BBRU appoint Interim President

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BBRU appoint Interim President

 

Following the resignation of former BBRU president Gert Wessels, the BBRU today announced that Willem Strauss, Vice President for the past 4 years, has been appointed as the Interim President until November 2018.

 

He attended Sand du Plessis High School in Bloemfontein, and furthered his education at the University of the Free State. In 1991 at the tender age of 24 Strauss was appointed as Manager and Executive officer of the South-Eastern Transvaal Rugby Union (Mpumalanga Rugby Union). He held this position for eight years until 1999, elevating them from 22 to 5 on the South African provincial rugby rankings, creating a formidable team beating the likes of Transvaal, Northern Transvaal and Western Province in various Cup matches in the late 1990s. They also defeated Scotland and Wales in that time period. Strauss was also responsible for securing huge sponsorships from inter alia Sasol to assist in improving South-Eastern Rugby.

 

Between 1996 and 1999 he also filled the roll of Marketing Manager of the Northern Bulls Super12 franchise. He thereafter established his own promotion company that specializes in promoting rugby tournaments, events, incoming and outgoing tours of teams to inter alia Africa, Europe, USA, South America, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, and Dubai.

 

He arranged a test between Samoa and the Springboks, which was the first ever by a private promoter. The @tlantic tournament which he was responsible for drew more than a 1000 school teams. He also played a leading role in establishing 7s rugby in South Africa, and in 2017 he promoted the tours of the SA Barbarians (club players) to the Czech Republic.

 

He is married to Elmarie Strauss and has four children, Hermias, Enan, Marlizca and Mishke, and is also the step-brother of the Springbok flyhalf, De Wet Ras.

 

The Blue Bulls Rugby Union and the Blue Bulls Company would like to congratulate him on being elected, and would like to wish him everything of the best in this new role.

Vodacom Bulls team to face Crusaders

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Fifty up for Kriel as Agaba makes Vodacom Bulls debut

Springbok midfielder Jesse Kriel will play in his 50th Vodacom Super Rugby match and Springbok Sevens forward Tim Agaba in his first when the Vodacom Bulls takes on the Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday.

Kriel debuted for the Vodacom Bulls in 2014 against the Melbourne Rebels and has been on the team sheet ever since.

Agaba, who won bronze at the Olympic Games and gold in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series with the Springbok Sevens team, will start at no8 for the Vodacom Bulls in his debut in one of three changes to the starting team that were edged by the Chiefs in Hamilton last weekend.

In the other, Embrose Papier is in the starting line-up for the first time, replacing the injured Andre Warner and Jason Jenkins comes in for RG Snyman at lock.

On the bench, Vodacom Bulls coach, John Mitchell, included two new faces in Ivan van Zyl and Hendre Stassen, and recalled Frans van Wyk as the replacement tighthead. Van Zyl moved into the spot vacated by Papier and Stassen, who is also on debut, will take over from Jenkins as back-up lock.

Van Wyk replaces the suspended Conraad van Vuuren.

Coach Mitchell has a strong message to the team if they want to return victorious from Christchurch.

“To beat the Crusaders, you need to outwork them. That will not be easy, as they have a tremendous work ethic as a team. We are not on this journey to become a better team because it is easy, so we must be prepared to play for all 80 minutes and play every big moment to the best of our ability.”

Vodacom Bulls captain, Burger Odendaal, pointed to his team’s desire to win and their attitude as guidelines to success in Christchurch, a venue the Vodacom Bulls have not been very successful in the past.

“We need the right attitude as that will drive our efforts. We have a saying that winning together is better than winning alone. This will require a massive team effort, but we can do it,” Odendaal said.

 

The Vodacom Bulls team (with Vodacom Super Rugby caps and points) is: Warrick Gelant (22, 35), Travis Ismaiel (32, 45), Jesse Kriel (49, 35), Burger Odendaal (c; 35, 15), Divan Rossouw (3, 10), Handre Pollard (35, 321), Embrose Papier (4, 0), Tim Agaba (0, 0), Hanro Liebenberg (22, 15), Roelof Smit (17, 5), Lood de Jager (54, 15), Jason Jenkins (30, 25), Trevor Nyakane (83, 15), Jaco Visagie (24, 5), Pierre Schoeman (28, 10). Replacements: Adriaan Strauss (147, 70), Lizo Gqoboka (30, 10), Frans van Wyk (5, 0), Hendre Stassen (0, 0), Marco van Staden (4, 0), Ivan van Zyl (6, 0), Manie Libbok (1, 0), Johnny Kotze (23, 15).

