Latest news with #SeabeloSenatla
IOL News
3 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Seabelo Senatla shines despite Stormers' defeat to Glasgow Warriors
Winger Seabelo Senatla's remarkable resilience was once again on display for the Stormers against Glasgow Warriors. The Stormers may have struggled for positives after their 36-18 humbling against the Glasgow Warriors in the United Rugby Championship quarter-final on Friday, but winger Seabelo Senatla's performance was one of the silver linings to a dark cloud for head coach John Dobson. Senatla's early yellow card at the Scotstoun Stadium in Scotland proved costly for the visitors from the Cape. In the time he was off the field, Glasgow scored two tries. The former Springbok Sevens star seemed determined to make amends on his return from the bin, scoring two tries that brought his team right back into the match as he energised the Stormers attack. He showed the kind of indomitable spirit that has seen him overcome personal tragedy. A horiffic car crash in 2023 sidelined him from the game for more than a year, threatening to end his career. "Sabelo was magic. He was very obviously our best player," head coach Dobson said in the aftermath of the disappointing defeat. "I'm very chuffed for him, given what he's been through. That was brilliant. "I don't think we rolled over, we just made so many mistakes; Sasha running with ball and it just pops out of his hand. That was our evening."
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Holders Glasgow subdue Stormers to reach URC semi-finals
United Rugby Championship play-offs: Glasgow Warriors v StormersGlasgow Warriors (19) 36Tries: Rowe 2, Darge, Venter, Horne Pen: Horne Con: Horne 4Stormers (13) 18Tries: Senatla 2 Pen: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 2 Con: Feinberg-Mngomezulu Glasgow Warriors continued the defence of the United Rugby Championship title by putting the Stormers to the sword to book their place in the last Darge, Kyle Rowe and Henco Venter crossed for first-half tries for the hosts, with a Seabelo Senatla try and eight points from the boot of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu keeping the Stormers within six points at the struck early in the second half for the South African side, but Glasgow responded with tries from George Horne and another from Rowe to ease home with a bit to will face either Leinster or Scarlets, who meet in Dublin on Saturday, in next weekend's semi-final. The Stormers had come to Scotstoun looking for revenge after being beaten at this stage in the same venue last kicked the first points of the match as the visitors came out the blocks fast, but Glasgow responded wing Senatla was sent to the bin for cynically killing Warriors' momentum after a lovely break from Kyle Steyn. Glasgow kicked to the corner and an innovative lineout move created space for Darge to dive energised the Scotstoun crowd and they soon had more to cheer when Sione Tuipulotu stabbed a clever grubber in behind for Rowe to latch on to and then hit back in bizarre circumstances. Feinberg-Mngomezulu launched an up-and-under from a free-kick that caused chaos in the Warriors 22. The ball bounced kindly for Senatla, just back on after his yellow card, to go in under the Glasgow's response was swift, Venter peeling off the base of a ruck to power over in the had to withstand a big Stormers onslaught late in the first half to go in 19-13-up at the break, but they were undone early in the second half as some sharp handling in the backline sent Senatla streaking away for his second try to bring the visitors back within was turning into a URC classic and the breakneck pace showed no sign of slowing Jordan found a kink in the Stormers defence and burst through before feeding Rowe to go over for his second try of the Glasgow had to buy themselves some breathing space on the scoreboard and they did it in the most glorious Ferrie snatched a Stormers lineout and off Glasgow went from deep. A succession of brilliantly executed passes ended with Rowe feeding Horne to scamper away for Warriors' fifth ended the South Africans' resistance and Glasgow saw it out in relative comfort to ensure their bid for back-to-back URC crowns remains on course.
