Compulsary rugby games will be played on Friday. Currie Cup teams must play a game against the “B” division teams. Sharks the current Currie Cup champions take on South Western Districts Eagles, Griquas will play against Border Bulldogs, Blue Bulls will play the Griffons and Free State Cheetahs take on the EP Kings. If more teams are released this post will be updated. If any of these matches will be broadcast Live is not known.

Border Bulldogs vs Griquas

Three players will make their debut for the Border Bulldogs in a compulsory friendly rugby match against Griquas in East London on Friday evening.

They are flyhalf Dale Sabbagh – on loan from the Lions – and two Sharks

Academy players in winger Frans Laatz and eighthman Roy Bursey.

Sabbagh is a Border product and grew up in the region.

Scrumhalf Yongama Mkaza is also back in the starting line-up.

Mkaza, who played a 100 games for Border, was not in coach André Human’s plans for the season, but he performed so well in club matches that the coach had no choice but to recall him.

Meanwhile, Griquas have picked all their heavy-weights for the clash.

Super Rugby stars Sarel Pretorius, Riaan Viljoen, Barry Geel and Martin Muller have been included in the team.

THE TEAMS:

BORDER BULLDOGS: Ntabeni Dukisa, Frans Laatz, Byron McGuigan, Chumani Booi (capt), Vuyo Mboto, Dale Sabbagh, Yongama Mkaza, Roy Bursey, Luthando Mkwelo, Ben Venter, Anthonie Gronum, Samora Fihlani, Pierre Bouwer, Byron Schmidt. Replacements: Matthew Taljard, Armon Fourie, Nomani Tonga, Shane Spring, Ntando Kebe, Thembani Mkokeli, Luvuyo Mhlobiso.

GRIQUAS: Riaan Viljoen, Richard Lawson, Wilmaure Louw, Barry Geel, Fabian Juries, Monty Dumond, Sarel Pretorius, Jonathan Mokuena, Davon Raubenheimer, Justin Downey, Martin Muller, Hendrik Roodt, Jacobie Adriaanse, Ryno Barnes, Steph Roberts. Replacements: Simon Westraadt, Jean Botha, Frikkie Spies, Jaco Nepgen, Shannon Rick, Jean Stemmet, Rudi Vogt.

SWD vs Sharks

South Western Districts Eagles rugby side will face the Sharks in a friendly rugby match at Outeniqua Park at George on Friday.

Former Despatch and Eastern Province fullback Elric van Vuuren is back in team after an absence of a couple of seasons while former Leopards centre Kempie Rautenbach and Border Bulldogs star Jeff Taljard is the centre combination.

Another former Leopards player, Cecil Dumond, will be wearing the number 10 jersey.

Dumond’s halfback partner is former Shimlas flyhalf star, Jaco Colyn.

Up front former Cheetahs Under-20 hooker Martin Ferreira is set to make his debut for the Eagles alongside prop Eric Coetzee – another former Leopards man,

The Eagles’ first league match in the First Division is on July 15 against the EP Kings in Port Elizabeth.

SWD TEAM: Elric van Vuuren, Howard Noble, Kempie Rautenbach, Jeff Taljard, Baldwin McBean, Cecil Dumond, Jaco Colyn, Braam Immelman, Lyndon Hartnich, Wilhelm Koch (capt), Henk Eksteen, Giant Mtyanda, Dean Hopp, Martin Ferreira, Eric Coetzee. Replacements: Robert Slabbert, Brood van der Westhuizen, Quinten Petzer, Frederick Eksteen, Deroy Rhoode, Wenstley Scott, Clint Wagman.

SHARKS – expect this team later, and it will change minutes before they run on.

Blue Bulls vs Griffons

Derick Kuün has been named captain of the Vodacom Blue Bulls team for their compulsory friendly against the Griffons in Welkom on Friday.

Kuün, who has 68 times Super Rugby caps and 95 provincial matches to his name, will lead a side featuring many new faces.

This is because new coach Pine Pienaar will look to test combinations for the last time ahead of the Absa Currie Cup competition.

“We had a look at players who had a lot of game time during the Super Rugby competition and it guided us in how we chose the team,” Pienaar said on Wednesday.

“I think it is important to also give players on the fringe an opportunity in this game and I’m very excited about the 22 we have chosen for Friday night in Welkom and hopefully we can go on, play our game and do the things we want to do in the Currie Cup.”

Among the new faces is former Tuks Varsity Cup player Jurgen Visser and Wesley Dunlop as well as former Lions hooker Willie Wepener — who has just moved from French powerhouse Clermont.

