Provisional RU Varsity Shield squad announced
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 this year’s captain Marcus Nel. The former Eastern Province U19 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.”
Nel echoed Sompondo’s sentiments, giving the squad his full backing. He said: “I think that it's a strong squad moving forward, with a good combination of youth and experience. Even with players leaving, there are still players who will fill their shoes.”
Sompondo will select his final squad early next year, once he has given new club mem- bers 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 Photo: Supplied
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