6 days ago
- Sport
Stormers pick Sacha ahead of Libbok for crunch playoff
The DHL Stormers take on Glasgow Warriors in a Vodacom United Rugby Championship quarter-final at Scotstoun on Friday. Having finished the regular season in fifth position, the Stormers face the defending champions in Glasgow, with kick-off at 20h35 SA time on Friday night. Warrick Gelant will link up with speedsters Seabelo Senatla and Ben Loader in a potent back three, while Suleiman Hartzenberg will form a midfield partnership with Dan du Plessis in the absence of the suspended Damian Willemse. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Stefan Ungerer will continue as the halfback pairing with the experienced Herschel Jantjies and Manie Libbok set to make an impact for the Stormers in the second half from the replacements bench. Evan Roos resumes his place at the back of the scrum, with Marcel Theunissen and Paul de Villiers on the flanks and Louw Nel among the replacements. Stormers skipper Salmaan Moerat starts alongside Ruben van Heerden in the second row, with locks JD Schickerling and Connor Evans among the six forwards set to feature after half-time. Andre-Hugo Venter starts at hooker, with props Ali Vermaak and Neethling Fouche either side of him, with Vernon Matongo, Joseph Dweba and Sazi Sandi the front row forwards on the Stormers' replacements bench. Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson said that following a good week in Glasgow his team is ready to give it a full go at Scotstoun. 'The build-up to this game has gone well and we know that it will take a huge effort to beat a good Glasgow team on their home track. 'We have built up some good momentum recently and want to take that into this game. This was a very tough team to pick with some deserving players missing out, but we are excited to see what these combinations can do,' he said. Stormers – 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Ben Loader, 13 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Ali Vermaak. Subs: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 JD Schickerling, 20 Connor Evans, 21 Louw Nel, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Manie Libbok. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
News24
10-05-2025
- Sport
- News24
Seven-try Stormers up to fifth on URC table after shrugging off Dragons challenge
The Stormers moved up to fifth spot on the URC table after a 48-12 bonus-point win over basement dwellers Dragons in Cape Town on Saturday night. The Capetonians ran in seven tries against a Welsh side that fought gallantly despite playing second fiddle throughout. The Dragons have won only one game so far this season, and the latest reverse was their 16th in the 2024/25 campaign. They are 20 log points behind Zebre who lie second from bottom. As such, there wasn't much expected of the Dragons at Cape Town Stadium, but they kept the Stormers at bay for most of the first half. When Stormers centre Wandisile Simelane darted over for a try after one minute, one would have been forgiven for predicting that a cricket score was on the cards. That's how we do it. #STOvDRA #iamastormer @Vodacom #URC — DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) May 10, 2025 But that was not the case as the Dragons held their own for large parts, with the Stormers' second try only coming at the 35-munite mark through winger Seabelo Senatla. This guy @Seabelo_Senatla is smoooth. #STOvDRA #iamastormer @Vodacom #URC — DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) May 10, 2025 Centre Damian Willemse, playing in his 100th Stormers match, thought he had scored soon afterwards, only to see his try cancelled after television cameras caught Stormers skipper Salmaan Moerat performing a 'croc roll' on a Dragons player. Moerat pleaded his innocence but he was sent to the sin-bin for 10 minutes. That saw the Stormers go into the half-time break leading 14-0. The Dragons used their one-man advantage to good effect and their pressure was rewarded when No 8 Aaron Wainwright scored soon after the break. This reduced the score to 14-5, but once the Stormers were back to their full compliment, they regained control. Scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer rounded off a spectacular move and Willemse was soon over for a try (this time legitimate) in his milestone game. That also secured the bonus point for the Stormers. The inevitable Damian Willemse. #STOvDRA #iamastormer @Vodacom #URC — DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) May 10, 2025 But the Dragons showed fighting spirit and refused to lie down. They were rewarded when replacement back Dane Blacker went over with 10 minutes remaining. Ruthless finishing. #STOvDRA #iamastormer @Vodacom #URC — DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) May 10, 2025 The Stormers, though, weren't done for the evening and bagged their fifth try when right winger Suleiman Hartzenberg rounded off after some slick handling by the Stormers backs. By now the Stormers backs were running riot and they scored two more late tries after spectacular attacks, with replacement scrumhalf Paul de Wet adding his name to the scoresheet and Simelane adding his brace at the death. The Stormers enjoyed 56% possession and 61% territory but this was far from a perfect performance. John Dobson's charges now look a safe bet for the quarter-finals, but they'll have to improve their error-rate if they want to challenge for the title. The Stormers next host another Welsh side, Cardiff, in Cape Town next Friday in what will be their last round-robin game before the playoffs. Scorers: Stormers 48 (14) Tries: Wandisile Simelane (2), Seabelo Senatla, Stefan Ungerer, Damian Willemse, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Paul de Wet Conversions: Sacha Feinberg Mngomezulu (3), Willemse (2) Penalty: Feinberg-Mngomezulu Dragons 12 (0) Conversion: Lloyd Evans
Forbes
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Seabelo Senatla's Advocacy For Blood Cancer Awareness Through Rugby With DKMS Africa