 

Fast Facts:

  • Adriaan Strauss will extend his South African record for Vodacom Super Rugby appearances to 148 when he takes to the field. He will also equal Victor Matfield’s record as the most capped South African Vodacom Super Rugby player.
  • Tim Agaba and Hendre Stassen will make their Vodacom Bulls and Vodacom Super Rugby debuts when they take to the field.

ODENDAAL BACK TO LEAD VODACOM BULLS IN HAMILTON

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Vodacom Bulls captain, Burger Odendaal, is back in the starting line-up to face the Chiefs in Hamilton on Friday after missing the previous two Vodacom Super Rugby clashes against the Emirates Lions and Reds due to injury.

He takes over the captaincy from Handré Pollard and the inside centre berth from Johnny Kotze for this match, the first of two the visitors will play in New Zealand.

Vodacom Bulls Head Coach, John Mitchell, made a number of changes to the team that came up short against the Reds in Brisbane, with the return of Odendaal the most significant.

Mitchell opted for Divan Rossouw on the left wing, where he replaces Duncan Matthews in the other change to the backline. Up front, Trevor Nyakane comes in for Frans van Wyk at tighthead and Thembelani Bholi is back at flank, with Hanro Liebenberg moving to no8 where he takes over from injured Nic de Jager.

De Jager had to return home due to a broken rib and his replacement, Tim Agaba, is bracketed as a replacement with Jason Jenkins, who played off the bench in Brisbane.

A final call on Jenkins, who has a niggle, will be make closer to the game and if he is ruled out, Agaba is due to make his Vodacom Super Rugby debut for the Vodacom Bulls.

Mitchell also tweaked his finishers for this clash. Conraad van Vuuren is back on the bench in place of promoted Nyakane, while Manie Libbok is another potential debutant for the Vodacom Bulls. He comes in Marnitz Boshoff, while Kotze will cover the midfield and outside backs.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for us playing the Chiefs in Hamilton,” said Mitchell, who represented Waikato as a player.

“They have been one of the leading teams in the Vodacom Super Rugby competition over the last couple of years and this is a massive step-up from where we were a year ago. We have definite plans on how to approach this match and how to try to beat the Chiefs. We will have to do a couple of things well to achieve that, including playing as a unit,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell was excited about the possible debut for Libbok. “Manie is such an exciting talent and I believe he will make an impact in this tournament.”

It will also be 50 up for Adriaan Strauss. The hooker will play in his 50th match for the Vodacom Bulls (97 for Toyota Cheetahs as well) and will extend his South African record for Vodacom Super Rugby appearances as a hooker to 147 when he takes to the field.

Odendaal was confident about the squad’s mental and physical approach.

“We are ready to go and show our abilities. For us to win here, our courage and determination will be tested, but knowing this squad and the way we are developing as a group, I have enough confidence to know that we will be very competitive on Friday.”

The team (with Vodacom Super Rugby caps and points) is: Warrick Gelant (21, 30), Travis Ismaiel (31, 45), Jesse Kriel (48, 35), Burger Odendaal (c; 34, 15)), Divan Rossouw (2, 0), Handré Pollard (34, 308), Andre Warner (5, 5), Hanro Liebenberg (v/c; 21, 15), Thembelani Bholi (18, 5), Roelof Smit (16, 5), Lood de Jager (53, 15), RG Snyman (28, 10), Trevor Nyakane (82, 15), Jaco Visagie (23, 5), Pierre Schoeman (27, 10). Replacements: Adriaan Strauss (146, 70), Lizo Gqoboka (29, 10), Conraad van Vuuren (8, 0), Jason Jenkins (29, 25) /Tim Agaba (0, 0), Marco van Staden (3, 0), Embrose Papier (3, 0), Manie Libbok (0, 0), Johnny Kotze (22, 15).

Statistics:

Adriaan Strauss will play in his 50th match for the Vodacom Bulls (97 for Toyota Cheetahs as well) and will extend his South African record for Vodacom Super Rugby appearances as a hooker to 147.

Manie Libbok will make his Vodacom Super Rugby debut for the Vodacom Bulls and in the competition when he takes to the field.

Tim Agaba will make his Vodacom Super Rugby debut for the Vodacom Bulls and in the competition when he takes to the field.

