The Hollywoodbets Sharks team announced by Head Coach John Plumtree has been bolstered by the return of some of their Springboks for Saturday’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship action when they host the Vodacom Bulls in a massive South African derby at Hollywoodbets Kings Park.
The new dates for the two opening round Vodacom United Rugby Championship derbies involving the four South African teams, which were moved to avoid a clash with the Carling Currie Cup Final in September, have been confirmed.
The return of a number of Springboks for this first Vodacom United Rugby Championship home game of the season has strengthened the Hollywoodbets Sharks team that will play Glasgow Warriors at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks will once again take continuity into their Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash with Benetton at Stadio Monigo on Saturday afternoon.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus released three players, Ben-Jason Dixon, Johan Grobbelaar, and Canan Moodie, to their local franchises after the Boks wrapped up their main training block for the week on Wednesday, before the Castle Lager Rugby Championship decider between South Africa and Argentina at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Saturday.
As he looks towards the 20 September kick-off of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, Vodacom Bulls coach Jake White says he’s excited about the growing experience in his squad and singled out Ruan Nortjé as an example of it hopefully benefitting his team this season.
The incredible depth in South African rugby at Test level is the envy of the rugby world, and Emirates Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen believes the Vodacom United Rugby Championship is helping to develop this.
Due to a request from SA Rugby, the opening round Vodacom United Rugby Championship fixtures involving the South African teams will now be moved to avoid a clash with the Carling Currie Cup Final.
There is a definite sense of unfinished business in the Vodacom Bulls camp as they prepare for Season 4 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, which kicks off in September.
It is midnight in the home of Phiwe Nomlomo. One of the head coaches at Loftus Versfeld is doing what he often does at this quiet hour. He is sitting with a notebook and writing down ideas. Specific ideas for his players, and more general ideas on how to implement hockey players’ ability to move a ball so quickly across the field into rugby.