OFFICIAL MATCH PROGRAMME
XEROX GOLDEN LIONS vs CELL C SHARKS
30 SEPTEMBER 2016
CONTENTS SA RUGBY MESSAGE
5
GLRU PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
7
XEROX: SPONSOR’S MESSAGE
9
RUGBY ACTION
11
IQHAWE WEEK: CHANCE FOR U15s TO IMPRESS
12
Q&A DYLAN SMITH 13 CURRIE CUP TEAMS 14 Q&A KWAGGA SMITH 17 GLRU’S RECIPE FOR JUNIOR SUCCESSES
19
RUGBY ACTION
22
LIONS
TALE
Official magazine of the GLRU www.lions-tale.co.za
Publishers: Rugbyvaria Editor: Annemie Bester Graphic Design: Reneé Naudé
Advertising: Annemie Bester
GLRU Media and PR Manager: Annemie Bester Photographer: Deon van der Merwe Website: lionsrugby.co.za
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE • 5 www.lionsrugby.co.za
MESSAGE FROM THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SA RUGBY I WOULD LIKE to welcome everyone here today to the game. The Currie Cup has been part of the South African rugby landscape for as long as the game has been played here. In fact, it is fair to say that the Currie Cup, despite various format changes over the decades, has been the backbone for the game of rugby union in South Africa. The tournament has grown in stature and into the hearts of South Africans and the fact that you are here today still supporting your team in this iconic competition bears testimony to that. For all these years and decades, the game has nurtured and moulded players, coaches, referees, administrators and indeed, fans of this great game and rugby is in a better place because of that. The Currie Cup is truly #WhereLegendsRise.
This year, rugby will yet again be played in all corners of South Africa, thanks to the Currie Cup competition. We want to thank all our sponsors of the Currie Cup for their contribution to help the competition remain in the forefront of the hearts and minds of our rugby supporters. Sponsors have become the adrenalin competitions like this need to thrill and grow the game and we thank you for that. Now, please go out and support your team with all the passion and pride you have. That is what Currie Cup rugby is all about. Regards, MARK ALEXANDER SA RUGBY ACTING PRESIDENT
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE • 7 www.lionsrugby.co.za
WELCOME TO EMIRATES AIRLINE PARK, HOME OF THE XEROX GOLDEN LIONS ON BEHALF OF the Golden Lions Rugby Union, we wish to extend a warm welcome to the Management and staff of the Sharks to Emirates Airline Park here today. A special welcome to Robert du Preez and his team and we trust that your experience at the Park will be a memorable one. Both teams always display a good running rugby type game, and this one should be no different. Exciting rugby for these two teams is always on the cards.
there has always been a strong support for the Sharks and together with our supporters, this should be a wellrepresented audience for today’s match. I would like to wish Coach Ackers and his team every success and trust that both teams will enjoy the match. Thank you to our dear fans that have come out this evening to support your team, and then to our most valued sponsors, thank you, we value your gracious support.
REGARDS Kevin de Klerk. In the cosmopolitan city of Johannesburg, President: GLRU
BYTES DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS • 9 www.lionsrugby.co.za
MESSAGE FROM THE CEO OF BYTES DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS It is an important match today and we are looking forward to an amazing performance by our defending champions. The Xerox Golden Lions have kept their hopes alive for a place in the Currie Cup semi-finals, following a convincing and much needed win over the EP Kings last weekend. In our last home game, we destroyed a much-fancied Western Province with a comfortable 58-32 victory, clearly demonstrating that we are champion material. While our away form has been patchy at best, there is no doubt that the Xerox Golden Lions have turned Emirates Airlines Park into a genuine fortress, with the team achieving three successive wins and scoring more than 50 points each time. This year has certainly been one of the best for the Lions, having dominated their conference in Super Rugby on the way to the final and contributing a number of players to Allister Coetzee’s Springboks. This team has certainly led the way with a new brand of rugby making them one of the most exciting teams to watch in world rugby today. Based on our performances throughout 2015 and 2016, I am confident of another impressive result tonight. I have no doubt that our team will give everything they can to keep our Currie Cup hopes alive.
