A 26-man DHL Stormers squad will face the Pumas in a training match at Nelspruit Rugby Club on Wednesday.

The DHL Stormers’ pre-season preparations will conclude with a training match that will feature rolling substitutions, which kicks off at 3.30pm on Wednesday.

The 26-man squad features new signing Dave Ewers and returning lock JD Schickerling, as well as former Blitzboks star Sako Makata, who has joined from Griquas.

Fit-again centre Ruhan Nel has also been named in the squad.

The DHL Stormers will begin their Vodacom United Rugby Championship campaign with a three-week tour, which will see them travel to Europe to face the Ospreys, Zebre Parma and Edinburgh.

John Dobson said that this training match will give them the opportunity to simulate the intensity of a competitive match, while also carefully managing the workload of the players involved.

“We have had a good pre-season building up to our tour, which starts next week. This training match against a quality Pumas side was the perfect way to end our pre-season.

“With this session under our belts, we can move our focus to starting the campaign on the front foot in Wales next week,” he said.

Forwards: Andre-Hugo Venter, Adre Smith, Brok Harris, Dave Ewers, Hendre Stassen, JD Schickerling, Joseph Dweba, Keke Morabe, Leon Lyons, Marcel Theunissen, Neethling Fouche, Ruben van Heerden, Sibusiso Sangweni, Willie Engelbrecht, Zachary Porthen.

Backs: Angelo Davids, Dan du Plessis, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Jurie Matthee, Leolin Zas, Luke Burger, Paul de Wet, Ruhan Nel, Sako Makata, Stefan Ungerer, Wandisile Simelane.

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

The post Former Blitzbok gets Stormers run appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

Src: sarugbymag.co.za