Latest news with #URC
IOL News
20 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Five players to watch as Junior Springboks gear up for Currie Cup challenge
Scrumhalf Haashim Pead, who starred for the Junior Boks at the World Rugby U20 Championship, will be one of the players looking to make it at senior level should he get an extended run at the Lions in the Currie Cup this season. Image: Maurilio Boldrini / World Rugby After their success at the World Rugby U20 Championship, several Junior Springboks will get a well-deserved break, but then it is straight back into the Currie Cup at their respective unions. While the tournament, kicking off this weekend, is not as prestigious as in previous years, the developmental aspect of it could aid some of the U20 players taking part. This will be a perfect platform from which they can launch their senior careers, looking at cracking a nod at their United Rugby Championship (URC) franchises. We look at five players who must take the next step in their careers. Haashim Pead (Lions) The Junior Bok vice-captain could be the perfect understudy to Springbok Morné van den Berg when it comes to the URC. For that to happen, the Lions must back him in the Currie Cup and give him as many minutes as possible to find his feet. Pead has the pedigree to become great at the union, but it will all depend on how they utilise him. His instinctive plays will suit the Lions' game. He is quick behind the breakdown, and Pead has this ability to see space that few scrumhalves in South Africa possess. His kicking game will also benefit from senior rugby. Batho Hlekani (Sharks) Hopefully, the Durban side will have a proper plan and pathway for his special talent after showing off his all-around skills in the U20 Championship. Hlekani was the physical heartbeat of the Baby Boks. But he is not just a strong defender, although the opposition felt his hard hits right through the tournament, Hlekani is also a strong ball carrier. While he knows how to take the ball up into tackles with his direct plays, he also has a keen eye for gaps and a great turn of pace. Vusi Moyo (Sharks) Another young South African flyhalf with a good all-round game. He was running the attacking show of the Junior Boks alongside Pead and looked to be in total control when it came to spreading the ball down the backline or taking it up himself. Moyo can be physical too and doesn't back down from the dirty work in contact. He compliments that attacking gameplay well with his kicking and he looks so calm with the ball in hand or when putting it up in the sky. The real test will come when he plays against seasoned Currie Cup players. Cheswill Jooste (Bulls) He's been likened to Springbok winger Cheslin Kolbe for his pace and stepping exploits during the tournament, and the way he scored tries, chased high kicks, and sidestepped opponents showed why he was one of the stars of the side. The Bulls' game will suit Jooste and the players around him should be able to get him into space whenever he gets a run for the side. He ran circles around his opposition in Italy, but must now step it up against some of his teammates who know him and other more experienced wings in the tournament. Riley Norton (Western Province) A leader of men and Western Province will have to look after their Junior Springbok-winning captain in the future. While they have some big names when it comes to the lock position, it will be crucial to get Norton involved in their campaign. Alongside Hlekani, Norton led the physical charge of the team throughout the tournament. However, his leadership qualities and how he kept his team calm and fighting stood out. He leads by example when it comes to the physical things on the field and a campaign against hardened senior players will stand him in good stead.
TimesLIVE
a day ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Coach Johan Ackermann upbeat about future as he takes over at the Bulls
As he prepares to take over the coaching reins at the Bulls, Johan Ackermann is confident the array of talent at Loftus has what it takes to finally win the United Rugby Championship (URC). The vastly experienced Ackermann is replacing Jake White, who led the Bulls to three URC finals and the knockout stages of the Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup. 'This team has talent and I believe we can play any style of rugby we want,' said Ackermann, who was part of the coaching staff for the Junior Springboks as they won the U20 Championships in Italy, with their final victory against the Baby Blacks on Saturday. 'We can play the traditional Bulls style and be physical and have good set pieces, but we also have the quality to attack and play all the spaces that the opposition give us. 'My philosophy is to play an exciting and attacking brand of rugby, be positive and score tries. And we have to acknowledge that what the Bulls have been doing must work. Welcome coach 🤝 — Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) July 22, 2025 'They have beaten good sides and reached playoffs. I do feel there were moments where I would probably want to change a few things tactically, and once I get used to players and understand our strengths as a team, I can then bring my own flavour in. 'This has been a quality performing team for the last few years already, so that is a challenge for me — to make sure we keep performing with the quality of this squad.' Coaches of the leading South African franchises have a balancing act to perform ensuring their teams compete well in the URC and Champions Cup. 'There will be the challenge of managing this squad across various competitions, as is the norm for the modern-day coach. There will be the challenge of the always-high expectations on this team,' Ackermann said. 'The expectation is high and it brings a different pressure on this position. You can feel there's not a lot of room for error. But I can only be myself and enjoy this and through that we can keep that standard going.' The coach said he will first look internally to find a winning formula. 'If something is not quite clicking, then I normally look at the team's values. If as a team you've put out certain values at the beginning of the season and one of those is not going well, then it will reflect on the field. 'It's not about chasing the outcome or the result or the position on the log. It's about looking and seeing if there is something small we're not doing as a team. 'Finals are won on such small margins and I've experienced losing finals. It's very difficult to judge the outcome of a final from the outside if you haven't been involved in that week's preparation with the team for the game. 'Then from a tactical point of view, it's about going back to the principles of the game and seeing what we're missing. It's about what we control now — the next training session, the next scrum, the next breakdown.'
