuries in their squad after their best performance thus far against DHL Stormers last weekend at home. According to head coach Johan Ackermann, they will have to look for another hooker, as Malcolm Marx will be out for two weeks, after he sustained a soft tissue neck injury during the match. Prop Julian Redelinghuys has a wrist/arm injury which saw him only play a few minutes last Saturday and he will also be out for two weeks.
“We will continue following the rotation system and will employ this against the Kings. But we have niggling injuries in our squad and will have to look to select other players to give our pivotal players some rest,” said Ackermann.
Xerox Golden Lions team:
1. Arnout Malherbe
2. Pieter Jansen
3. Pieter Scholtz
4. MB Lusaseni
5. Martin Muller
6. Derick Minnie
7. Robert Kruger
8. Ruaan Lerm
9. Ricky Schroeder
10. Shaun Reynolds
11. Anthony Volmink
12. Jacques Nel
13. Stokkies Hanekom
14. Selom Gavor
15. Sylvian Mahuza
16. Jannes Snyman
17. Clinton Theron
18. Nico du Plessis
19. Bobby de Wee
20. Stephan de Wit
21. Ashlon Davids
22. Jarryd Sage