logo
Haashim Pead in Lions' Currie Cup squad after dream U20 tournament with Junior Springboks

Haashim Pead in Lions' Currie Cup squad after dream U20 tournament with Junior Springboks

IOL News2 days ago
Scrumhalf Haashim Pead, who starred for the Junior Boks at the World Rugby U20 Championship, has been included in the Lions' Currie Cup squad.
Star Junior Springbok scrumhalf Haashim Pead has been included in the Lions' Currie Cup squad following his outstanding performances at the U20 World Championships.
Pead won the Player-of-the-Tournament award after the Junior Boks beat their New Zealand counterparts in the final to lift the trophy for the first time since 2012.
The speedy No 9 scored six tries and assisted four during the tournament. He also surpassed France star Antoine Dupont's record for running metres by a scrumhalf at the tournament, racking up 232m from 15 carries during the pool stages.
On Wednesday, Pead was also invited to the Springboks' training camp ahead of their home Rugby Championship matches against Australia. He will be joined in camp by flank Bathobele Hlekani and outside centre Cheswill Jooste to see first hand how the Boks prepare for a big tournament.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Springbok lock Marvin Orie to start for Bulls against Western Province in Currie Cup opener
Springbok lock Marvin Orie to start for Bulls against Western Province in Currie Cup opener

IOL News

time10 hours ago

  • IOL News

Springbok lock Marvin Orie to start for Bulls against Western Province in Currie Cup opener

Springbok lock Marvin Orie brings composure and clout to the Bulls pack as they prepare to take on Western Province in a fierce North-South showdown. Photo: Backpagepix Former Stormer Marvin Orie has been named in the Bulls team for their Currie Cup opener against Western Province in Cape Town on Saturday, while tough loose forward Jeandré Rudolph, formerly of the Cheetahs and Pumas, is set to make his debut. Another Cape product, Nama Xaba, will captain the Bulls. He joins Rudolph and fellow Capetonian Junior Pokomela in a powerful loose trio. An away visit to their arch-rivals is as tough as it gets for the Bulls, but assistant coach Phiwe Nomlomo says his charges are up for the challenge.

Springbok great JP Pietersen wants more Currie Cup glory for the Sharks
Springbok great JP Pietersen wants more Currie Cup glory for the Sharks

IOL News

time12 hours ago

  • IOL News

Springbok great JP Pietersen wants more Currie Cup glory for the Sharks

NICK Hatton to captain the Sharks in their Currie Cup season opener against the Lions. | BackpagePix The former Stormers prop Lee Marvin Mazibuko is a surprise starter in the Sharks' Currie Cup side that travels to the Lions for the tournament opener at Ellis Park on Saturday. The 27-year-old returns to South Africa after a stint in France with Racing 92. The Sharks team is captained by loose forward Nick Hatton, who featured prominently when the Sharks won the title last year, ironically in a final against the Lions. Hatton and the Sharks return to the scene of the 'crime' with a youthful but determined side, and once more they are coached by former Springbok wing JP Pietersen. 'What a challenge for this young group to go up to Joburg, to test ourselves and get into the fight,' said Pietersen.

Ackermann says he's ‘not different, only more streetwise' since his Lions days
Ackermann says he's ‘not different, only more streetwise' since his Lions days

The Citizen

time12 hours ago

  • The Citizen

Ackermann says he's ‘not different, only more streetwise' since his Lions days

New Bulls coach Johan Ackermann says he is not a different coach, but a more streetwise and experienced one than he was before. New Bulls coach Johan Ackermann said he has become more 'streetwise and experienced,' learning about player management and the value of inclusivity in the seven years since he left the Lions. Ackermann led the Lions to Super Rugby finals in 2016 and 2017 before joining Gloucester and reaching the 2018 Challenge Cup final. He later coached in Japan, guiding Urayasu to Division 1 promotion in 2022, and recently consulted with the Junior Springboks, who won this year's World Championship. While in Japan, he earned the Division 2 Coach of the Year award, adding to his three South African Coach of the Year honours. Ackers learns much overseas Now back in South Africa, Ackermann said he aims to build a healthy, value-driven culture at the Bulls centred on mutual respect, humility, service, and teamwork — getting the best out of players while ensuring they enjoy what they do. 'I wouldn't say different,' he said when asked how he had changed since his Lions tenure. 'Maybe more streetwise, a bit more experienced. A bit more wary of how important it is to include different cultures.' He also highlighted the importance of players understanding the demands of modern rugby, especially extensive travel and adapting to team systems. 'Culture was the big thing [overseas]. You had All Blacks. They wanted a certain style; they wanted to play a certain way. Then you had an English player, then you had a Scottish player… 'So to create that unity and to also put your stamp on it, it took a lot of convincing. You have to really be strong on your principles and how you want to play, and also allow them to have input.' Ackermann balances being fun and being hands-on Ackermann said coaching the Lions was easier due to a fresh group that was more willing to be moulded the way he and Swys de Bruin wanted. At Gloucester and in Japan, he worked with strong personalities and internationals like Liam Gill, Israel Folau, and Greig Laidlaw. 'You have to learn as a coach that sometimes you can learn from them as well. There are good inputs there.' Still, he believes the team's direction must come from the coach. On his current role, he said Phiwe Nomlomo had led the Currie Cup side well and he didn't want to overshadow him. 'It will be a good opportunity for me to be on the back seat… then I can start sharing how I see things.' 'I think to be yourself is the best thing. To bring a bit of dancing and a bit of laughter and a bit of music. Everybody enjoys that, doesn't matter what culture they are.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store