The Stormers XXIII coaching team for the Currie Cup has been announced.
Former UCT coach Tom Dawson-Squibb has been appointed head coach and will be assisted by Helmut Lehmann, Dewaldt Duvenage, Sentle Lehoko and Pine Pienaar.
Lehmann and Duvenage both continue their roles from the U23 season, while the experienced Pienaar joins the set-up in a short-term role for the Currie Cup to fill the void left by the departure of Craig Childs to the Leicester Tigers.
Lehoko has been part of the Stormers analysis team for several years and has taken local club SK Walmers to impressive heights in WP Super League A.
Stormers kicking coach Gareth Wright, scrum coach Brok Harris and skills coach Labeeb Levy will be available to the Stormers XXIII while also being part of the Stormers’ pre-season preparations.
High performance manager Hanyani Shimange will continue to oversee the entire Stormers XXIII programme as he did for the team’s U23 campaign.
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“We have so much exciting talent within our system, and the Stormers XXIII gives them a platform to compete for a place in our squad for the URC and Champions Cup next season,” said Stormers director of rugby John Dobson.
“We will have a group of senior players unavailable for this tournament as they follow a pre-season programme aimed at ensuring that we are ready to hit the ground running when the new international season kicks off at the end of September.
“Our aim first and foremost is to compete and improve the level of our performance in this competition from recent seasons, but we also want to use it as an opportunity to give meaningful game time to those who we believe will play a big role for the Stormers going forward.
“We will see the next wave of talent coming through the system look to put their names forward. The likes of Jonathan Roche, Keke Morabe, JC Mars, Divan Fuller and Connor Evans will be keen to show what they can do, along with some seasoned experience in the form of Oli Kebble, Ruan Ackermann and Stefan Ungerer.”
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It will be the first time that the Stormers XXIII – and not Western Province – compete in the Currie Cup.
“We took the decision to align all of our teams under one brand in the same way all professional clubs around the world have, and the moment has come for the Stormers XXIII to start a new chapter while building on the unrivalled success we have had in the past,” said Stormers Rugby chief commercial officer Leontine De Sutter.
Stormers XXIII Currie Cup fixtures
Friday, 17 July: Griquas, Cape Town Stadium
Sunday, 26 July: vs Boland Cavaliers, Boland Stadium
Saturday 1 August: vs Sharks, Cape Town Stadium
Sunday, 9 August: vs Cheetahs Venue TBC
Saturday, 15 August: vs Pumas, Mbombela Stadium
Friday, 21 August: vs Bulls, Loftus Versfeld
Friday, 28 August: vs Lions, Ellis Park
Photo: Michael Sheehan/Gallo Images
The post Ex-UCT coach takes charge of Stormers XXIII appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The Stormers XXIII coaching team for the Currie Cup has been announced.
The post Ex-UCT coach takes charge of Stormers XXIII appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
