Vodacom Bulls to warm up against Southern Kings and Premier XV
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The Vodacom Bulls will play warm-up games against the EP Kings and a Premier XV as part of their 2011 Super Rugby preparations.
The Bulls will play the Kings in a compulsory friendly match in Port Elizabeth on January 29th and will face a Premier XV in Nelspruit’s Mbombela Stadium on February 5th.
The match against the Kings is part of the latter’s preparation of their anticipated participation in the Super Rugby competition in 2012.
The clash against the Premier XV will be the final opportunity for the Vodacom Bulls to get ready for their opening fixture.
According to match promoter, Willem Strauss, the Premier XV will mainly consist of players from the Mpumalanga Pumas, with a couple of fringe players from the Bulls that could also get some valuable game time.
“The Pumas did beat the Blue Bulls and Golden Lions in Currie Cup, so will be good competition. They also made the Sharks and Lions work real hard in warm-up fixtures last year. The match also gives the thousands of Bulls fans in the Lowveld a great opportunity to see their favourite team in action and we expect a sell-out crowd at this iconic stadium.”
Barend van Graan, CEO of the Blue Bulls Company, indicated their willingness to spread the Bulls brand across the country.
“We are looking forward to the opportunity to play in Port Elizabeth and Nelspruit as it will give our fans outside of Pretoria a chance to see the team play.”
The Vodacom Bulls squad have assembled in Pretoria on Wednesday, January 5th, following a short rest period over the festive season and a very successful training camp in George last month.
Players like Wynand Olivier, Gurthrö Steenkamp, Fourie du Preez, Victor Matfield, Gary Botha and Danie Rossouw, who all carried injuries in recent times, will be assessed today, with most expected to take part in the week’s sessions.
New recruit Bjorn Basson and regular hooker, Chiliboy Ralepelle, will join up with the squad as soon as allowed by the judiciary of SA Rugby. They have tested positive to the use of an outlawed stimulant while on tour with the Springboks in November and their case is currently being investigated by SA Rugby.
Wilhelm Steenkamp (Cheetahs), Jacques-Louis Potgieter (Sharks), Pedrie Wannenburg (Ulster), Heini Adams (Bordeaux), Jaco Engels (Kings), Bandise Maku (Lions) and John Mametsa (retired) are missing from the class of 2010.
The Bulls open their Super Rugby campaign against the Lions on February 19th in Johannesburg.
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