A win tonight will not only assure us of a place in the semi-finals, but with our many Springboks able to return in time for the semi-final – we will have a great chance of making the final and keeping the Cup. In the last five years, we have been finalists three times, and champions twice. Winning tonight will give us the chance of being victorious for the third time in just six years, which would be an incredible achievement for the Union. I would also like to thank all our fans who come to the stadium week in and week out to support our team. The encouragement you provide should never be underestimated - it is you who spur them on to play the best rugby possible. With such a strong and committed fan base, we have a key advantage – one which I hope will prove to be the deciding factor against the Sharks tonight. Please join me in wishing our Xerox Golden Lions the very best for the game this evening. We are all very proud of the team and behind them all the way. Let’s all roar together and drive our boys forward to a magnificent win. JOHAN BASSON CEO BYTES DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS
28 www.lionsrugby.co.za
IQHAWE WEEK:
CHANCE FOR U15s TO IMPRESS FOR THE FUTURE TOURNAMENT HOSTED BY GLRU The fourth Iqhawe Week for under-15 rugby players will be hosted by the Golden Lions Rugby Union next week from October 3-6. Matches between all 14 South Africa’s provincial unions will be played at the Bill Jardine Stadium. The week has already made its mark in South African age-group rugby since its inception in 2013. No less than 26 players who participated in last year’s tournament were selected for the various unions’ Grant Khomo Week sides this year – and a fair number of those will undoubtedly be in Craven Week sides in 2017 and 2018. The provincial teams are drawn from non-traditional or newly established rugby schools and has quickly become an important part of the development landscape. “SARLA has done exceptionally well to build this Under-15 week up to a prestigious tournament and it’s wonderful
to see Carfind.co.za get involved to further boost the Legends Iqhawe Week,” said SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux. “It was clear at our U16 and U18 Youth Weeks earlier this year that the Legends Iqhawe Week plays an important role in the development of younger players as it’s bridging the gap between U13 and U16 rugby and we’re excited to be working with SARLA on this venture.” SARLA CEO and former Springbok wing Stefan Terblanche was excited about the new sponsorship by Carfind.co.za and the prospects of improving the tournament. “The aim is to provide development rugby teams a national platform to play on and a chance for some of these talented youngsters to be identified for future development in our SA rugby structures.” The Iqhawe Week forms part of Sarla’s rugby development programme, which also includes Vuka Rugby and the Legends Cup.
Q&A with Xerox Golden Lions prop Dylan Smith
1. What does it mean to you to pull that Lions jersey over your head every weekend? DS: Pulling the Lions jersey over my head shows me every weekend that my hard work pays off and that I’ve got a responsibility to represent the Lions Rugby Union with pride. 2. What motivates you to give your best every weekend? DS: I’ve always had a passion for rugby and playing alongside my mates gives me motivation to always play better for them and myself. 3. Who is the biggest supporter in your life? DS: My biggest supporter would be my dad.Throughout school he would travel to all my games no matter how far they were and still he always makes an effort to come and see me play. 4. Who played a significant role in your journey as a rugby player? DS: I’ve got a few people who played significant roles in my journey - my high school coach Carl Spilhaus at KES, Russell Winter who coached me at U21 level here at the Lions and definitely Coach Ackers who still brings the best out of me and my teammates.. 5. Why do you love rugby? DS: I love rugby because it allows me to have fun all the time. Even when the training is tough and you are sore, you still enjoy doing it with the guys around you. Rugby brings out the best in me.
XEROX GOLDEN LIONS
15 Andries Coetzee 14 Koch Marx 13 Jacques Nel 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg 11 Anthony Volmink 10 Jaco van der Walt 9 Ross Cronje 8 Ruaan Lerm 7 Ruan Ackermann 6 Kwagga Smith (capt.) 5 Bobby de Wee 4 JP du Preez 3 Ruan Dreyer 2 Robbie Coetzee 1 Dylan Smith.
Replacements:
16 Malcolm Marx 17 Jacques van Rooyen 18 Fabian Booysen 19 Cyle Brink 20 Dillon Smit 21 Howard Mnisi 22 Sylvian Mahuza Coaches: Johan Ackermann (Head Coach) Swys de Bruin (Assistent Coach) JP Ferreira (Assistent Coach)
30 SEPTEMBER 2016 Referee: Craig Joubert
AR 1: Ben Crouse
CELL C SHARKS
15 Curwin Bosch 14 Rhyno Smith 13 Lukhanyo Am 12 AndrĂŠ Esterhuizen 11 Lwazi Mvovo 10 Inny Radebe 9 Michael Claassens 8 Keegan Daniel (capt.) 7 Jean-Luc du Preez 6 Francois Kleinhans 5 Ruan Botha 4 Etienne Oosthuizen 3 Lourens Adriaanse 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle 1 Thomas du Toit
Replacements:
16 Franco Marais 17 John-Hubert Meyer 18 Stephan Lewies/Jean Droste 19 Khaya Majola 20 Stefan Ungerer 21 Garth April 22 Wandile Mjekevu Coaches: Robert du Preez (Head Coach) Trevor Barnes (Team Manager)
KICK-OFF: 17:00 AR2: Stephan Geldenhuys
TMO: Willie Vos
Q&A with Kwagga Smith
What does it mean to you to pull that Lions jersey over your head every weekend? KS: To pull the Lions jersey over my head means so much for me because it is an opportunity for me to express myself and to inspire other people and show respect of what the Lions mean to me. 2. What motivates you to give your best every weekend? KS: The thing that motivates me the most is the enjoyment in a game and the God- given talent that I can’t waste. 3. Who is the biggest supporter in your life? KS: My girlfriend is definitely my biggest supporter in my life and she helps me so much because she is always honest. 4. Who played a significant role in your journey as a rugby player? KS: My family and my friends played the biggest role in my rugby journey as each person helped me in a different way to achieve my goals. 5. Why do you love rugby? KS: It is the game itself that I love and enjoy to play and the people that I do it with just make me a better person.
