In the first week of discussion of Super Rugby squad contenders for 2014 (23 to 29 December), we will discuss 2 positions in seperate Articles (Props & Hookers) and also seperate the Articles of the 5 SA Super Rugby participating franchises.
That means 10 Super Rugby Articles every week from now on.
The basic idea is to discuss the players IN the Super Rugby Group, and not all the options beyond that.
In this Article we look at the contenders for PROPS in the Lions 2014 Super Rugby group, and whether they could force their way into Bok contention.
The Contenders:
Name: Schalk Willem “Hond” van der Merwe:
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Schalk “Hond” van der Merwe played loosehead prop and will play for the Lions in Super Rugby, having previously played for the Free State Cheetahs.
- 2007 Griquas U16 Coca Cola Grant Khomo Week
- 2008 Griquas U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week
- 2009 Free State U18 Academy Week, SA Schools Academy SA Schools
- 2010 Free State ABSA Under 19 Competition
- 2011 Toyota Free State Cheetahs ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – 2011 Emerging Cheetahs Absa Currie Cup Compulsory friendlies – 2011 Toyota Free State Cheetahs Vodacom Cup – 2011 Free State ABSA Under 21 Competition
- 2012 – Free State ABSA Currie Cup Premier Div, Shimlas FNB Varsity Cup, Free State ABSA Under 21 Competition
He joined the Golden Lions prior to the 2014 season..
Name: Ruan Martin Dreyer:
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He was born on 16 September 1990 and was a member of the South Africa Under 20 team that competed in the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship.
- 2006 – Golden Lions U16 Craven Week
- 2007 – Golden Lions U18 Academy Week
- 2008 – Golden Lions U18 Craven Week
- 2010 – Golden Lions U20, SA U20, Golden Lions
- 2012 – UJ (FNB Varsity Cup), MTN Lions Super Rugby
- 2013 – MTN Golden Lions Vodacom Cup, Currie Cup, Super Rugby Promotion / Relegation
Name: Jacques van Rooyen:
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He represented the TUT Vikings in Varsity Cup rugby in the 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons, making 25 appearances in total.
In 2013, after impressing at amateur club level with Pretoria Police, he joined Johannesburg-based team the Golden Lions. He made his first class debut in the opening match of the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition, coming on as a substitute against the Leopards. Two weeks later, he made his first start in the same competition against near rivals the Blue Bulls. He made 6 appearances in total for the Golden Lions in the Vodacom Cup, including playing in the quarter final and starting the semi-final, as well as the final, which the Lions won by beating the Pumas.
He was also included in their squad for the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division season and made his Currie Cup debut in the opening match of the season against the Free State Cheetahs..
Name: Jacobus Stephanus “Bees” Roux:
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He started his playing career at the Leopards and represented them in the Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup competitions in 2005 and 2006, making over 40 appearances.
In 2007, he joined Kimberley-based side Griquas, where he played his rugby over the next three seasons. During his spell at Griquas, he also played Super Rugby for the Cheetahs, making 17 appearances for them in the 2008 and 2009 seasons. He also spent the off-season at the end of 2008 playing some rugby for French Top 14 side Clermont, appearing in both the Top 14 and Heineken Cup competitions.
He joined the Blue Bulls in 2010, making 8 appearances for them, as well as 14 appearances for the Bulls in the 2010 Super 14 season.
Following an incident in August 2010, Roux was charged with the culpable homicide of police officer Sergeant Ntshimane Johannes Mogale. As a result of a plea bargain agreement, Roux was given a five-year prison sentence in September 2011, suspended on the condition that he paid R750 000 to the widow of the police officer.
He continued his career in France, joining Bordeaux Bègles for the 2011–12 Top 14 season and then playing for Italian side Benetton Treviso in the 2012–13 Pro 12 competition.
He returned to South Africa in 2013 and joined the Golden Lions for the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division and he was named in their starting line-up for their match against the Free State Cheetahs.
He also played for a Highveld XV team against the British and Irish Lions during their tour to South Africa, starting the match and scoring a try.
Name: Julian Redelinghuys:
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Julian Redelinghuys was born in Krugersdorp in 1989 and attended Monument High School. The prop represented the Golden Lions at junior level, before moving to the Sharks in 2008 to 2013, where he played Absa Currie Cup rugby. He joined the MTN Lions in mid-2013.
- 2001 – Lions U12 Nike All Stars
- 2002 – Lions U13 Craven Week
- 2005 – Golden Lions U16 Grant Khomo Week, Golden Lions U18 Craven Week, SA Schools
- 2007 – Golden Lions U18 Craven Week, SA Schools
- 2008 – Sharks U19 Currie Cup
- 2009 – IRB Junior World Championships, ABSA Under 21 Competition, ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2010 – Sharks XV Vodacom Cup, Sharks ABSA Under 21 Competition
- 2011 – Sharks Absa Currie Cup Compulsory friendlies, The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2012 – Sharks Super Rugby (squad), The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2013 – Sharks XV Vodacom Cup, MTN Golden Lions Vodacom Cup
Starters:
It is difficult to judge who the Lions will start with and the likelyhood is Bees Roux as one of the starters and all the others chipping in for solid game time in the season.
The next Article in the range will deal with the Lions hookers.