In all, 10 players return to Hamilton after the Vodacom Bulls lost 28-12 in last year’s clash against the Chiefs. They are Warrick Gelant, Travis Ismaiel, Burger Odendaal, Handre Pollard, Lood de Jager, RG Snyman, Jason Jenkins, Trevor Nyakane, Pierre Schoeman and Adriaan Strauss.

Bulls

Pollard to lead Vodacom Bulls in Brisbane battle

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Pollard to lead Vodacom Bulls in Brisbane battle

 

Handré Pollard will lead the Vodacom Bulls from the flyhalf position when they take on the Reds in Brisbane on Saturday.

 

Pollard took over the captaincy from injured Burger Odendaal last weekend in their Vodacom Super Rugby clash against the Emirates Lions and will continue in that role as the regular captain only returned to training this week.

 

Pollard will start as pivot though, where he comes in for Marnitz Boshoff, after starting at centre against the Emirates Lions. Johnny Kotze will fill the vacancy left by Pollard at inside centre. Duncan Matthews will replace Kotze, who scored in both matches of the tournament so far on the left wing, while Warrick Gelant comes into the backline to start at fullback. He swops places with Divan Rossouw, who moves to the bench.

 

Up front, Vodacom Bulls Head Coach, John Mitchell, moved Nick de Jager to no8, with Hanro Liebenberg moving to the side of the scrum, in place of Thembelani Bholi, who drops out of the match 23 altogether. Jason Jenkins will take De Jager’s place on the bench. Jenkins will make his first appearance in this year’s competition when he takes to the field.

The coach also added Trevor Nyakane to the bench in place on Conraad van Vuuren.

 

“We have a long way to go still, but there are good fundamentals in place at this stage of the race. We have not played in Brisbane since 2013, so it will be a new experience for most of the team. That should create some energy, but I have no doubt that the importance of a good start to our tour will also perk up the players,” Mitchell said.

 

“We have done very well in certain areas of the game so far, but the reality is that our away record is poor. This is something we need to change if we want to become the team we want to be.”

Pollard was optimistic, despite the Reds chasing a second win in as many matches.

“We come into this match well prepared. The coaching staff can only do so much, it is also up to the players to execute and deliver. We have seen glimpses of what we can do; the challenge this week will be to deliver an all-round element to our game. We face a formidable opponent, but believe in who we are and what we can do as a squad.”

The team (with Super Rugby caps and points) is: Warrick Gelant (20; 25); Travis Ismaiel (30; 45), Jesse Kriel (47; 35), Johnny Kotze (21; 15), Duncan Matthews (5; 15), Handré Pollard (c, 33; 304), Andre Warner (4; 0), Nick de Jager (v/c, 20; 15), Hanro Liebenberg (20; 15), Roelof Smit (15; 5), Lood de Jager (52; 15), RG Snyman (27; 10), Frans van Wyk (4; 0), Jaco Visagie (22; 5), Pierre Schoeman (26, 10).  Replacements: Adriaan Strauss (145; 70), Lizo Gqoboka (28, 10), Trevor Nyakane (81; 15), Jason Jenkins (28; 25), Marco van Staden (2; 0), Embrose Papier (2; 0), Marnitz Boshoff (31; 246), Divan Rossouw (2; 0).

VODACOM BULLS TOURING SQUAD TO AUSTRALASIA

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The Vodacom Bulls announced a 27-man touring squad for the Australasian leg of their Vodacom Super Rugby campaign, including 15 forwards and 12 backs. Head coach John Mitchell selected an exciting and well-balanced squad, that he firmly believes are the right men for the job.

The team will first travel to the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane to take on the Queensland Reds, before heading to New Zealand to take on the Chiefs at the Waikato Stadium, with their final stop in Christchurch facing the mighty Crusaders.

The Vodacom Bulls Super Rugby touring squad 2018:

FORWARDS: Pierre Schoeman, Lizo Gqoboka, Trevor Nyakane, Conraad van Vuuren, Frans van Wyk, Jaco Visagie, Adriaan Strauss, Jason Jenkins, RG Snyman, Lood de Jager, Roelof Smit, Marco van Staden, Thembelani Bholi, Hanro Liebenberg, Nic de Jager

BACKS: Andre Warner, Embrose Papier, Handre Pollard, Marnitz Boshoff, Manie Libbok, Burger Odendaal (captain), Jesse Kriel, Johnny Kotze, Travis Imaiel, Divan Rossouw, Warrick Gelant, Duncan Matthews

BULLS