GLRU’S RECIPE FOR SUCCESS AT JUNIOR LEVEL U21s, U19s excel in SA provincial championships By Annemie Bester, Golden Lions Media Liaison Hard work, good contracting and investing in the youth of Gauteng has paid dividends for the Golden Lions Rugby Union with both the Under-19 and Under-21 sides qualifying for their respective semi-finals in the national junior leagues. The Unions’ Under 21s ended second on the log, just behind Western Province, while Golden Lions inside centre Shaun Reynolds is the top points scorer in the competition. The Under 19 Cubs ended third on the log behind Western Province (1st) and the Blue Bulls (2nd) but scored a record number of tries of 73 tries in their campaign.
the first of its kind for the union in many seasons, is a testament of the collective hard work of all involved as well as a procurement system that works. “The big plus is that most of the Under 19, Under 20 and Under 21 players are students while the Under 21s haven’t reached a semi in their age groups in the last two years.” Schoeman is especially pleased with the great relationship that exist between the union and the two universities on their doorstep, the University of Johannesburg and Wits University.
The Under 19 fullback Jeanluc Cilliers scored the most points in the competition with his 156 while the top two spots for most tries go to Lions wingers Michael Tambwe (12) and Stean Pienaar (11).
“Both junior sides have done so well this year, they could’ve ended up unbeaten. It obviously shows the character of the players and they have worked very hard this season, as did the coaches, but it shows that the development of these youngsters in our system works well,” says Schoeman.
According to Bart Schoeman, Manager of High Performance at the GLRU, this success,
Rudolf Straeuli, CEO of the GLRU, was also very happy with the performance of the
Photo by Leon Nieman
Golden Lions inside centre Shaun Reynolds is the top U21 points scorer
Photo by Leon Nieman union’s youngsters “We have a lot of depth and this bodes well going into the future.” Senior coach Johan Ackermann also eluded to the depth of the union. “We are very proud of our juniors with both our teams reaching their respective semi-finals. Many of the under 21’s also tasted Currie Cup rugby when they had to step up and do duty during this years’ Currie Cup Qualifying round.” A feather in the cap of the administrators is that ten of the 23 players who were in action in their last group match on Saturday against the EP Kings in Port Elizabeth were still Under 20. Most of the Under 19s are full-time students while six players were used through the season who are non-contracted students. Five five schoolboys were also involved in the campaign. The Under 19 coaches are Joey Mongalo, Neil de Bruin and Philip Lemmer and the Under 21s are coached by Herkie Kruger,
Marco Janse van Rensburg trying to avoid being tackled Bafana Nhleko and Wessel Roux. Another big plus for the junior ranks is that the GLRU managed to keep their players who were selected for the SA School sides in 2015 and 2016. Players like Wandile Simelani, PJ Botha, Nathan McBeth, Ruan Vermaak, Tatenda Mujawo and Hacjivah Dayimani are all contracted by the Lions. “We are excited about the future of Lions rugby if you look at the talent currently in our system. We also have a solution for those youngsters who do not qualify for university as we will be offering, in conjunction with Xerox, NQF6 courses in the near future while we are also in the process of acquiring accommodation in our precinct. This means our juniors will be able to live and study on the GLRU grounds and we are very excited about that,” Schoeman concluded The semi-finals of the two junior sides take place on 15 October when the Under 19s travel to Loftus while the Under 21s host the Blue Bulls at home.
PHOTO: GB JORDAAN
JHB 48467
BREWED WITH PURE
SOUTH AFRICAN PASSION It all comes together with a CASTLE.
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