The Rhodes University Rugby Club has announced its first ever 41-man provisional Varsity Shield squad ahead of the 2017 tournament.
The Rhodes University Rugby Club has announced its first ever 41-man provisional Varsity Shield squad ahead of the 2017 tournament.
The players will be put through their paces in a six-week conditioning programme. They will then be evaluated in October as first team coach Qondakele Sompondo begins the process of deciding his final squad, which he says will consist of roughly 30 players.
Sompondo will be without the services of 2016 captain Marcus Nel. The former Eastern Province U-19 coach declined to reveal Nel's successor, but backed the senior players in his squad to fill his shoes next year. He said: "We only lost six players [from the 2016 squad]. The rest of the team is still here, and that is because we had a very young side. I mean, my average age is 21. We have leadership depth."
Sompondo will select his final squad early next year, once he has given new club members a chance to prove their worth.
Rhodes's provisional squad is:
1. Jethro Anderson
2. Devon Barnard
3. Sean Biggs
4. Jono Braans
5. Nic Butler
6. Jon Carrington
7. Daniel Michael Coughlan
8. Keagan Norman Deponselle
9. Cameron Doyle
10. Craig Durrheim
11. Okuhle Fumba
12. Ryan Horne
13. Chulu Jack
14. Phendu Jama
15. Lwazi Kamana
16. Lyndon John Lambert
17. Robbie Leclezio
18. Wanele Maholwana
19. Moalusi Matlakala
20. Dylan McCann
21. David Nel
22. Mwambu Njolomba
23. Yalusa Nodada
24. Uzu Nyanda
25. Daniel Nyatsanza
26. Kuda Nhira
27. Joshua Parsons
28. Keletso Pooe
29. Brett Pringle
30. Jesse John Rich
31. Jonathan Schenck
32. Vuyisani Vuyo Sigingqi
33. Thabiso Kapp Sithole
34. Simbulele Sizani
35. Robbie Stuart
36. Leandre Vos
37. Cian Waugh
38. Mark Webber
39. Brian Welman
40. Christopher Whiting
41. Zuko Zote