DKMS Africa ambassador Seabelo Senatla leads DKMS Africa and UWC Rugby team collaboration Seabelo Senatla's journey as a professional rugby player extends beyond the confines of the game itself. Most athletes will agree that being a team player is essential for individual success. Collaborating with something or someone greater than oneself is crucial not only for personal growth but also in the pursuit of excellence. Senatla truly embodies this philosophy in his role as an ambassador for DKMS Africa, an organisation committed to fighting blood cancer. In an interview with Senatla shares his experiences with DKMS Africa, discusses blood cancer, and explains how he is contributing to the fight against the disease with the support of UWC and the Western Cape Province. His advocacy is particularly meaningful to him, rooted in his personal journey of dependence and recovery following a severe car accident in 2023 that threatened his career. Dublin , Ireland - 24 March 2023; Seabelo Senatla of DHL Stormers after the United Rugby ... More Championship match between Leinster and DHL Stormers at the RDS Arena in Dublin. (Photo By Tyler Miller/Sportsfile via Getty Images) Reflecting on his experience, Senatla shared, 'I found inspiration in having been in that position myself. In 2023, I was involved in an accident that made me heavily dependent on others for care as I nursed back to health.' Senatla felt a deep connection to Axola, an aspiring rugby player whose dreams were derailed due to blood cancer. His familiarity with the sport and understanding of what it means to pursue a dream only to see it endangered motivated him to act. 'Axola is an aspiring rugby player, but unfortunately, his dreams have been compromised because of the disease. His story resonated with me on a personal level. I remembered my childhood aspirations—rugby is deeply woven into the South African landscape, and all I ever wanted was to play for the Springboks. I saw myself in Axola's journey, and it brought me closer to the cause.' Senatla's role with DKMS extends beyond personal inspiration. His partnership with the organisation has allowed him to leverage his influence within the rugby fraternity to bring widespread awareness to blood cancer. Over the past few months, Senatla and DKMS have launched initiatives at every level of the sport, starting from grassroots rugby and expanding to professional teams. 'We started at the grassroots level last year within the Western Cape because that's where we're stationed. Club rugby here is a massive space with big crowds at games. We targeted club rugby, both from the 15s and 7s rugby fronts.' Through these efforts, DKMS has educated players and supporters not only about the disease but also about how simple it is to register as a stem cell donor—a crucial step in saving lives. The initiative has been well received, with clubs eager to spread the message. The next phase of the initiative is expanding to the collegiate and professional levels, with The University of the Western Cape (UWC) playing a pivotal role. Senatlawho visited the University of the Western Cape (UWC) Rugby team during their Varsity Shield ... More home fixtures, seeing an opportunity to align their shared mission of giving back. The University of the Western Cape Rugby team (UWC Rugby) is starting an important partnership with DKMS Africa, incorporating this initiative into their Academia, Sport, and Education Management (ASEM) and Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programs. This collaboration demonstrates UWC's strong commitment to fostering social change beyond just the rugby field. UWC's involvement in this initiative goes beyond merely participating; it aims to harness the power of sport for advocacy and meaningful impact. By integrating DKMS's mission into its broader social responsibility framework, UWC Rugby is committed to making this awareness campaign a sustainable movement rather than just a temporary project. 'Right now, we have UWC in our books. They're playing in the Varsity Cup Shield, so raising awareness through there. We're quite lucky that the Stormers have been very receptive to having us on board and assisting in spreading the message. A lot of the guys on the team signed up and put it on their platforms—that helps to build awareness,' shares Senatla. The DHL Stormers, one of South Africa's top rugby teams, have played a vital role in promoting DKMS's message. Their involvement highlights how professional rugby teams can leverage their influence to create significant social impact. With the Stormers' large fan base, the potential to raise awareness about blood cancer extends well beyond the borders of the Western Cape. Through this collaboration with Seabelo Senatla, DKMS is committed to shift mindsets on the Stigmas ... More around blood cancer DKMS aims to increase donor registration, particularly among diverse communities, where finding a genetic match can be more challenging. By engaging with the rugby community, Senatla and DKMS hope to make a lasting difference. 'With the platform that I carry, and the way society sees us, if we are moving in a certain direction, people are more susceptible to move that way too. I'm trying to use this platform that I have to actually do some good, which could save a life. I don't think there's work more rewarding and more important than that.' Raising awareness is just the first step. Senatla emphasises the importance of early detection and dispelling misconceptions about blood cancer. Detecting blood cancer in its early stages can be challenging, as many symptoms may be mistaken for those of other common illnesses. However, recognising key signs can significantly enhance the chances of successful treatment and recovery. - Unexplained fatigue or weakness - Frequent infections - Unexplained weight loss - Easy bruising or bleeding - Swollen lymph nodes - Pale or sallow skin - Shortness of breath 'Blood cancer is tricky because it's undetected for the most part. But I think with more awareness of the signs, we can prompt better action. If we understand what we're looking for, we can detect it quite early, improving the chances of curing it.' DKMS covers all the costs associated with donor registration, making it accessible to anyone who wants to join the fight against blood cancer. 'Registration is free, simple, and painless. But the effect does it have on the person looking for a match? It will be life-changing.' The collaboration between Senatla and DKMS in the Western Cape is just the beginning of their efforts. They have already improved the chances for people living with blood cancer, and with ongoing collaboration across various levels of rugby, they plan to expand this initiative nationwide. The University of the Western Cape's active participation highlights the role of sport as a catalyst for social change. Through its ASEM and CSI-driven programs, UWC is helping to reshape the narrative around community engagement in sports. The involvement of the DHL Stormers also indicates the potential for a global impact, as their extensive fan base can help spread awareness beyond South Africa. By merging rugby's strong cultural presence with a life-saving cause, Senatla, UWC, and DKMS are creating a movement that transcends the sport itself—one that has the power to change lives and redefine what it means to be a true team player.