IOL News
2 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Western Province set to meet plenty of familiar faces in Bulls Currie Cup opener
Western Province hooker Scarra Ntubeni is ready to fulfill a senior role for the team in the Currie Cup. Image: BackpagePix The Currie Cup is set to kick-off on a high note with a North-South derby between Western Province and the Bulls as South Africa's premier domestic competition starts this weekend. While both sides will have a keen focus on developing new players with a view on the United Rugby Championship (URC), there could be some added spice to this contest in the DHL Stadium - not that it ever needs any. A couple of former Stormers players have been included in the Bulls' squad for the campaign, and someone who probably did not reach his potential in the Cape due to some niggling injuries and minimal game time, Nama Xaba, is set to captain the Loftus Versfeld troop. Feel it, the Carling Currie Cup is here. Be there when we start our campaign with a North-South clash on home turf this Saturday. 🎟️ Get your tickets here #wpjoulekkerding — WP RUGBY (@WP_RUGBY) July 21, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ URC winning lock Marvin Orie, loose forward Junior Pokomela, and prop Lizo Gqoboka are the other Stormers players in the Bulls' jersey, alongside Dylan de Leeuw and Chris Smit, who also played in the Cape for a bit. So, there will be a familiar feel to this game. According to veteran Western Province hooker Scarra Ntubeni, they will be prepared for what comes their way this weekend. 'There is definitely a lot of experience on their side with guys who have been here, but we have plans for that," Ntubeni said on Monday. 'It is not a big thing, though. We will just focus on executing our plans on the day. They won't also look too much into what we have done in the past, I think. Marvin does bring a lot of experience, but Gary (Porter) has done well for us. It won't be too much of an issue. 'We've put a lot of effort into this campaign and every tournament we enter, we want to win.' With the junior squads that the Bulls and Sharks announced, and the youngsters WP are set to let loose, it's clear to see that certain teams will be using the Currie Cup as a developmental tournament. ⚪ HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS XV SQUAD LIST ⚫ — The Sharks (@SharksRugby) July 21, 2025 While it will cause some debate, the South African sides playing in the URC and European tournaments will have to expand their player base to be competitive in both international club tournaments. The Currie Cup provides that opportunity ahead of the start of the URC in October. Ntubeni is eager to take some young players under his wing and show them the ropes. 'The Currie Cup did take a bit of a dip, but it is the oldest tournament and there is a lot of history. We went to Newlands just so that the guys could absorb that they are playing for WP. With the rich history, they should take it seriously. 'For plenty of them, it is a dream come true. We are encouraging them to work hard and make memories.'
France 24
5 days ago
- Sport
- France 24
Former Springbok Ackermann succeeds White as Bulls coach
The Pretoria outfit have reached three of the four United Rugby Championship (URC) finals since South African sides were admitted to a competition including teams from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy. Bulls lost finals to fellow South Africans the Stormers in 2022, Glasgow Warriors in 2024 and Leinster this year. Soon after the heavy defeat by Leinster in Dublin last month, 2007 Rugby World Cup-winning coach Jake White quit as Bulls boss, saying the "time had come for a new voice". Ackermann, 55, formerly coached the Johannesburg-based Lions for four seasons, Gloucester in England and the Red Hurricanes and Urayasu D-Rocks in Japan before returning to South Africa last year. He is currently in Italy, assisting South Africa in the world under-20 championship, where they have reached the final against New Zealand. "The moment I received the call I got goose bumps," said Ackermann, who was capped 13 times by the Springboks over 12 seasons from 1996. "It still feels too good to be true. I am like someone going to school for the first time. I am so excited. It is a privilege and an honour." The Bulls launch their 2025/26 URC campaign against Welsh visitors the Ospreys on September 27, then host Leinster seven days later.
The 42
6 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
Ulster confirm pre-season home fixture with Edinburgh
ULSTER HAVE CONFIRMED a pre-season fixture against Edinburgh. Richie Murphy's team will welcome the Scottish side to Affidea Stadium on Friday, 12 September, with a 7.35pm kick-off. 'We are really looking forward to welcoming Edinburgh Rugby to Belfast in September,' Murphy said. Advertisement 'It's important that we have this match to work towards in our pre-season preparation. Edinburgh are a very competitive side and will bring a strong squad over to test us. 'The fixture offers our players an opportunity to build their match fitness, and also put their hand up for selection going into the new season. 'We face Edinburgh in Round 2 of the URC at the start of October, so this will be ideal preparation. 'As a squad and staff, we are also looking forward to seeing our supporters again ahead of the new season at Affidea Stadium.' Tickets go on sale from Tuesday, 22 July at 10am. Ulster open their 2025/26 URC campaign against Dragons in Belfast on Friday, 26 September.
