Liebenberg to lead Vodacom Blue Bulls in Currie Cup friendly

Mar 31 • General News • 1398 Views • Comments Off on Liebenberg to lead Vodacom Blue Bulls in Currie Cup friendly

Hanro Liebenberg will captain the Vodacom Blue Bulls in a Currie Cup warm-up match against Steval Pumas in Emalahleni on Saturday. This match will see the return of a number of players coming back from injury like Springboks Deon Stegmann and Dean Greyling, as well as a number of new faces in the Blue Bulls ranks, including Luther Obi, Entienne Swanepoel and Tapiswa Tsomondo.

The Vodacom Blue Bulls start their Currie Cup campaign next weekend against DHL Western Province in Cape Town.

The match will also serve as a fundraiser for the Helping Hands Foundation to assist the families effected by the closure of the steel factories in the area. The socio-economic impact that is devastating and left almost 2100 families destitute and the effect on the greater Emalahleni Municipality is severe. The Steval Pumas and Vodacom Blue Bulls rugby teams joined hands to assist in this, as it will help to give back financially to the community the Pumas originated from, as well as to be able to entertain them through bringing quality provincial rugby to their local stadium, according to the CEO of Mpumalanga Rugby, Pieter Burger.

The CEO of the Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd, Barend van Graan said: “The Vodacom Blue Bulls have always put a major emphasis on family, and for this very reason we have taken the decision to partner with the Pumas for this great cause. It’s always sad to see families impacted in this manner. but we are glad to be in a position to try and assist as best that we can. The Vodacom Blue Bulls would like to call on allour fans to join us in assisting with donations and product in this regard.”

Autographed Steval Pumas and Vodacom Blue Bulls jerseys will be made available for auction in the build up to the match through different regional and local radio stations as well as print media.

Tickets for the day’s action can be bought at the gate on the day or in Witbank from Turbo Panelbeaters and Bolt & Nut Suppliers. The stadium gates open at 09:00. Ticket enquiries: Riaan Kotze on 072-833-0080.

The teams are:

Vodacom Blue Bulls: Kafentse Mahlo, Luther Obi, Jade Stighlingh, Dan Kriel, Nazo Nkala, Tony Jantjies, Piet van Zyl, Hanro Liebenberg (c), Freddy Ngoza, Deon Stegmann, Marvin Orie, Irne Herbst, Entienne Swanepoel, Callie Visagie, Nqobisizwe Mxoli. Replacements (from): Jan van der Merwe, Njabulo Gumede, Dean Greyling, Hencus van Wyk, Le Roux Roets, Tapiswa Tsomondo, Riekert Hattingh, Theo Maree, Manie Libbok, JT Jackson, Louwtjie Steenkamp.
Steval Pumas: Heinrich Steyl; Tyler Fisher, Hoffmann Maritz, Hennie Skorbinski, Marcello Sampson; Justin van Staden, Emile Temperman; Carel Greeff, Lambert Groenewald, Marnus Schoeman, Hugo Kloppers, Stephan Greeff, Marné Coetzee, Swys du Toit, Kwezi Mona. Replacements: Simon Westraadt, Jacques Kotzé, Jannie Stander, Nardus van der Walt/Dylan Peterson, Reynier van Rooyen, Ruwellyn Isbel, Bernado Botha, Wilmaure Louw, Reuben Johannes, Wiehan Hey, Leighton van Wyk.