“There good thing about the structures here at the Bulls is that all of the players know exactly what to do,” Pienaar added.

“Coming from the Vodacom and under-21 set-up they also know exactly what we want — its just on the day being on point with our execution because they know what is expected of them on Friday.”

National under-20 players Lohan Jacobs and Francois Venter have been included on the bench.

Pienaar did, however, stress earlier this week that a final decision on the team’s captain for the Currie Cup will only be confirmed before the competition starts.

“There are a lot of strong leaders in the group and we’ll make a decision on that prior to the first Currie Cup game against the Sharks.”

GRIFFONS: 15 Tertuis Maarman, 14 Jaco Meyer, 13 Werner Griesel (capt), 12
Thabang Molefe, 11 Eddie Fredericks, 10 Jannie Myburgh, 9 Enrico Schultz, 8
Nicky Steyn, 7 Marnus Briedenhann, 6 Shaun Raubenheimer, 5 Gavin Annandale, 4
Windpomp van Rooyen, 3 Kobus Calldo, 2 Andries Kruger, 1 Kevin Stevens.
Substitutes: 16 Derick van Heerden, 17 Jep Ras, 18 Joubert Horn, 19 Johan van
Heerden, 20 Andries Mahoney, 21 Tiaan van Wyk, 22 Japie Nel.

BLUE BULLS TEAM: Jurgen Visser, Akona Ndungane, Stephan Dippenaar, Stefan Watermeyer, Sampie Mastriet, Francois Brummer, Dustin Jinka, Gerrit-Jan van Velze, CJ Stander, Derick Kuün (capt), Juandré Kruger, Fudge Mabeta, Rossouw de Klerk, Willie Wepener, Corné Fourie.

Replacements: Henri Bantjés, Juan Schoeman, Warwick Tecklenberg, Okkie Kruger, Lohan Jacobs, Wesley Dunlop, Francois Venter.

EP Kings vs Free State Cheetahs

Kings coach Alan Solomons announced on Tuesday that Luke Watson is the new captain of the Eastern Province rugby team.

This was confirmed ahead of Friday’s Currie Cup friendly in Port Elizabeth.

Watson takes over from fullback Mzwandile Stick, who captained the side since De Wet Barry’s injury last season.

Watson was always earmarked to lead the new-look Kings and therefore Solomon’s announcement does not come as a surprise.

Solomons said he needs a captain who is close to the action and that makes Watson the logical choice.

Stick said he had no problem with Solomon’s decision. “Im here to plough back into my community and I have a job to do for EP.

“I will always give my best shot for the Kings, as captain or just as a player. I will support Luke wholeheartedly. No doubt about that,” Stick said.

Meanwhile, former Free State scrumhalf Falie Oelschig joined the Kings from Stade Francais and will face his old team come Friday.

His halfback partner is Louis Strydom, who is also an ex-Free Stater.

Another surprise is the inclusion of former SWD Eagles winger Joe Breytenbach.

Breytenbach is believed to be on trial with EP, but he is such a strong runner with the ball that he should be a big acquisition for the PE outfit.

It is also good to see flyer Norman Nelson back in the starting line-up. He was one of EP’s stars last season, but was sidelined with injury for most of the season.

The EP Kings team: Mzwandile Stick (vice-captain)), Norman Nelson, Siyanda Grey, Wayne Stevens, Joe Breytenbach, Louis Strydom, Falie Oelschig, Luke Watson (captain), Devin Oosthuizen, Jacques Potgieter, Ross Kennedy, Barend Pieterse, Clint Newland, Hannes Franklin, Jaco Engels.

Replacements: Frank Herne, Riaan Vermeulen, Wayne van Heerden, Jacques Engelbrecht, Danie Faasen, Shane Gates, Jaco Bekker.

FREE STATE CHEETAHS : 15 Philip Burger, 14 Nico Scheepers, 13 Philip Snyman, 12
Johan Goosen, 11 Cameron Jacobs, 10 Riaan Smit, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Boom
Prinsloo, 7 Pieter Labuschagné, 6 Pieter Myburgh, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4
Francois Uys, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Michael van Vuuren, 1 Marcel van der Merwe.
Substitutes: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Schalk van der Merwe, 18 JC Astle, 19
Willie Britz, 20 Piet van Zyl, 21 Robbie van Schalkwyk, 22 Rayno
Benjamin.

Referee: Lesego Legoete.

Kick-off:
19:00.