News in Brief
Grobbelaar to lead Lions in 2010
Scrum.com
January 25, 2010
Cobus Grobbelaar will lead the Lions in 2010
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- Flanker Cobus Grobbelaar will lead the Lions in the 2010 Super 14. Grobbelaar has been retained by the Johannesburg-based franchise despite a poor showing in 2009, when they finished 12th on the log.
He took over the reins from current Saracens back-row Ernst Joubert in 2008 and will have former All Black fly-half Carlos Spencer at his disposal this season.
"Cobus has been playing in the Super 14 for the Lions for four years, and two of those he played as the captain," Director of Coaching Dick Muir said. "We have had the pleasure of watching him grow, both as a player and a leader. In 2007 Andre Pretorius was captain, with Ernst Joubert as his vice-captain. However, after both players were ruled out due to injury, we called upon Cobus to step up. He had big shoes to fill, and yet he filled them perfectly, and has been the team's leader since."
- The Ospreys have temporarily altered their coaching structures ahead of their Anglo-Welsh Cup meeting with the Dragons on Friday. Jonathan Humphreys will take over from Sean Holley as head coach, with Holley moving to director of coaching, while Filo Tiatia has been being handed the role of forwards coach. Gruff Rees, the club's skills coach, will take charge of the backs.
"Organisationally, it's going to be tough," Humphreys said. "It's not a dead week, as we have a competitive Welsh derby at the end of it, and everything will have to be carried out as normal to ensure that preparations for the game don't suffer in anyway, so the pressure is really on.
"I have to learn new things and really hit the ground running when it comes to the day-to-day responsibilities of what Sean usually has to do during the week but it's going to be an exciting week, for me personally and for Filo and Gruff as well, who will also have to take a step into new territory."
- England flanker Luke Narraway has signed a new two-year deal at Gloucester. The seven-times-capped back-row will remain at Kingsholm until 2012.
The club have also announced the signing of dual code international wing Semi Tadulala. Tadulala has been cleared to play following work permit issues, having made his union bow for Fiji against Romania in November. He has previously represented Fiji, Melbourne Storm and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in the 13-man code.
- Western Force prop Matt Dunning is free to continue his pre-season after escaping further punishment for his red card in a trial game against the Stormers in Cape Town. Dunning was sent off for fighting with Stormers flanker Jacques Potgieter, who was also cleared after pleading guilty to striking before a judicial officer.
- South Africa Sevens coach Paul Treu has named three new caps in his squad for the USA and Wellington legs of the IRB Sevens World Series. Philip van der Walt, Hoffman Maritz and Steven Hunt all slot in, as do the returning Ryno Benjamin and Renfred Deyzel. Mzwandile Stick leads the Boks in the injury absence of Paul Delport.
The New Zealand leg will take place over the weekend of February 5-6 and Las Vegas will host the USA Sevens February 13-14.
South Africa Sevens squad: Mpho Mbiyozo, Chase Minnaar, Frankie Horne, Cecil Afrika, Kyle Brown, Renfred Dazel, Ryno Benjamin, Mzwandile Stick, Marius Schoeman, Steven Hunt, Hoffman Maritz, Philip van der Walt
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1. Max Verstappen ()
